Flat Cap Shoulder Jacket AW1996

The AW1996 collection introduced Margiela's concept of deconstructed shoulder pads — jackets with flat, extended shoulders that referenced the form of a suit jacket laid flat on a table rather than worn on a body. This collection is considered one of the definitive deconstruction moments in fashion history. The shoulder's relationship to the body — its artificiality made explicit — became the central thesis of an entire movement in fashion design. Value: $3,000–$10,000.