Shoulder padding refers to the fabric patch that lines the shoulder of a man’s suit. All suits have a bit of a shoulder padding to give them shape. They can help to give the wearer the appearance of straighter and broader shoulders; they also compensate for the natural draping properties of the fabric and help the jacket to hang correctly.
Prominent shoulder pads have flitted in and out of fashion since the 1940s.
When you try on a man’s suit, the shoulder pads should be square with your shoulders. If they have a droopy appearance or leave indentations in the cloth, the jacket is too big for you.