Question re: shoulder pads in blazers

[plousia]

I always associate shoulder pads with the 80s (except of course rarer stuff from the 40s, found a gorgeous 40s suit jacket with shoulder pads recently).

But I am wondering if for blazers and suit jackets, they were ever used in the 70s? The reason I ask is I have this deadstock wool blazer with minimal shoulder pads which sort of "feels" a bit 70s. Could it be late 70s? All sources seem to think shoulder pads were really an 80s thing, but given that suit jackets are a more structured garment, would pads ever have been used outside the 80s?

 

[The Vintage Vendeuse]

My high school years in the Midwest USA were from 1976-80 and I can say most definitely that some blazers of that time had some shoulder padding, though the amount of padding increased dramatically in the early 80s, which were my college/university years.

 

[plousia]

Thank you, I'm thinking this blazer is likely late 70s as the padding is minimal.

 

[bycinbyhand]

Rather extreme shoulder pads are 80s and 40s too but much tailored clothing will have some kind of shoulder pad.