It all started with Nicolas Ghesquiere’s scuplted white cropped tops at his final Balenciaga collection. The Bare Midriff, one of those zones most of us aren’t ready to flaunt, has popped up on almost every runway at the New York Fashion Week Spring 2014 shows, but are you ready to try one on?
For starters, they aren’t for the meek as donning one is most certainly going to keep all eyes focused on your mid-section while requiring confidence aplenty. But the good news is that from the street style mavens to the runways, we’ve see plenty of wearable takes to keep you in the loop.
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Take Peter Som’s crisp oxford shirt above, for example. While on the runway it’s been paired with a flared mini, we think it could also make a sensible companion to high-waisted bottoms, especially when paired with a blazer. And voila, no abs revealed!
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A graphic panel, above from Richard Chai, works to add a figure flattering sensibility to the look’s overall elegant ease.
BCBG’s take above is for the more confident, but don’t fret, we pulled tips to make the trend work for you:
- If highlighting your abs isn’t for you, you can still master the trend with thoughtful layering. Think about a fitted button down or slim turtleneck underneath a cropped tee
- Like almost every trend, you can keep it age-appropriate by looking for finer fabrications in fuss free, graphic free styles. Save the text and grunge options for the kids
- Opting for higher-waisted bottoms will move the eye to your waist and highlight it
- A crop top doesn’t always need to be tight, in fact even better, many on the runways have been boxy and sit away from the body
- Avoid going too bold with prints and saturated color and steer clear of lingerie inspired elements as this isn’t a trend about looking simply sexy
- Almost any kind of bottom works with a cropped top, layered or not. From a flared retro skirt to cigarette jeans, the options are endless
>>NEED MORE PROOF? Take a look at Frida Pinto & Sharon’s take on how to wear the trend
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Photos: Image.net (BCBG & Richard Chai Spring 14)