Trends come and go… but designers run out of ideas. This is what I assume when a magazine proclaims a trend revival is afoot. The latest example: The crop top.
Remember the last time crop tops were in style? It was 1996, The Macarena was topping the charts, and crop tops were called BABY TEES. They were also plastered in screen-printed smiley faces, and I wore them with overalls. The memory still haunts me. (And the yearbook photos, too.)
So, I wasn’t exactly thrilled when crop tops came screaming back. Set aside the fact that you need a six pack to wear one with impunity. You also can’t wear a crop top to an office, making the style completely impractical.
But I caved when I saw this chambray version, which manages to mash two decades of trends (the ruffles of the 80s and the midriff exposure of the 90s) into one insouciant piece.
I don’t plan on flashing my midriff anytime soon (7th grade was bad enough), so I kept the silhouette clean with my “under-layer” American Apparel Bodysuit and an American Apparel stretchy pencil skirt. It created a seamless backdrop that showcased the top without an inadvertent salute to vintage Britney.
I used the exact same building blocks (bodysuit and skirt) for a more casual version that’s perfect for the weekend.
