There’s nothing more breezy and playful than a crop top. Youthful, flirty, and fun, these shirts are back in fashion and they are being styled differently than they were in the 2010s. It’s a new era for crop tops and you can get in on the trend.
Crop tops aren’t just for the beach, though, they can have a place in your casual and formal wardrobe for a number of occasions. Here are some of our favorite crop top outfits of the moment.
Choosing the Right Crop Top for You
Many people think that crop tops are only for one particular age or body type, but anyone can rock a crop top with confidence. Crop tops come in different lengths and styles so you can choose the one that looks best on you and works for the outfit you’re envisioning.
If you have a long torso, you can choose a longer crop top and still have plenty of midriff showing. People with shorter torsos may find that same length of crop top to be a perfect everyday length for them and decide to go shorter to actually have a cropped look.
Longer crop tops, falling at about belly button length can also be great if you only want to show a glimpse of stomach about a mid to high rise pair of pants or skirt.
If you’re pear-shaped, with wider hips and a smaller waist, crop tops can be very flattering. Instead of having to buy a shirt that’s oversized everywhere but your hips, you can choose a cropped one that doesn’t have to fit over your hips at all.
Casual Crop Top Outfits
Wearing a crop top for a casual event is one of the best ways to start experimenting with the style. A short shirt for a daytime event is never short on style.
Outdoor Festival Boho
Whether a street fair, a music festival, or an art festival, spending the day out in the sunshine calls for a cute outfit. Since outdoor festivals tend to have a relaxed, artsy vibe, you can lean into the theme with a boho-inspired outfit.
We love the contrasting silhouette of a full maxi skirt with a sleek, fitted crop top. A summery color or unique print will make you look like the main event.
Sporty Chic
Athleisure has become a mainstay of the modern wardrobe. Whether you’re actually hitting a hot yoga class or just strolling down the block for an iced coffee, you can use a crop top to enhance your look.
Combining contrasting fit elements can make an athletic-inspired outfit look more polished and intentional. Two loose pieces together can seem sloppy and two very tight pieces together may seem too constricting. Instead try a fitted crop top with a pair of more relaxed joggers or yoga pants. The reverse would be a pair of sleek leggings with a more relaxed cropped tee-shirt.
Woman About Town
You can elevate a cropped look by wearing a matching top and bottom. When both pieces share the same color or print, it really makes a statement and looks like a more cohesive outfit.
This sort of combo can be fun to wear for a date or girl’s day when you’re not going anywhere too fancy, but still want to make a statement. Shorts and a crop top are a classic summer combo. By making them a matched set, it takes things up a notch.
Formal Crop Top Outfits
While casual crop tops have been in and out of fashion for decades, there’s a new trend toward crop tops in formalwear, as you can see in Sherri Hill’s current collection. If you’re feeling adventurous or want to really stand out at your next event, try a mermaid or ball gown style two-piece with a cropped element.
It can add an unexpected element to an otherwise classic look and even tease a hint of skin in an otherwise covered-up outfit.
Cute and Cropped Anytime
Obviously crop tops are here to stay as a style element. It’s not surprising, seeing how versatile they are to style. There are plenty of casual occasions where a crop top can make your outfit more visually interesting, but a crop top can add an unexpected twist to your formal outfits as well. Let that midriff out this summer!