Crop Tops - Take Two

Here's the article I promised from ages ago about crop tops. I wrote this for a uni project this spring so if the information is out of date that's why! So here it is:

New Trend Article
‘Mid Drift’
As the days grow longer and the British sun slowly, gradually gets warmer, dare to bare your midriff in this season’s crop tops and bralets.

  Prada, Miu Miu, Pucci and Ricci embraced their abs for Spring/Summer 2012 sending their girls down the runway in 1950’s style bandeaus, tied up shirts and miniscule bralets. If you’re brave enough this variable British summertime then join them by indulging in the biggest trend this season – the crop top.

  An image may spring to your mind of Madonna gyrating in a meshed crop top in the mid-80’s or a young Britney Spears in a cropped white turtleneck, but have no fear ladies this year the crop top is back in a much more sophisticated fashion. In 2012 the stomach is revealed in a much more mature way with the amount of flesh showing limited to the top part of abdominals. The breasts must be covered but the space between breasts and waist are left to be admired before covering the rest of the stomach with high waist skirts or wide legged trousers. This leaves the thinnest, flattest and most alluring area of your stomach on display making you look sleek and toned, whilst hiding your problem area beneath gorgeous pastel pleated maxi skirts or brightly coloured pencil skirts.

  For Spring/Summer 2012 Prada revealed their collection inspired by 1950’s Americana. It featured car print bandeau tops worn with sleek pencil skirts that recreated a vintage pin up look. To generate this stylish look on the high street try Topshop for plain coloured seam free bandeau’s and team them with Primark’s car print midi skirt, an impressive imitation of Prada’s design.  Another great look is from ASOS; vibrant orange bonded lace has been crafted into a high waist pencil skirt with slit hem and a matching crop top. All that is needed is a smart black blazer to compose an elegant evening outfit.

  D&G exposed their tummies by tying colourful scarves around the breasts to create stunning crop tops that would look perfect on a hot Mediterranean beach. If you’re a fan of this look Topshop have designed a bandeau top produced with the same silky scarf fabric. Pucci’s lace cropped Cami has been imitated as a nude coloured lace bra top at Miss Selfridge. Both Miu Miu and Nina Ricci produced structured bralets and cropped corsets, ASOS again do perfect strapless copies in a light grey shade and Urban Outfitters have designed a lace Bustier with a zip back.  

  “The crop top has been a bestseller for us this season,” says the product advisor at River Island in Southampton. "It can be worn on the beach and is very popular as a night out look."

  Even if after all this, you’re still not happy about exposing your tummy to the rest of the world how about embracing the trend on the beach. Try a bikini top with high waist briefs, add Ray-Ban wayfarers and a headscarf and you’re rocking the fifties trend whilst hiding your problem area. And, if by the end of the day you’re feeling confident, slip on a printed maxi skirt and head out to dinner. 

  The stomach flashing crop top has remained a fashion favourite since the mid 20^th century and it is obvious why: it’s sexy, sensual and alluring. This season its sophisticated update reveals a little hint of the body, just remember girls, less is always, always more. 

So that's my article!

As an update for autumn, you can still keep wearing your crop tops, just add a high waisted skirt or pair of jeans.