The crop top.  Love it or hate it,
this nineties trend is back with a vengeance. If you read my blog regularly, it
wouldn’t take very much to guess that I am a huge fan of crop tops. No longer
just for teeny-boppers, the crop top has now been bumped up to high-fashion
status as they appear on runways in sleek, modern fabrics, prints and
cuts. 

A-listers like Cara Delevingne, Chloe Moretz, Taylor Swift, Rihanna and
Anne Hathaway, Diane Kruger and Karlie Kloss soon took to the revived trend,
which shows no signs on stopping for now. Perhaps it’s about time to make space
in your wardrobe for crop tops!

The modern crop top no longer resembles its trashier counterparts circa
1997 (also known as Britney Spears’ Oops! I Did It Again era). It can look
incredibly classy and stylish when worn correctly. Today, I’m going to share
more about how you can stay classy in a crop top. Pair your crop tops with the
following:

1. A pencil skirt

Here’s how the classy ladies do it on the red carpet: a plain-coloured
crop top (preferably with sleeves) with a midi skirt in a subtle print, a la
Olivia Wilde and Miranda Kerr, or a printed bustier top with a skirt in a
punchy hue. The key is to keep the skirt’s hemline at a modest length, mid-calf
or knee-length. Keep the prints as simple as possible and let the gorgeous
female silhouette take centre stage. Remember: less is more.

2. A-line skirt

A high-waist A-line skirt is a girly complement to a crop top, and it
looks flattering on everyone. At midi length, it lends a modern take on the
lady-like fifties look. Look how Zoe Saldana nailed the demure yet sexy look in
her teal ensemble, paired with nude strappy heels. If you prefer your skirts to
come with some edginess, take a leaf out of Shailene Woodley’s book and go for
leather. 

3. Classic White


Who said white is an impractical colour only reserved for weddings? In a
crop top and skirt combination, white is a lovely shade that brings a dose of
spring-worthy breeziness. And you don’t have to stick to pure white. Different
shades like ivory, off-white or even cream are cool alternatives. With
all-white ensembles, it is easy to have fun with your accessories and makeup.
Bring on the lipsticks and blushers!

4. Sleek Trousers

Another way to balance the midriff-baring crop top is by pairing it with
sleek slim-cut trousers. Do as Odette Annable did and go all-black for a
black-tie event, or toughen up an all-white ensemble with strong shoulders a la
Vanessa Hudgens in a Catherine Malandrino crop top.

If you’re after a more laidback look, a dark-coloured cropped tank top
with printed silk trousers will have you looking equal parts chill and sexy,
like the way Diane Kruger does. The A-lister flaunted her abs and gave her
outfit an unexpected jolt of colour with a pair of Prabal Gurung pants. For a
daytime street style, do as French designer, actress, and musician Alma
Jodorowsky did and pair a sweet-looking white crop top with wide-legged jeans,
a salmon-pink cross-body purse and a dark chapeau.

5. Prints

How do you wear a crop top and not look like you’re stuck in the
nineties? Update it with modern prints, that’s how! Chloe Moretz applies her
daring yet classy fashion sense to this Valentino getup, covering up a tiny
black crop top with a boxy printed jacket and matching shorts. Look how her
thin-strapped stilettos elongated her slim legs! Definitely a tasteful grown-up
look for the teenage actress. Likewise, the Vampire Diaries star Nina Dobrev
opted for a printed crop top and shorts ensemble in a paint-splatter print,
finishing off with a pair of complementary pink pumps and a girly side braid.

6. Choose sleek fabrics

The best way to update your crop top is with lush fabrics and sleek
silhouettes. Flowy fabrics can look sloppy, and plain old cotton can look a
little too nineties grunge (unless that’s the look you’re going for), so stick
to structured, stiff fabrics that hold their shape and boxy cuts that dial up
the drama by enhancing your silhouette. Case in point: the bold, edgy but
elegant looks seen on Rihanna, Cara, and Anne.

Are you a fan of crop tops? How do YOU stay classy in your crop tops?
Share your style tips in the Comments section below!

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