Remember when your only responsibility was caring for a Tamagotchi? When you thought Justin Timberlake looked his hottest in a denim suit? Yes, we all have fond memories of the early 2000s, and some of those memories might be coming back to life. Have you ever heard the saying that fashion recycles trends from a decade ago? Well, it’s true! Designers are taking trends from the early millennium and applying them today, namely crop tops and metallics.
One of the biggest trends from 2003 we’re wearing today is crop tops. A crop top has the same collar, sleeves and shape of any other shirt, but the bottom of the top is cropped. It can be cropped as little as an inch or as much as four inches. The style for 2013 is different from 2003 in that today’s crop tops have a little more fabric (less crop) than their older counterparts.
To make sure your outfit is hot instead of not, check yourself before you wreck yourself. The secret to looking amazing in crop tops is your bottom – your pants or skirt. Stylish outfits with crop tops are always paired with high-waisted bottoms. You should always wear pants or a skirt that at least comes just over your belly button (or if your torso is the longest part of your body, just at the belly button). From this, you’re free to choose whatever length crop top you’re comfortable with without looking like Christina Aguilera from her “Stripped” tour. You just don’t see that fashion around campus, and I think we’re all happy for that.
The crop top can be worn by any body type – yes, any! It’s true that women with long athletic body shapes can show the most skin, but that doesn’t mean pear, apple and hourglass shapes can’t flaunt their stuff! You just need to adjust the length to your body. When in doubt of what would make your body look the most banging, showing a hint of skin can never go wrong. A little flash of an inch of skin is just as alluring, fun and carefree as an entire midriff. So try out a variety of different lengths of both bottoms and tops to find what makes you feel the most comfortable and most fabulous.
Spending the afternoon chilling in the quads, pretending to study but really just soaking up rays, munching on Rita’s and painting your nails? Look casual yet trendy with a yellow quarter-length crop top, light-washed high waisted denim shorts and thong sandals. To amp up the boho in this look, add a flowered headband and a pendant necklace or play up the “sorry for party rocking” with a straw fedora and aviator sunglasses. Heading to the Lynden Gallery for Second Friday? Show off your inner artist in high waisted black skinny jeans, a black-and-white striped short-sleeved crop top, metallic wedges and loads of bracelets. Ex gonna be at Bube’s Brewery tonight? Show that loser what he’s missing in a black cotton bustier top paired with a red lace body con skirt and black pumps (I’d also suggest red lips for extra va-va-voom!).
But let’s not forget about another flashback trend – metallics! Metallics are coming back mostly as accessories, but there is some metallic clothing. Metallics are exceedingly overpowering so if you choose to try this trend, do so lightly or else you’ll look like Puff Daddy in “Mo Money Mo Problems.” Limit metallics to just one accessory like a clutch or high heels or go all out in one metallic clothing item. Also, as metallics are so shiny and colorful, it’s best to wear them for more semi-formal and formal events.
Still don’t have a dress for that special night at junior/senior? Be a show stopper in a strapless bandage metallic dress with blow out hair and gold heels. Looking to add a little sass to your professional attire for your SCAD presentation? Wear a white blouse and navy blue pencil skirt tied together with a metallic belt and black heels. Attending a department awards banquet? Add a metallic heel to a purple or green dress.