Cream Of The Crop

If you watched MTV back in the late 90's or early 2000, then you will definitely remember that crop tops were one of the hottest fashion trends at that time. Pop singers like Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera (who were both new faces on MTV during this period) practically lived in them. These tops were also worn by the Spice Girls during their height of fame in the late 90's. Other names for this type of top include belly shirt, half shirt, midriff top, and cutoff shirt. Well, whatever you want to call it, it's officially back for the Summer of 2009. In case you're still not sure exactly what a crop top is, it is a shirt that is cut shorter than an ordinary shirt would be. The length of this type of shirt can vary. It can be cut so short that it is the same length as the bra you're wearing or it can be cut off a little bit so that only a sliver of skin is exposed between the top and pants/skirt you're wearing. The bellybutton may or may not be exposed depending on what length you choose to go with; what you pair with this shirt will also make a difference in how much of your stomach is exposed (low-rise jeans will reveal a lot more than high-waisted pants will). If you want to see different lengths and ways to wear crop tops, take a look at the pictures posted below.

Loose Cropped Pocket Tee, $24.00, shown in black; also available in white, sizes X-Small-Large, bebe.com

Cropped Mickey Tee, $14.80, available in sizes Small-Large, forever21.com

Satin Striped Chiffon Top, $22.80, available in sizes Small-Large, forever21.com

Halena Cropped Cami, $28.00, shown in white; also available in black and coral, sizes M an L (M only available in coral), freepeople.com

Solid Crop Top, $38.00, shown in black; also available in pumice, sizes XS-L, freepeople.com

Apple Bottoms Off-the-Shoulder Cropped Smocked Top, $19.99, available in sizes S-XL, macys.com

Embroidered Crop, $11.99, available in sizes M and L, mandee.com

Lucca Couture Printed Silk Printed Crop Tee, $38.00, shown in cirque floral; also available in black brush, sizes X-Small-Large, urbanoutfitters.com

Pretty Vacant Crop Tee, $24.00, available in sizes X-Small-Large, urbanoutfitters.com

Silence & Noise Crop Top, $38.00, shown in heather grey; also available in super dot, black, and smashed print, sizes Small-Large, urbanoutfitters.com

Animal Crop Tee, $14.50, available in sizes XS-L, wetseal.com

About To Rock Crop Tee, $14.50, available in sizes XS-L, wetseal.com

Splatter Paint Crop Tee, $14.50, available in sizes XS-L, wetseal.com

Crop Paint Brush Top, $9.99, available in sizes XS and S, wetseal.com

I Heart Hip Hop Tee, $12.99, available in sizes M and L, wetseal.com

If you don't feel comfortable with showing your stomach, you can still wear a crop top without having to worry about that. Just grab a tank top or camisole and layer your crop top over it. You can also wear a crop top over a long-sleeved shirt or sweater during the Winter. Another way to make a crop top look more modest would be to pair it with some high-waisted pants (as suggested above) or with a high-waisted skirt; you may even be able to tuck the shirt into your skirt or pants if it's long enough. You can also try this out with some high-waisted shorts for the Summer; however, if you chose to wear this kind of top without layering it or pairing it with a high-waisted bottom, be careful. Outside of MTV, Hollywood, and the runways; this trend can be very difficult to pull off. It also only really works in certain environments; I would say the beach or gym would be the best places to wear a belly shirt. You should also be able to get away with this type of shirt at a club or bar. Crop tops are definitely not appropriate for work or job interviews though; I don't think they work so much for school either (especially if your school has a dress code). If you want to wear a crop top but are not sure if it's appropriate for what you're about to do or the place you're about to go, remember that you'll always be safe if you layer it over something. If you wish to wear a belly shirt but don't have the money to spend on the ones above, you can make your own. Just take a t-shirt or tank top that you won't mind sacrificing and cut the bottom of it off (be careful not to cut off too much though). If you spot any other Summer trends that you would like me to write about, e-mail me at Charmed42787@gmail.com or send a message to me on myspace.