While 2012’s belly-baring dress trend had us scrambling to tone up our midsections, this year’s crop-top dress style has us breathing a collective sigh of relief.
For one, it’s a lot more forgiving. It’s meant to show only a sliver of skin compared to the previous trend where you show your entire stomach and then some.
Two, it comes in a lot more styles; crop tops now are derived from t-shirts, turtlenecks, and sweatshirts, when they used to look like they were just bras with extra strips of fabric.
Three, and probably the top reason why the 2013/2014 trend is far superior to its 2012 predecessor, the current crop-top dress style is not about highlighting the stomach but is about flattering the breasts and the hips.
It’s all about creating an hourglass figure, which is the ultimate in feminine silhouettes.
So, no, contrary to popular belief, you don’t need abs of steel to rock the current crop of crop-top dresses. Just take a look at these curvy, plus size fashion bloggers from GarnerStyle, GabiFresh, and P.S. It’s Fashion rocking their crop-top-and-skirt outfits like nobody’s business:
Plus-size fashion bloggers Chastity Garner, Gabi Gregg, and Liz Black in crop top dresses
On the Hollywood celebrity front, arguably the biggest fan of this trend is Kim Kardashian.
Although Kim has gotten her famous curves back now, the crop-top dress style helped a lot in giving her a curvier silhouette while she was working hard on slimming down her post-baby body.
Kim Kardashian at the Gelila & Wolfgang Puck’s Dream for Future Africa Foundation honoring Vogue Italia Editor-in-Chief Franca Sozzani at Spago restaurant in Beverly Hills on October 24, 2013; leaving her apartment in New York City on November 20, 2013; shopping in Beverly Hills on January 6, 2014
Want more inspiration? Here are healthy body image role models Jennifer Lawrence and Khloe Kardashian looking smoking hot while all covered up in their slashed-at-the-waist dresses.
As for Kerry Washington, she was all like, “Oh, don’t mind me, I’m just pregnant” in her Prada ensemble at the 2014 SAG Awards. How’s that for flaunting a baby bump?
Jennifer Lawrence at the Ed Sullivan Theater for an appearance on Late Show with David Letterman in New York City on November 20, 2013; Kerry Washington at the 20th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards in Los Angeles, California, on January 19, 2014; Khloe Kardashian at the Kardashian Khaos boutique at The Mirage Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, on January 25, 2014
Here are crop top and skirt combos that you don’t need flat abs to wear:
- Suno Floral-Print Crop Top, $450, and Suno Metallic-Embroidered Chambray Skirt, $425
- MSGSM Cropped Sweater, $230, and Nanette Lepore “Wipe Out” Skirt, $298
- Clover Canyon Swirl-Printed Neoprene Cropped Top, $198, and Clover Canyon Swirl-Scarf-Printed Neoprene Skirt, $220
- Torn by Ronny Kobo “Emma” Crop Top, $198, and Torn by Ronny Kobo “Ronny” Skirt, $190
- Alice + Olivia Cropped Lace Tank, $242, and Alice + Olivia Ball Skirt, $484
- Cynthia Rowley Short-Sleeved Crop Top, $250, and Cynthia Rowley Midi Skirt, $325
Credit: Brian To / TNYF / HRC / Apega / Judy Eddy / WENN