Why You Shouldn't Give Up On The Crop Top
Image from Everlane
by Abigail Bassett
Here’s the thing. Crop tops are fundamentally flattering for all body types–especially when you use them to balance proportions out or highlight your favorite body parts. I know that sounds a bit daunting, and if you survived the 90s by only showing the tiniest glimpse of belly just above your low-waisted bootcut jeans, you might feel a bit reluctant to return to those days in the current era. I’m here to tell you as a first-time crop top wearer in her forties, there ain’t nothing to be afraid of and even the New York Times agrees–you can wear a crop top to the office.
There really are only two simple rules for bearing your belly in your 40s:
Wear what makes you feel confident and comfortable.
Balance proportions and skin exposure for the best look.
Here’s one way I like to go about it: pair a fitted crop with a large blazer and skinny jeans (yes, I know…skinny jeans).
We’ve collected the four most flattering cropped shirts that are well-worth trying, because you will look cute in all of them. To prove it, we even tried them on ourselves. And while they all genuinely look amazing on, the third one on the list is probably the most “wearable.”
1. The Chic And Cozy Shrug
This is one of those pieces that saves you 10,000 times over because you can just grab it and toss it on on your way out the door, and poof, you look styled. Yes, it’s warm and cozy, but because it isn’t long, it looks sleek instead of frumpy and gives you excellent, waist-nipping proportions.
Here you can see it on our Editor-in-Chief, Audie.
Price: $108
2. The Cropped Leather Jacket
Are we not always looking for that perfect little going-out jacket? This one makes you look effortlessly chic and cool at the same time. The length has a way of making your legs look 2 miles longer in jeans.
Oh, and it also comes in black.
Price: $498
3. The Cropped But Not
We wrote about this t-shirt a while ago, but it's worth mentioning again here. If you’re just dipping your toe into the crop top waters once again, this is the perfect version to do it in. With the right amount of arm coverage, a drape that doesn’t leave our boobs looking like mounds, and just a peak-a-boo of belly, it’s the right option for your first foray into the short shirt revolution.
Price: $38
4. The Flattering High-Neck Crop
Full disclosure, I have this top in three different colors and I wear it a lot to professional events. It’s great with a pair of flattering high-waisted pants, like these and a blazer.
Here’s a photo of me wearing it out in Las Vegas.
Price: $68
5. The Most Flattering Little Coat
The perfect mid-weight coat to wear inside and make every outfit look special, and it hits at the most flattering part on the waist. We’ve run into a few people wearing it while wearing ours and we look at each other with wide eyes like we’re in a special club. And we are.
Price: $198
6. The Office Appropriate Crop
We’ve long been a fan of Everlane’s products, but we found the perfect button-down shirt for those of us with larger arms, and the desire for a shorter silhouette.
We also like to wear it as an outer layer with a stretchy tank and our favorite jeans.
Price: $85
7. The Athletic Crop
Athleta’s PowerVita fabric is a personal favorite as it sucks you in in all the right spots, while still being breathable and comfortable. I rock these tops on the regular when I teach yoga or for my own workout sessions. And it comes in sizes up to DD.
And here I am wearing it as part of a set.
Price: $45
Oh, and if any of these appeal to you–be sure to pair them with our favorite jeans or pants for the perfect look. You can also throw any of these under a cropped sweater like this one or the perfect jean jacket.
Abigail Bassett
Abigail Bassett is an award-winning journalist, writer, on-air talent, and television producer with more than two decades of diverse media experience. A winner of numerous awards, including two Emmys, she's covered everything from health and wellness, beauty, global trends, and travel to breaking news and worldwide events for top-tier outlets all over the world.
At The Candidly, we try a lot of stuff so you don’t have to. We only recommend things we truly love, and that we think you’ll love, too. All products are chosen independently by our creative team, and all details reflect the price and availability of products at the time of publication. If you buy something we link to, The Candidly may earn a commission.
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