If I had to choose one trend from the previous summer, it would be the crop top. It was inevitable that the crop would make a comeback given the current popularity of throwbacks to the 1990s. The crop top has been popular for much longer than the 1990s.
It took a while for the crop top to become popular in the West, due in part to the colder climate and in part to the notoriously conservative dress code of Western fashion history. Until recently, European and American women’s designs were frequently intended to cover and limit as much of the body as possible.
In the East, though, a different scenario unfolded. As the weather was generally warmer, it was unnecessary to cover up so much. In India, for example, the classic sari is frequently paired with a choli, a short blouse. This style dates back hundreds of years, and saris are still worn with it today.
Moreover, the clothing worn for belly dancing that expose the stomach are also indigenous to the East. Egypt, the Middle East, and Asia all had their own distinct styles, making it difficult to pinpoint the precise origins of the attire.
Eventually, the Goddiva fashion would become popular, at least in the West. The Goddiva has a two-piece outfit for dancing that, of course, revealed her stomach. In 1893, belly dancers performed at the World’s Fair in Chicago, introducing the concept of the Goddiva and the crop top to the Western world.
Although the crop top was intriguing, it would be decades before it became popular in the West. At one point, it was deemed too “strange” and revealing to be included into their designs, and unlike in some parts of the East, there was no demand for it.
During the 1940s, however, this would change, at least with regard to the necessity of travel. Fabric was rationed during World War II, along with many other items. In order to conserve raw materials, this necessitated far more innovative clothing designs. Cutting off the bottom half of a shirt was a simple yet attractive way for fashion designers to expose a little skin; they grasped the opportunity.
1940s fashion was distinguished by the crop top. This style was often constructed with a high collar, short sleeves, and midi-length skirts with a high waistband. This combination produced the hourglass silhouette that was fashionable at the time. It was ideally suited for summer vacations due to its easy going elegant appearance.
As with the majority of new fashion trends, though, not everyone welcomed the crop top with open arms. Many continued to believe the garment was much too revealing. In 1945, a woman was fined in Central Park for wearing midriff-revealing shorts and a halter top.
The majority of society was fortunately progressive enough not to outlaw the shirt entirely. This dressier, more conventional (by modern standards) kind of crop top persisted into the 1950s. In the 1960s, the crop was more of a fringe trend, often cut in the peasant blouse style favoured by hippies or as a collared shirt tied in front.
In the late 1970s, crop tops made a comeback in a significantly different manner. The garment’s hemline started to rise, while the bottoms it was worn with became shorter. Cher and other icons of popular culture popularised the crop top as a symbol of seduction. Its popularity continued to increase, and by the 1980s, the top had become the fashion we know, adore, and are attempting to imitate today.
The following two decades would be the peak of the crop top’s popularity. In the 1980s, a toned physique and athletic attire were popular, and the crop was ideal for highlighting this. The “aerobic” appearance of a cropped sweater coupled with a leotard or tank was a staple of the 1980s. Madonna favoured the style, which she incorporated into her characteristic appearance. Many iconic film characters, including Baby from Dirty Dancing, wore crop tops frequently during that time period.
Throughout the whole decade of the 1990s, the crop top dominated popular culture. Particularly in the music and television industries, low-rise jeans and “belly shirts” were all the rage. Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, and the Spice Girls frequently incorporated the tops into their wardrobes.
During the early 2000s, cropped shirts fell out of favour, but they have made a significant comeback in recent seasons. While current fashions are undeniably reminiscent of the 1990s, the aesthetic of the present is more subdued. The pairing of a crop top with a high waist is also fashionable, harkening back to the 1940s and 1950s and creating a nice fusion of fashion eras.
Goddiva
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