“I’ve said this so many times, but I keep coming back to this: Trends come and go. Own them and make them your own. If it doesn’t feel right, then don’t feel like you need to dress a certain way just to be trendy.” ~ Nina Garcia
Trend of the Summer
Never has a quote been so appropriate. I admit I was NOT jumping on the band wagon with this trend. As someone who has an incredibly sensitive stomach (and stomach issues) I just have to breathe and my stomach gets bloated. Thus, I have always shied away from belly baring trends. I love them in theory, I love them on others, but on myself? Their has always been a “No trespassing” sign.
In fact the only time I would go belly baring was the heart of summer at the beach when everyone is rocking barely their suits and ironically I did not feel so self-confidant. But heart of summer people, at the beach.
// Shirt: Anthropologie // Skirt: White House Black Market// Flip-Flops: Reef// Necklace and bracelet: SeaMilligan Designs // Sunglasses: Tory Burch // Cuff: Lighthouse Studio Designs//
Apparently designers did not get the memo and thus it went from beach chic to the concrete city streets.
I thought for sure it was a trend I would be avoiding.
The Shirts
Then a black and white polka dot shirt at Anthropologie screamed my name.
It was a crop top. A very DEFINITE crop top. And yet I fell in love. The heart wants what it wants people.
It also didn’t look as horrible as I thought it would.
Then I saw it in navy. The Holy grail color for blondes!
// Shirt: Anthropologie // Skirt: White House Black Market // Sandals: DSW // Necklace: SeaMilligan Designs // Bracelet: Lighthouse Studio Designs //
High Waisted Bottoms
I began to think of ways I could style it without being “Oh hey their lil belly” and constantly tugging my shirt down wishing their was about ten yards of fabric.
// Top and skirt: Anthropologie // Necklace: SeaMilligan Designs // Jacket: J-crew// Clutch: Alaina Marie // Flipflops: Reef// Sunglasses: Raybans //
Thus the savior for those shying away from the Belly baring trend: High waisted skirts and pants. Which also so happens to be another trend for summer. While I am by no means a fan of the resurgence of eighties and nineties, I can not deny that this is beneficial for those who want to partake in a trend, but dress more conservatively, or just over indulge because hello it IS margarita season.
While I have not partaken in the high-waisted pants, I do love a good high-waisted skirt. It isn’t just flashback to the seventies, but goes farther back to the fifties when accentuating the waist became popular.
A Fashion Marriage
It is why high waisted skirts are the perfect solution to the crop-top trend. It combines two trends in one, while also allowing the fashionista to show as much or as little skin, as she wants.
// Top: Anthropologie // Skirt: White House Black market // Shoes: Aldo // Necklace: SeaMilligan Designs //
And thanks to high waisted skirts you can also wear crop tops in the work place!
Confidence is Sexy
It seems to be my motto for the summer (and maybe my theme for twenty-seven?) but confidence is sexy. And the irony of showing MORE skin in my old age and not less is not lost on me. I have become more confident showing off an area that I use to try to hide under yards of fabric.
Now I am embracing it.
Yes I might have days where I eat to many tacos, but guess what? I am not going to let that hold me back from riding that tummy flashing train.
Do you rock the crop-top look? How do you style it?
