How a Crop Top Can Bring Your Style to New Heights

crop tops
Phtographed by PHILLIP-DANIEL DUCASSE, Vogue, March 2021

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There’s much more to crop tops than a bare midriff. The abbreviated tops have become the ideal match for skirt sets, the perfect silhouettes for balancing out the proportions of a puffed-sleeve blouse, and, of course, a great counterpart to a high-waist pant. If you’re aiming to show a little skin this summer (or not!), opting for a more elevated version of the top brings your look from ’90s club kid to effortlessly cool. This summer we’re looking to styles that go beyond the basic cropped tank or T-shirt. Think chic details like well-placed ruffles and dainty straps, interesting textures like gathered poplin or rib knits, and airy silhouettes like a one-shoulder puff-sleeve or bubbled top.

If you’re on the fence, avoid a skintight top and you’ll feel more like you’re in a blouse. Or go high waist with your pant or skirt to keep zero skin on display. For those looking to do just the opposite, there’s a handful of body-hugging corsets and slinky tanks, like Brock’s sweetheart top, that will deliver some oomph. Houses like Loewe and Marni are also offering cropped silhouettes, giving their own fashion-forward spin on the summer-ready top.

No matter how you plan to style them, here are 24 elevated crop tops that are sure to bring your look to new heights.

Better Basics

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Everlane the Bubble top

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Wsly Rivington ribbed one-shoulder cropped tank

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Renaissance Renaissance Baby cut-out ruched taffeta top

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Peony cropped one-shoulder top

Puffed-Sleeve Blouses

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Reformation Marcella crop top

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Aje unlace pear-print crop top

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Jonathan Simkhai Standard Thea Oxford smocked puff-sleeve top

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Cinq à Sept Elliot cropped top

Ruched and Ruffles

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Gimaguas Antonia viscose and cotton crop top

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Mango draped crop top

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Matteau gathered cotton-poplin crop top

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Zara ruffled crop top

Bustiers

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Versace cropped embellished satin-trimmed crepe top

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Zara bustier crop top

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Cult Gaia Nixie top

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Brock Collection Tia cropped cotton-twill bustier top

Tiebreakers

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Jacquemus beige “Le Haut Soleil” tank top

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Alix NYC Ellery double-strap crop top

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Matthew Bruch cropped safari poplin shirt

Short But Sleeved

Rokh ruffled floral crepe cropped top

Casa Raki Nicola tie-neck organic-linen cropped top

Loewe balloon-sleeve wrap crop top

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Amir Slama printed cropped top