Cut-Outs, Keyholes, and Peekaboos—This Summer Is All About the Elegant Reveal
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After a year of seeing friends, colleagues, and family through FaceTime screens and Zoom meetings, it’s time to remind the world what the rest of you looks like—beyond what’s onscreen. Say hello again to legs! Backs! Arms! And for those who dare, the midriff! A handful of brands, such as Christopher Esber, Sir, Isa Boulder, and Aje to name a few, are making it easy to tastefully expose your skin this summer.
The trend began last year amid the pandemic, when “midriff floss,” a brilliant term coined by my colleague Liana Satenstein, began to appear on strappy, ab-revealing maxiskirts. This season, however, with more opportunity for social outings, there are even more ways to show some skin this summer stylishly.
We’re not talking about your basic crop tops or pre-pandemic club attire; this season’s selection of deconstructed clothing consists of elevated yet unconventional cut-outs on the waists of breezy midi-dresses, linen blazers, and tops. It’s a look that is all strikingly feminine, artfully modern, and alluring at the same time. You can also find dainty crisscross strap-tie detailing similar to the skirts of last season on sleeveless blouses and knit dresses, and there’s no shortage of keyholes, halter tops, and beautiful back-revealing maxis either.
Find 14 surprisingly chic ways to show a little skin this summer, below.
