Nuevo Culture

How a Crop Top Can Bring Your Style to New Heights

There’s much more to crop tops than a bare midriff. The abbreviated tops have become the ideal match for skirt sets, the ideal silhouettes for balancing out the proportions of a puffed-sleeved blouse, and of course, a great counterpart to a high-waisted pant. Whether 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 skin-tight top and you’ll feel more like you’re in a blouse. Or go high-waisted 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

Everlane the Bubble top

$45

EVERLANE

Wsly Rivington ribbed one-shoulder cropped tank

$58

BANDIER

Renaissance Renaissance Baby cut-out ruched taffeta top

$325$163
NET-A-PORTER

Peony cropped one-shoulder top

$240$144
FARFETCH

Puffed-Sleeve Blouses

Reformation Marcella crop top

$128

NORDSTROM

Aje unlace pear-print crop top

$275$111
SAKS FIFTH AVENUE

Jonathan Simkhai Standard Thea Oxford smocked puff-sleeve top

$185

SAKS FIFTH AVENUE

Cinq à Sept Elliot cropped top

$295

FARFETCH

Ruched and Ruffles

Gimaguas Antonia viscose and cotton crop top

$90

LUISA VIA ROMA

Mango draped crop top

$40$28
MANGO

Matteau gathered cotton-poplin crop top

$200

MODA OPERANDI

Zara ruffled crop top

$40

ZARA

Bustiers

Versace cropped embellished satin-trimmed crepe top

$1,175

NET-A-PORTER

Zara bustier crop top

$36

ZARA

Cult Gaia Nixie top

$198

CULT GAIA

Brock Collection Tia cropped cotton-twill bustier top

$650

MODA OPERANDI

Tie Breakers

Jacquemus beige “Le Haut Soleil” tank top

$295

SSENSE

Alix NYC Ellery double-strap crop top

$125

INTERMIX

Miaou Rowan top

$125$88
MIAOU

Matthew Bruch cropped safari poplin shirt

$325

INTERMIX

Short But Sleeves

Rokh ruffled floral crepe cropped top

$465

MODA OPERANDI

Casa Raki Nicola tie-neck organic-linen cropped top

$209

MATCHESFASHION.COM

Loewe balloon-sleeve wrap crop top

$1,093

FARFETCH

Amir Slama printed cropped top

$256$205
FARFETCH