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There’s something very intimidating about crop tops. The thought of showing off what many women deem as problem areas can be terrifying. It brings us to question whether our tummies are toned enough to pull off a midriff, then sends us off in a never-ending spiral of body image issues. But the truth of the matter is, you don’t need to be skinny like a Victoria’s Secret model to rock a midriff. The beautiful, curvaceous Ashley Graham is living proof of that.
With a body that thousands of ladies can relate to, she continues to break grounds in plus-size fashion and the global industry at large. And come on, look at how gorgeous her pictures are on Instagram. If you ask me, we could all take a couple notes from her, especially in terms of showing off our tummies! Just look at her in her denim outfit below, with her curves perfectly accentuated. Does she even have a belly?
(INSTAGRAM // theashleygraham)
She clearly loves the way crop tops look on her (which is totally justified). In fact, she’s even turning her regular tops into midriffs, knotting them in the front to show some skin. She just screams confidence in her all-black airport OOTD in NYC.
(INSTAGRAM // theashleygraham)
A role model and fashion influencer, Ashley Graham is today’s style inspiration for midriffs. But as motivational as her Instagram is, we could all use a bit of guidance to brave the crop top in public. So how does one go about feeling comfortable in a stomach-baring top?
When in doubt, match your crop top with high waist bottoms.
If there’s one rule to remember when sporting a crop top, it’s this one. Whether they’re denim shorts, a midi skirt or leggings, the one fit you can rely on is the high waist. And you’ll find this to be true across all kinds of midriffs, long or short, loose or tight, long-sleeve or tube, printed or plain.
But high waist bottoms aren’t your only options.
It’s all about the proportions of the pieces you have on. Normally, something that sits higher on your waist is a safe bet when it comes to crop tops. However, when the top is a little longer, similar to our Sleeveless Printed Tank Top, it’s okay to coordinate it with something mid-rise. This does take a bit of courage to pull off, so if you aren’t totally there yet, you always have high waist jeans. Just take comfort in the fact that you can work with different fits when it comes to the midriff.
Flaunt your tummy in this little number for only ₱599.
Find crop tops with more coverage.
Not ready to show it all? Thankfully, crop tops come in a myriad of styles and lengths. So for the newbies, start with midriffs that end around your belly bottom. That way, you only have a bit of skin peeking out. Depending on the design of the top, you might not even show any skin unless you raise your arms.
Always play to your curves.
If you have a bigger bust, don’t hide it! Highlight your sexy figure of yours with a fitted top. You can wear one with a higher neckline if you’re concerned about showing cleavage.
Don’t forget to style your outfit.
Several components are required to create a fabulous outfit, so don’t make it all about the crop top. Accessories, shoes, hair and makeup play just as big of a role as your clothes. Remember that your top is only one piece of the puzzle that is your ensemble.
Crop tops are amazing substitutes in classic outfits.
The white t-shirt is one of the most important wardrobe basics that you will find in literally every person’s closet. It matches with every piece you own, with one of the timeless pairings being the definitive white tee and blue jeans. But to be honest, the white t-shirt can be boring at times. A white crop tank like Ashley Graham’s is a chic alternative to the closet essential. Though she isn’t wearing blue jeans, you can see how her white midriff offers more style points than a plain white tee.
(INSTAGRAM // theashleygraham)
It may take some time before you’re ready to conquer the crop top. Body confidence is a struggle for us all. But if you ever need a bit of a boost, Ashley Graham is the perfect person to look up to.
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