Wear Crop-Tops Like the Stars – The Summer Fashion Trend
In 2018 we crowned the crop-top the summer’s must-have piece. Seven years later it’s no longer a trend-it’s a wardrobe staple, from festivals and runways to red carpets. One styling rule remains.
The short answer up front: the crop-top didn’t just survive the 2018 hype-it grew up. Back then we celebrated Emily Ratajkowski, Gigi Hadid and co. as the trendsetters. Today, the cropped top is a fixture in every seasonal wardrobe, and the key question isn’t whether to wear it, but what to pair it with.
- The golden rule: always pair crop-tops with high-waisted bottoms. High-rise trousers or a skirt lengthen the legs and accentuate the waist-no six-pack required.
- 2025/2026 update: the play with proportions has become more extreme. “Big pants, little top” is the formula: wide-leg trousers or a voluminous skirt with a tiny top.
- Year-round piece: layered under blazers, cardigans or coats, the crop-top has long since stepped out of the summer corner.
- Material trend: beyond jersey, lace, ribbed knits and merrow edges are shifting the basic toward dressy territory.
- Then and now: Ratajkowski and the Hadid sisters still rock the crop-top-most recently on the Victoria’s Secret runway in 2025.
From Summer Hype to Wardrobe Staple
When we wrote about crop tops in 2018, they were the statement piece of the season. Today, that’s precisely the point: they’re no longer a statement. The midriff-baring top has taken a path few trends manage: from viral moment to basic that simply hangs in the closet. Market observers see the segment continuing to grow because the piece is so versatile-it works with jeans just as well as tailored trousers, in summer as under a winter coat.
What has changed is the silhouette of its companions. In 2018, high-waisted was the obvious choice; by 2025/2026, it’s the rule, and the contrast is deliberately exaggerated. Street-style snapshots from the last few seasons show Ratajkowski and the Hadid sisters rocking the same formula: tiny tops paired with pants that nearly sweep the floor. The silhouette thrives on the interplay between snug and sweeping.
The crop top didn’t stay loud-it became useful. That’s exactly why it’s still here.
Style Icons: Four Looks That Still Work Today
Four women defined the trend in 2018, and their combinations have stood the test of time. What’s fascinating about this retrospective is that the outfits don’t look like relics from an old fashion magazine-they could be worn tomorrow morning.
Emily Ratajkowski: The Crop-Top Queen
Emily Ratajkowski made the midriff-baring top her signature long before everyone else caught on. Her trick? A knotted blouse with a fifties flair that turns a basic into a statement. Her return to the Victoria’s Secret runway in 2025 underscores how consistent her style has remained over the years.
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Gigi Hadid: The Effortless Festival Look
Gigi Hadid favors understatement off the runway: a simple cropped top with Levi’s and sneakers. The magic lies in the details-a body chain beneath the top, stacked gold chains, and colorful bangles. This layering of small accessories is everywhere again in 2025/2026.
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Bella Hadid: the designer moment
Bella Hadid is every bit her sister’s equal. In Milan she paired a cropped turtleneck top with Versace high-waisted shorts and white boots-blueprint for today’s “Big Pants, Little Top” logic, only the trousers now often swing even wider.
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Suki Waterhouse: the crop-top on the red carpet
The trend has even reached the elegance segment, as Suki Waterhouse proved: from a photo shoot straight to the Tribeca Film Festival she kept her Chanel outfit-bare midriff and all. Lace and fine fabrics elevate the crop-top from casual to dressy, a move that’s back in force today with lace trims and ribbed knits.
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How to wear the crop-top now
Good news: you don’t need a six-pack or a celebrity stylist. The rules are simple, and while they’ve been refined since 2018, the basics haven’t changed.
High-waisted is non-negotiable. Whether jeans, trousers, skirt or shorts, the high waist closes the gap and flatters the silhouette. Want more midriff on show? Let the waistband slide toward the hip, à la Ratajkowski. Prefer less exposure? Choose a waistband that sits just below the top.
Layers make it year-round. Throw on an open blazer, a cardigan or, in winter, a long coat, and the crop-top becomes more than a summer piece. It travels through every season. Gigi Hadid’s layered jewellery is the easiest lever to turn plain into personal.
Fabric dictates the occasion. Jersey and cotton stay casual. Lace, ribbed knit or fine satin lift the crop-top for evening wear, right in line with the Suki Waterhouse move. That’s the biggest shift since 2018: the top is no longer confined to beach or festival grounds.
Want to play with proportions further? Check out our curated bottoms: why flared jeans are back and pair perfectly with a crop-top, plus read all about it in our denim special. Or, if you favour an airier look, take a peek at the 2026 linen trend, tailor-made for relaxed crop-top season.
Quick Answers
▸Is the crop top still in style for 2025/2026?
Yes. What started as a seasonal hype has become a permanent fixture in wardrobes, reappearing every season in fresh fabrics and cuts. Right now, the winning formula is “wide pants, cropped top,” championed by the same models who launched the trend back in 2018.
▸What’s the best way to style a crop top?
Pair it with high-waisted bottoms-high-waisted trousers, a high-waisted skirt, or shorts with a high waist. That’s the golden rule: the high waist closes the gap and creates a flattering silhouette. Nothing has changed in years.
▸Can I wear a crop top in winter?
Absolutely, layer it. Under a blazer, a cardigan, or a long coat, it works year-round. Ribbed knits and lace add winter-ready elegance.
▸Do I need a flat stomach to pull it off?
Not at all. The crop top highlights the narrowest point between ribs and waist. With a high-waisted bottom, it only reveals a slim strip of skin. How much you show is up to you-adjust the waist height yourself.
