Top Of The Crop.....

I'm not usually one to jump on the band wagon of a new fashion 'craze', as quite frankly I feel like I've got to a time in my life when, I think I've worked out what does and doesn't suit my body shape and to be honest I know what styles I like. Although saying that, I do sometimes throw caution to the wind and test the waters out, besides as they always tell you, you never really know until you give it a go.

I've also found that a lot of it boils down to confidence and how you wear it, you have to wear the clothes and not the other way around! There are certain styles / trends I would of loved to have worn when I was younger, but just never had the confidence and I think age and life experience gives you that. I'm a lot less anxious about what people think of me, whereas when I was younger I wanted to be in the 'cool gang', look like the girls in the glossy magazines and just be super trendy. Looking back it seems a slight shame that I've got to this point in my life where I can (or maybe more think I can!!) wear what I like, but sadly I just don't have quite the same figure as I did when I was 18.....damn you gravity, & prosecco!!

I remember I used to literally love watching Britney Spears, J-Lo & Shakira (to name but a few!), all strutting their stuff around in their uber skimpy crop tops and low cut jeans and dream of doing the same, but the only time I ever took the plunge was when I went on holiday and that was pretty much because I didn't know anybody and was never going to bump into anyone! Oh the worries of a teenager.......

The other factor is the good old debate of 'mutton dressed as lamb' should you at a certain age in life still be wearing what you could or did 20 years previously. I mean for me I think if you feel comfortable and happy in what you are wearing, then why the hell not. Is it really hurting anyone? Does it really cause anyone that much distress?!?! Maybe celebrities like J-Lo and Jennifer Anniston, who have aged gloriously, kind of show us that at 50+ you don't need to shy away from any fashion trend, instead it's all about what you feel good in and what suits you and your body. OK, I mean I get that they might be the hardest role models to aspire to, they aren't your average girl / woman, they have great figures and incredible designer closest that most of us can only dream of, but I still think it comes down to how you feel about you & your body. Thinking about my wardrobe and some of my most favourite items, the ones which have lasted me the longest, were also some of the cheapest I've brought. It doesn't have to be designer to make you feel good........although I suppose it helps........

So with all this in mind I decided to get myself involved in the crop top invasion, something I quite possibly didn't think I would consider after leaving university, but here we are.....

So I decided to try on a few different styles of the 'crop top' along with some differing styling of trouser. In my selection process I tried to choose a variety of high, low and mid-rise trousers so I could really appreciate and see the different ways this top could be styled and also so I could see what I liked the most.

The crop tops I chose were as follows:

Pink Vest Crop Top @zara

Yellow T-shirt Crop Top @zara

Pale Blue Padded Shoulder Crop Top @zara

White Padded Shoulder Crop Top @zara

White Lace Strapy Crop Top @zara

The Trousers:

High Waisted Pink Trousers @zara

So the first outfit, a pair of pink trousers and a ribbed pink cropped vest, very simple, but don't be fooled, a very versatile option and also a nice / simple start to the trend. Also by wearing high waisted trousers you pretty much eliminate the mid-rift being on show, which you may think is avoiding the point of this, but I actually think it's quite a nice conservative, more sophisticated and maybe flattering look. A definite option for beginners, like me I reckon ;-)

As you can see I also teamed this look up with an over-sized floral jacket and white trainers as I felt like it broke up the perhaps pink 'overkill' a little. I also liked the fact I dyed my hair to match my clothes.......This was by no means planned, but a maybe 'happy coincidence!! Good thinking, I'll take that instead...... ;-)

FIT / STYLE: 8/10

COLOUR: 10/10

DARE TO BARE LEVEL: 8/10

TOP CROP: 9/10

My second top was a short sleeved yellow t-shirt with a gathering around the waist. This was slightly longer than the pink vest so didn't work quite as well with the high waisted trousers. I liked the yellow and pink, I think they went well together, but overall the style of this top would of been better with maybe a pair of mid or low waisted trousers.

FIT / STYLE: 6/10

COLOUR: 8/10

DARE TO BARE LEVEL: 5/10

TOP CROP: 6/10

Next up was a pale blue crop top with 3/4 length sleeves and padded shoulders. Now this was actually one of my favorites. The fabric was gorgeous and felt super cool against my skin, the colour really subtle, and I loved the padded shoulder vibes. I also liked the fact that it was quite short (in crop top terms!), but baggy at the bottom, so it gave a nice definition between the two garments. A not too short / not too long slice of perfection.

FIT / STYLE: 10/10

COLOUR: 9/10

DARE TO BARE LEVEL: 7/10

TOP CROP: 9/10

Couldn't resist the same top but in white obviously......

My last top of choice for these trousers was a lil white lacey number with spaghetti straps. I must admit I wasn't sure at all about this one as I thought it was a bit too much (or too little is probably more appropriate!!), but once I had it on I actually thought this was pretty cute and it ended up being one of my favorites. I think because it looked (to me!) quite cropped it worked even better with the high waisted style, it also looked quite dramatic next to the pink trousers and my pink hair. Which I really liked.

FIT / STYLE: 9/10

COLOUR: 8/10

DARE TO BARE LEVEL: 9/10

TOP CROP: 8/10

So that right there is part one of the crop top and I actually think I may have been converted a little, especially with the high waisted trouser look. So basically if you want to give it a go, you go for it...besides what's the harm anyway?!?!?!?

I'll being trying on the same tops (with a couple of extra ones!) in my next post!! So watch this space....... Lou x