The off-the-shoulder top, a staple of 1980s and early 90s style, has made a comeback, in many different incarnations. Skin-tight jersey numbers, such as those worn by Kelly Kapowski on Saved by the Bell, paired with stone wash jeans, are thankfully not the only option when it comes to how to wear off-the-shoulder tops. Now we have the architectural sleekness of Dion Lee’s wool-blend version, the peasant-style prettiness of embroidered styles from the likes of Peter Pilotto and voluminous blouses in bright patterns such as the kaleidoscopic stripes from Chloé, with silky tassels thrown in for good bohemian measure.
After looking at several fashion icons who certainly know how to pull off off-the-shoulder tops, we’ve distilled the many ways to wear this style into a few key guidelines.
Short, sheer, sweet
Off-the-shoulder tops speak of summer in all its sun-kissed, skin-baring glory. An off-the-shoulder top in sheer fabric plus smart shorts will keep you cool and composed. Light and airy, this combination is suitable for beach barbecues and pool-side soirees.
Carmen Hamilton, of Chronicles of Her blog, shows how to wear off-the-shoulder tops for a minimalist, Mediterranean summer look. She teams a traditionally embroidered off-the-shoulder top and white linen trousers for a simple, Grecian-inspired ensemble.
For a fashionable off-the-shoulder top inspired by the same simplicity, look to Tory Burch’s equivalents in sheer fabrics with geometric embroidery. Tucked into high-waisted Andrea Marques shorts, they create a Californian equivalent to Hamilton’s Mediterranean look.
Cream of the top
Wearing off-the-shoulder tops brings a sense of freedom during those sultry summer days when it’s a relief to shed even a few inches of fabric. What’s handy about these tops is that they evoke a summer feeling even when the sun isn’t shining… and when the moon is bright.
For a night out in New York City, Dakota Johnson sported an off-the-shoulder crop top by Rosetta Getty. Here Johnson reveals how to wear off-the-shoulder tops in a feminine-meets-masculine, ebony and ivory interplay. She elevated her simple, bandeau-style cream top to evening wear by pairing it with tailored black trousers. The lack of extraneous adornment or detailing on both top and trousers created a sleek, monochrome look.
Sleeve your worries behind
Part of the appeal of this top is the exciting interplay between fabric and flesh. Although classic 90s off-the-shoulder designs tended to be fitted, more contemporary versions have explored features like billowy sleeves and frills. The extra fabric around the waist and sleeves provides an elegant juxtaposition with bare shoulders, drawing the eye to the shoulder and face.
Iconoclastic fashion blogger and author Leandra Medine opts for 70s-style flared sleeves like those seen in tops from New York label Tibi. The secret to pulling off off-the-shoulder tops such as these can be as simple as styling them correctly. Tibi offers a cute idea: extra fabric at the end of the sleeves is tied in a decadent bow above the wrist for a relaxed, Sunday afternoon look.
Full colour printing
Wearing off-the-shoulder tops isn’t just about simple, summery designs. Make a statement in an exciting, colourful print. A bold pattern enlivens the style and instantly takes it to a dressier level. Kendall Jenner, often spotted on and off the red carpet in similar designs, usually sports printed designs for evening wear.
Italian label MSGM uses the flat, horizontal hem of an off-the-shoulder crop top as a reference point for arresting parallel lines in deep blues and pastel, overlain by a ruffle detail. For something even busier, try floral brocade or printed sheer material seen in the styles from Etro.
Playing dress ups
As illustrated by Dakota Johnson, the off-the-shoulder look isn’t just for the beach and summer. It also has great potential for formal and evening wear. Consider an alternative to wearing off-the-shoulder tops and experiment with an off-the-shoulder dress. Today’s elegant dresses hark back to the golden age of Hollywood glamour in the 1940s and 50s when style luminaries like Katharine Hepburn and Ava Gardner wore stunning bespoke off-the-shoulder designs.
More understated than her 1940s and 50s red carpet predecessors, Rooney Mara wore a range of off-the-shoulder dresses during the 2016 awards season. Her more contemporary choices play down the obvious elegance of the off-the-shoulder evening dress with designs featuring unexpected detailing, like a slinky black bow on a white Proenza Schouler dress.