How to Wear a Crop Top or Bra Top

When we first heard that crop tops were going to be big again for 2013, we had our reservations — it seemed like a look best suited for outdoor music festivals and costume parties — but after seeing the midriff-baring look on the runways at Marc Jacobs, Balenciaga, Costume National, and others, we inevitably changed our tune and are officially smitten with the idea of unleashing our inner Kelly Kapowski. The trend is rooted in '50s-era screen sirens like Sophia Loren, Brigitte Bardot, and Marilyn Monroe but is also dripping with '90s nostalgia — calling to mind fashion-forward TV characters like Kelly Bundy, Donna Martin, and, yes, Ms. Kapowski herself. If you're itching to try the trend this season, then click through for our expert styling tips, as well as three chic ways to wear it.