According to a 2014 article in Live Well Nebraska, of the top five body insecurities women have, their stomachs are at the top of the list. Yet crop tops demand you to flout your tummy confidently. Maybe that’s easy to do if you have washboard abs and a cute belly button piercing but as a plus-size woman? You’re not so sure. Can you wear crop tops?
Plus-size women can definitely wear crop tops. To minimize how much of your stomach is showing in a crop top, pair it with high-waisted bottoms like a maxi skirt, jeans, or even a pair of leggings or sweats.
If you’ve always wanted to wear a crop top but you’re afraid of showing too much skin at your size, this article is for you. Ahead, we’ll discuss openly and honestly whether plus-size women can wear crop tops. We’ll also suggest some stylish plus-size crop tops and provide tips for rocking them!
So, Should Plus-Size Women Wear Crop Tops?
Did you know the first crop tops debuted at the Chicago World’s Fair in 1893? Sure, crop tops have fallen in and out of prominence over the centuries, but since the 2010s, they’ve remained a pretty consistent fashion staple for men and women alike.
Your wish that crop tops would die is clearly not going to come true anytime soon. You have two choices then: embrace crop tops or avoid them. If you don’t want to wear crop tops of any size, that’s perfectly fine! They’re definitely a rather daring style that some women may not be comfortable with or interested in.
What if you want to rock a crop top, but you’re plus-size? You’re worried about how you would look, what might tumble out if you lift your arms or move a certain way, oh, and you’re definitely concerned with what people might think.
After all, you still remember the infamous 2015 Oprah Magazine article like it was yesterday. In that article, Adam Glassman, the magazine’s creative director, said that only women with flat stomachs should wear crop tops.
Ouch! That one hit you deeply, as it should. If we all listened to Glassman’s advice, then not only would plus-size gals eschew crop tops, but so would some average-sized women. After all, just because you’re a straight size doesn’t mean you have a perfectly flat stomach.
Fortunately, the majority of people who read the Oprah Magazine article were outraged. The magazine was accused of promoting body shaming (which it was by publishing that article). A movement called #RocktheCrop arose where women without flat stomachs showed themselves on Instagram wearing crop tops. Not all these women were plus-size, but a lot of them were.
So that brings us back to the question. Can plus-size women wear crop tops? If you can put it on your body, then absolutely you can wear a crop top! Even though the #RocktheCrop movement was years ago, any woman’s attitude can wear crop tops has not faded.
Stylish Plus-Size Crop Tops to Shop Today
Crop tops are not necessarily little t-shirts and long-sleeved shirts, blazers, hoodies, jackets, and sweaters. You can fill your whole plus-size wardrobe with crop tops if you’re feeling daring or add just a few cropped pieces to your everyday looks.
Either way, we’re here to help you get started. We combed through your favorite plus-size retailers like Ashley Stewart and Dia & Co. to share some awesome cropped styles you’ll want to own ASAP.
Ashley Stewart Colorblock Athleisure Hoodie
Whether you’re looking for a stylish top to wear to the gym or just on those lazy Sundays spent on the couch watching Netflix, this color block athleisure cropped hoodie from Ashley Stewart is it. A web exclusive, the top is made of spandex (4 percent) and polyester (96 percent).
A drawstring hem lets you wear this crop top looser or tighter. The top comes in three color-blocked styles: maroon and black, gray and baby pink, and red and black. You can also shop a pair of matching sweatpants through Ashley Stewart’s site!
Dia & Co. Lovefool Rebecca Crop Top
With a touch of ‘90s flair, the Lovefool Rebecca crop top from Dia & Co. features buttons down the front (that do work and aren’t just there for looks) and pretty lace trim. Stretchy, so it fits over your curves, the comfortable cotton-blend top feels great on those breezy spring days. You can wear this shirt with jeans for a casual look or dress it up.
The short sleeves feature lace trim as well and the scoop neck won’t show any cleavage so you can even possibly get away with wearing this to work. Your color options are olive green, white, or black.
ASOS Vero Moda Curve V-Neck Blouse
From ASOS’ Curve collection comes the Vero Moda V-neck frilly top. This long-sleeve cropped blouse has flattering ruching all down the front. A drawstring lets you decide whether you want to wear this top looser or tighter. You could show more skin or less depending on how tight the drawstring is too.
This pretty floral print with pops of white, green, pink, and red will put you in the mood for spring any time of the year. We can’t get enough of the loose flowy sleeves with elastic at the wrists!
Dia & Co. Lovefool Stephanie Square-Neck Top
This adorable short-sleeved Lovefool Stephanie crop top, also from Dia & Co., is a great addition to your plus-size wardrobe. The ruffled top with a pullover style features slightly puffy sleeves with more ruffles that add a nice touch, as does the elasticized bowstring at the base. The peach color is very darling, but this top looks summery in white. Buy both colors!
ASOS COLLUSION Plus Cropped Halterneck Shirt
Here’s a unique shirt from ASOS, their COLLUSION Plus cropped halterneck shirt. The slouchy fit and halter-neck style is a great combo. Buttons at the cuffs dress up this black shirt a bit, as does a button placket, tie detailing, and spread collar. If you want to show off your shoulders, you need this crop top in your collection.
Ashley Stewart Just Chill Crop Sweatshirt Hoodie
As the name of this Ashley Stewart top says, chill! Their cropped sweatshirt is made of polyester and features graphics on the sleeves and across the chest. Down the arms, the words “# just chill” repeat in a line of tape. In the center is a graphic that reads “chilling.”
An elastic waist lets you loosen this top so that when it’s chill time, you’re as comfy as can be. The available colors are black, green, yellow, and pink.
Dia & Co. Lovefool Megan Ruched Knit Top
This Dia & Co. pick is like the ASOS Vera Moda top but without the florals. The Lovefool Megan ruched knit top features ruching all down the front, so you get–as Dia & Co. puts it–“a figure-hugging fit.” Lettuce trim keeps this top on-trend.
The sleeves are flared and feature a split, so they’re nice and roomy. This knit top has a moderate V-neck, but not enough that you’re showing off a lot of skin. It comes in light gray, rust orange, and black.
Romwe Women’s Front Twist Short-Sleeve Plus-Size Crop T-Shirt
We also have to recommend this Amazon pick, Romwe’s front twist short-sleeved crop tee. Starting at size 0X through 3X, this casual shirt features a round neck, a front twist front that shows off a bit of skin, and a soft, comfortable fit. Made of spandex (7 percent) and polyester (93 percent), this top has some stretch but not too much.
We love the variety of colors and patterns you can select from. Your options include khaki, burgundy, teal, black, baby blue, hot pink, white, and green camo.
ASOS Simply Be Shirt with Dipped Hem
Another great pick from the ASOS Plus collection is their Simply Be shirt with dipped hem. This shirt boasts buttons at the cuffs, a button placket, a spread color, and a fun print. You’re meant to leave the bottom buttons open so you can show off a sliver of tummy.
Back to those prints, you can select between a lipstick print or an animal print. How fun!
Dia & Co. Lovefool Alyssa Wrap Top
Our last suggestion is the Dia & Co. Lovefool Alyssa wrap cropped top. The wrapped detail at the bottom of this shirt is totally cute and on-point style-wise. This V-neck, short-sleeved woven shirt also has a collar, so it’s a bit dressy. A word on the V-neck, though. It’s very deep and very wide, so you’re definitely going to be showing off some boobage. Save this one for date night and not work!
You can buy the Alyssa wrapped top in lilac pink, neon yellow, and color-blocked black and white with alternating collar colors.
Tips for Wearing a Crop Top as a Plus-Size Woman
You found a few cute crop tops from our list above that you’re actually looking forward to wearing. You’re just nervous about doing so. Here are some tips for pulling off a crop top as a plus-size woman!
Create Balance
Since wearing a crop top already leaves your trouble areas vulnerable, you want to be sure your look is balanced from head to toe. That means avoid showing too much skin. For example, if you’re going to wear a cute off-the-shoulder crop top in a single color, pair it with a boldly patterned maxi skirt. Make sure the skirt is high-waisted.
You can also wear your crop top with high-waisted jeans. Any of the Dia & Co. Lovefool crop tops we showcased in the last section would look awesome with a pair of well-fitting jeans. That’s also true of the Romwe plus-size cropped shirt from Amazon.
If you want to go for a more relaxed, casual look, you can try pairing your crop top with high-waisted leggings or sweatpants. Those Ashley Stewart sweatshirts would look fantastic with some relaxed, high-waisted sweats.
Consider a Larger Fit for the Bottoms
When you’re going to be all covered up, if your clothes create a bit of squish, you can usually hide it with a looser shirt or even a jacket or scarf. Yet when you’re wearing a crop top, your upper half is on display. You can’t rely on your usual tricks to hide any unflattering bits.
For that reason, clothes that fit your body well are key here. Even if you’re usually a size 14 or 16, it’s not a bad idea to buy one size up for bottoms that you’ll wear with crop tops. This ensures that you have a smooth, streamlined silhouette without any unflattering bumps, squishes, and lumps!
The Right Accessories Are Everything
If you want to detract from your stomach or other trouble areas while wearing a crop top, make sure you accessorize the whole look. Perhaps you wear nice earrings or a statement necklace with a single-colored top, or you rock a pretty bangle, cross-body bag, or daring shoes.
The more put-together your outfit is, the better the chances that when someone sees you, they’ll take you in as a whole rather than look at specific parts like your stomach or hips.
Don’t Worry So Much About What Other People Will Think
You’re really stressing about what people will think when they see you. That’s fair, but the good news is that we can’t read minds, so you’ll never know what someone thinks when they pass you on the street.
What we can say for sure is that most people are so wrapped up in their own lives and problems that they’re not going to pay too much attention to you. That’s not to be rude, but we’re sure you’ve done the same thing where you’re just kind of in your own world.
Be confident wherever you go. You know you look good, so own it! Tell yourself that if someone gives you a lingering glance, it’s because they’re impressed with your outfit, not that they’re focused on your size.
Conclusion
Plus-size women can wear crop tops just as women of any size can. A cropped shirt, cardigan, or sweater can really make an outfit, so it’s always good to have at least one crop top in your wardrobe, if not several.
When wearing crop tops as a fuller lady, balance out how much skin you’re showing with high-waisted bottoms. Accessorize too, but remember that your best accessory is always confidence!
