Is Nothing New? The Midriff-Baring Look Then and Now

By Andrea Cheng
Jul 05, 2013 @ 11:50 am
FilmMagic (2); Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images; Chelsea Lauren/WireImage

Is 2013 the year of the crop top? It is shaping up to be. The trend—previously popular among red carpet fixtures and teen pop princesses of the ’90s (like Gwen Stefani and Britney Spears)—is coming back again thanks to gutsy style players like Miley Cyrus and Diane Kruger. We’re seeing a range of ab flashes, from mild (like a shortened top with a high-waisted skirt) to wild (like full-out belly-baring crops with printed pants). And you can get on the spectrum, too, if you so choose. Feel your way around the trend by starting with a cropped top and high-waist bottoms to reveal a sliver of upper abdomen—not too much, but just enough. For more inspiration, click to see celebs working the midriff on and off the red carpet, then and now.

MORE:
• How to Look Good Wearing Overalls
• Why Celebs Love Showing Their Midriffs
• Look of the Day: Our Fave Outfits Ever

Start Slideshow

1 of 20

1995: Courteney Cox

Mirek Towski/DMI/Time Life Pictures/Getty Images
The former Friends star flaunted a flat tummy in a tied-up floral top and blue bottoms.
Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 20

1997: Gwen Stefani

Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic
Back in the day, Stefani displayed a cropped top and 'do.

3 of 20

2000: Mandy Moore

Evan Agostini/ImageDirect
The sweet pop princess of the 2000s paired a feathery halter with an asymmetrical denim midi skirt.
Advertisement

4 of 20

2000: Britney Spears

Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images
The young Spears put together a sparkly belly button-grazing cami and fur-lined pants.

5 of 20

2000: Christina Aguilera

Ron Galella, Ltd./WireImage
A baby-blue sequined tiny tank and red patent snakeskin pants was Aguilera’s signature look.

6 of 20

2001: Angelina Jolie

Jean-Paul Aussenard/WireImage
Jolie channeled her inner Lara Croft in a cropped tank and badass leather pants.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 20

2013: Naomie Harris

Jacopo Raule/FilmMagic
Harris flashed a peek of midriff in an Armani ensemble.

8 of 20

2013: Jennifer Lawrence

Martin Bureau/AFP/Getty Images
A billowy pair of Christian Dior trousers offset a pretty pastel cropped top.

9 of 20

2013: Miley Cyrus

Alo Ceballos/FilmMagic
An Emilio Pucci set exposed glimpses of skin in all the right areas.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

10 of 20

2013: Rooney Mara

AdMedia/Splash News
Ruffle detailing on this J.W. Anderson softened this all-black look.

11 of 20

2013: Diane Kruger

Chelsea Lauren/WireImage
Kruger paired her cropped white button-down with a hot-red leather A-line skirt.

12 of 20

2013: Lake Bell

Araya Diaz/WireImage
Bell balanced an exposed midriff with a floral print blouse, tailored shorts and ballet flats.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

13 of 20

2013: Gwen Stefani

Ramey Photo
Stefani still rocks the midriff look! Forever a rocker girl, this superstar likes to take the style to the extreme.

14 of 20

2013: Rosie Huntington-Whiteley

Caroline McCredie/WireImage
Huntington-Whiteley bared her upper abdomen in a white bandeau and ankle-grazing skirt from Calvin Klein Collection.

15 of 20

Diane Kruger

Donato Sardella/Getty Images
Kruger bared her midriff in a cropped top and floral pants at an L.A. Prabal Gurung bash.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

16 of 20

Vanessa Hudgens

Xposurephotos.com
Hudgens flaunted her abs in a sheer cropped Catherine Malandrino sweater and white Houghton cigarette pants.

17 of 20

Olivia Wilde

AFF-USA.COM
Wilde bared her midriff in a two-piece A.L.C. design: a leather crop top and a red checkered midi skirt.

18 of 20

San Diego

Eric Charbonneau/Invision for Sony Pictures/AP Images
Collins hit up Comic-Con boasting two trends in one look with a printed crop-top and shorts set from Paper London.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

19 of 20

Jennifer Lawrence

Richie Buxo/Splash News
Lawrence was at it again, flaunting her bare midriff in a Proenza Schouler ensemble: A printed crop tee and a white A-line skirt.

20 of 20

Rooney Mara

Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images
Mara flaunted her fab abs in a Calvin Klein Collection set.
Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Up Next

Advertisement
© Copyright . All rights reserved. Printed from https://www.instyle.com