The exposed midriff

Back when I was a pre-teen I first fell pray to midriff shirts. Back then they were called "baby tees", and they were basically t-shirts worn a few sizes too small, usually paired with oversized jeans. I remember being particularly fond of a teensy-tiny Roxy tee, which I would wear with my brother's baggy pants.

The midriff came back again a few years later. The summer I was 14 I actually had a tan line around my lower stomach from walking around in tiny singlets (embarrassing, I know!). My mother would roll her eyes muttering, "Where is the rest of your top?"

I started thinking about the midriff again last year watching 90210 reruns with my flatmate. We both confessed to digging the 90s LA style, stonewashed jeans and crop tops with touches of neon. Ok, it wasn't exactly chic, but if reinterpreted correctly (which we tired to do) there was potential.

Now many years after the terrible attempts of Britney and more-than-slightly awkward attempts by Donna Martin, the stomach wants some exposure once again. From the runways to young Hollywood, over the last few months there has been a noticeable rise in crop tops. However, the crop has moved from the bellow button and below of the late nineties and Britney Spears era to above the bellow button all together. The new midriff is the high midriff.

Anyway, I never thought I'd actually see this trend again, but I think it has finally found a way to look fashionable rather than tacky. By pairing a crop top with a high-waisted pant or skirt (like Daisy Lowe and Rihanna above), the hint of skin (emphasis on the hint!) is actually flirty and fun. During spring fashion week last year this trend was all over the runway- Prada even found a way to make it look classy.

It will be interesting to see if the current spring fashion weeks will continue to reveal hints of stomach as well, or if maybe this trend is having a moment that will be short-lived. In my opinion, it is all about confidence and rocking a look like you own it, so I say if you want to flash some tummy skin, go for it!