Crop tops have taken the fashion world by storm for all ages. These belly-exposing shirts have been featured in girls fashion by top fashion designers as recently as 2023, making many wonder ifcrop tops are for girlsand tweens.Girls as young as eight years old can wear crop tops, and more brands are offering these styles to younger audiences, which means your tween can easily find crop tops she loves.
These tops have come a long way from their more revealing beginnings in fashion history. Crop tops now have longer hemlines than what you’d expect from a 90s popstar, and with high-waisted bottoms also being in style, these tops don’t expose as much midriff as you’d think. This is why girls and tweens can wear crop tops without as much stigma or discomfort.
Styles of Crop Tops
There are several different styles of crop tops and ways to incorporate these comfy shirts into her wardrobe. Here are the different types of crop tops that can be age-appropriate for your preteen:
Activewear
Fitted, padded, and supportive crop tops can be a great option for activewear. Wearingbras with crop tops can feel uncomfortable, as they can feel almost too tight or revealing when your daughter wears them together.
Some activewear crop tops can replace the need for sports bras. If your daughter finds sports bras too restrictive, an activewear crop top might be a good alternative option.
Casual Loungewear
If your daughter is just hanging out at home or joining you for mother-daughter-movie-night, a baggy cropped t-shirt is perfect to snuggle up in. Some cozy crop tops come in sets complete with leggings and sweatpants so she can unwind in a matching set.
Long Sleeved
Not all crop tops are tanks and short-sleeved; crop tops with longer sleeves are perfect for layering in the fall and winter. These shirts can also have longer hemlines, and when paired with high-waisted pants, they can have a smoother look than tucking in a bulkier shirt into the waistband.
Tie-Up
Tie-up crop tops are just normal shirts that have the hem tied to make the shirt shorter. Some brands will make a crop top with fabric tabs to tie in the front, giving the tied-up look without all of the bulky excess fabric. These are cute for summer and spring fashions, and are ideal for weekends and after school hangouts.
Mock Neck
Mock neck crop tops are just like mock neck t-shirts where they cover the collarbone. However, they’re a little bit shorter than a standard tee. These tops provide more coverage on the chest area, and if it’s a longer crop top, it can pair well with a high-waisted skirt or leggings.
Keeping Crop Tops Age-Appropriate
While your daughter might be eager to keepbuying cute crop tops, how you style them and where they’re worn matters. Not every school policy will approve of crop tops, and some faculty members might even have conflicting standards on what is and isn’t school-appropriate.
We all remember feeling confused by school dress codes as tweens, and you can help prepare your daughter no matter the school’s policy. Pack an extra sweatshirt or longer layer into her backpack as a failsafe in case she has a fashion emergency during the school day.
Styling Tips and More
Looking for more styling and fitting tips, or general advice about discovering your daughter’s style while she embarks on tweendom? Our Yellowberry experts are here for you. Check out our other posts for more information on tween style!