As we transition out of relaxing summer afternoons into busy school days, crop tops for tweens continue to trend.Your daughter doesn’t necessarily need to wear a bra with her crop top if it’s fitted and supportive, or if she’s wearing it as loungewear at home. However, flowy or more revealing crop tops may leave her feeling exposed, so a sports bra or bralette may help her feel more comfortable.
What Is a Crop Top?
Crop tops are any type of shirt with a hem that is cut short enough to reveal most or some of the stomach. As high-waisted leggings, pants, and shorts have become trendy, crop tops don’t have much of a reputation for being revealing as they used to. This is because high-waisted bottoms cover most of the stomach, and wearing tops with longer hems can create unflattering bulging in the stomach area.
Because of this, you’ll often see school-aged girls wearing crop tops without looking or feeling too exposed. These tops can also be fitted, padded, and more supportive. In fact, many brands are creating supportive crop tops that can replace a sports bra while offering more coverage. In these situations, your daughter may not need to wear a bra with her crop top because she feels covered and comfortable.
Some crop tops can be flowy, like cropped oversized t-shirts. If your daughter is wearing a top like this and is engaging in a lot of activity‒such as jumping, gymnastics, or dancing‒the top can billow out or flip and leave her feeling exposed or embarrassed. If her top is less supportive, we’d recommend wearing a sports bra or a supportive camisole underneath.
Also, make sure you choose the right size top for your daughter. Depending on the fit,bigger girls in crop tops may want to size-up to ensure they have the right amount of coverage.
When to Know Your Daughter Is Ready for a Bra
Even if your daughter isn’t saying outright that she wants a bra, there are signs that will tell you she may be ready for one. If she starts complaining that she feels tenderness in her chest or her breast buds are visibly developing, it may be time for a conversation about training bras.
Yellowberry has a wide range of training bras, sports bras, and supportive camisoles to help her feel more confident in her developing body.
Turning Summer Casual Into Cool for School
Your daughter might have fallen in love with crop tops over the summer, but are crop tops appropriate for school? Many schools have dress codes that prohibit any stomach exposure, making crop tops fall into that confusing gray area of what’s appropriate.
Depending on the length of the crop top, it may be appropriate for school if your daughter layers it with a sweater or larger shirt, or if she wears a high-enough waistline to cover her stomach. If you’re ever unsure about your daughter’s dress code, check in with her teachers or a school administrator for clarification. You can also pack a change of clothes in her bag in case she’s asked to change.
Snag Summer and School Essentials at Yellowberry
At Yellowberry, we design our apparel and undergarments with tweens in mind. Blossoming into womanhood should be filled with support, confidence, and options to help her feel more empowered in her next steps. Looking for the perfect back-to-school clothing for your daughter? Check out our selection of clothes and undergarments today!