Since the pandemic, workplace setups look much different than before, as do the people who inhabit them. This is especially true for corporate affairs and business offices, as many struggle with implementing new structures, systems, and ways of life. Some companies have gone fully remote, while others have edged back into full-time on-site, and many more exist somewhere on a scale in between.
By the spring of 2020, we were all (mostly) thrown into completely different working environments than we were used to. While we were logging into our computers from home and trying to determine if we should even wear pants to virtual meetings, the landscape of expectations slowly morphed. Sweats – and even solo nude working – became a work staple. Many offices began to encourage comfort even as they transitioned back to in-person work.
It often feels like it takes a backburner to other priorities, but office place fashion has undergone an entire transformation over the last few years. The rules placed around clothing can make a job more accessible and feel more comfortable, depending on how inclusive they are. However, there is still a negative stigma attached to the wardrobe staple that keeps it a hot topic when it comes to dressing code.
1. Crop Tops Promote Body Inclusivity
The world has historically always found fault in different types of bodies, and allowed body shapes to trend over the centuries. Trying to ensure that people of all backgrounds and demographics wear only what few deem acceptable and inviting. The issue is that these weight biases inherently cause massive psychological issues among the people who have to adhere to them.
In the before times, crop tops were only considered appropriate for people with relatively thin bodies. If you had any type of belly fat or were plus-sized, it was completely out of the question. This was as true in everyday social life as it was in the workplace. It is – and never has been – okay.
People who are told they “shouldn’t” wear something often hold onto that negative comment. They see themselves as the issue and wonder how to fix it. Out of these biases, people have been led to mental health issues like depression and anxiety, binge eating, and other traumatic body issues and eating disorders.
When people with all body types are encouraged to wear what makes them feel amazing in a professional setting, their confidence is bound to increase. They can then bring this confidence into their every day, in turn increasing productivity and their capacity to innovate.
2. Gen Z Embraces Crop Tops
Gen Z has seemed to embrace the crop top a lot more easily than generations prior, a factor that should be considered as workplace rules adjust. As young minds expand and choose not to judge people based on small, shallow nuances, their fashion options expand in kind.
Employers need entry-level and technologically-inclined new hires and are actively seeking 2022 college graduates at a rate of 32% more than years prior. Because of this, they are adjusting their expectations to align with the interests and fashion choices of the younger demographic.
3. Crop Tops Are Comfortable
Crop tops often carry a reasonable price point, especially since they are made of less fabric than other blouses and more formal office wear. Having reasonably priced options to choose from when creating your business casual wardrobe makes a job more approachable, encouraging inclusion in more ways than one.
Most people I know who have started to wear crop tops casually as adults find comfort in the airiness of the shirt. People who run hot benefit from the extra airflow and any amount of fresh air on the skin can keep you both alert and comfortable throughout the day. (Especially for those who get overheated in stressful situations.)
4. Crop Tops Are Fun and Versatile
Even if you are under the guise that midriffs are not appropriate for the workplace and crop tops should not be allowed, there are so many different ways to wear them. Purchasing a black crop top can edge you into the trend, and gives you plenty of space to play with your style in a fashion-forward way.
With a simple crop blouse, you can pair mid- or high-waisted pants, skirts, overalls, or slacks. Want to layer a flannel over for colder office days, or pair a cardigan with your outfit? That’s an option! An open-front blouse over a mock turtleneck crop, paired with wide-legged pants and boots? Stunning!
Just like bodysuits, crop tops have found renewed life and plenty of new silhouettes to endear their owners, enjoyers, and observers alike. They can be accessorized to be high-end, and bring a new breath of fresh air to other elements of the outfit.
If your workplace enforces a dress code that discourages them, consider speaking with human resources about those rules before overstepping. If the dress code does not explicitly forbid them, consider trying out the look. Do it with reckless abandon, and really enjoy what the mirror reflects back at you.
