Break Out The Crop Tops (Maybe)

I've never been more ready to sweat. I mean it, people. I've been freezing since October and it's finally time to defrost. Summer is upon us and it's time to start dressing appropriately. Put away your jeans and Chelsea boots and break out the crop tops!

I love walking outside and feeling the immediate presence of the sun's rays beating down on my skin. It's like a giant hug from a heated blanket you didn't know you needed. Even if you're not cold, the warmth of the sun feels so very comforting. 

Let's get real, though. This season can be brutal. Last summer I commuted to my internship in DC on the Metro each day. I remember how disturbingly sweaty I would get just WALKING to the Metro, much less on the suffocating 30 minute ride into the city. Summer can feel even more brutal when you're trekking to work instead of lounging poolside. 

The remedy? Dressing appropriately. Some of you are probably wondering how a blog post with "crop top" in the title can be about dressing appropriately. It's all in the styling. There's a way to rock a crop top and look put together without trying to be the Victoria's Secret Angel that we are not. 

The first step to rocking a crop top anytime anywhere is to find one that is long enough to "tuck in" to a skirt or a pair of pants. This trick can also work with high waisted shorts, like I wore here. Once you've found the perfect crop top, you should find the right bottoms to wear depending on the occasion.

You can pair a crop top with a pencil skirt to create the chicest office-appropriate outfit ever. Not in the office? Pair your crop top with a shorter skirt like I did to look like a summer style queen who has risen above the short shorts/spaghetti strap combo. 

For even more ideas, shop a few of my favorite crops below from Subdued, a little shop I discovered last summer in Milan. 

sleeveless turtle neck | Subdued $23

off shoulder crop | Subdued $28

boat neck tank | Subdued $18