You may not have owned a halter top since the mid-2000s, but as summer gets underway — and the trends for the season begin to reveal themselves — you’ll want to consider getting reacquainted with it.
Really, the halter top has been with us for decades. It was a staple of the second half of the twentieth century, from Marilyn Monroe’s The Seven Year Itch dress to the slinky blouses and evening gowns of disco. By the nineties and early 2000s, it had taken a much more casual turn, worn with low-rise bottoms by the likes of Britney Spears and Paris Hilton. Then, by the late aughts, it was pushed to the back of the closet, like most trends from that period (bike shorts, chunky sneakers, big logos). The halter top was for the most part forgotten — until a handful of buzzy designers began reincorporating them into their collections a few seasons ago.
Meghan Markle wore a halter on her wedding day, and Bella Hadid just wore one while on vacation in Greece. If that’s not an indication that it’s poised for a comeback, I don’t know what is.
Christian Dior, Jacquemus, Tibi, and other designers beloved by influencers have renewed interest in the halter top by putting it on the runway. Now, as shoppers prepare their wardrobes for summer, more brands have jumped onto the open-back bandwagon.
You can find sleek and sophisticated dresses and jumpsuits, or you can double down on the nostalgia with a shirred crop top from Topshop and AEO. There’s no wrong way to go about this throwback trend. (Though, adding a bucket hat would be a nice touch.)
