At the entrance of the BBB 23 house, actor Gabriel Santana surprised with a cropped look in a cropped top and the fans went wild in the nets.
The piece, which was initially much more prevalent among the female public, reentered the menswear radar with force in 2022, attracting fans abroad and in Brazil.
Actor and singer João Guilherme caused a stir by “reacting” on his Instagram by wearing a crop top. At Paris Fashion Week, several models appeared in the pieces showing their bellies.
This fashion is not new. Especially in the 1980s and 1990s, the men’s crop top made history in films, clips and shows and even hit the streets. But how did this return with the right to the BBB 23 spotlight come about? Check out this “timeline” below:
first act
among the famous
Rapper Kid Cudi in a cropped top during a performance at Coachella
Image: Getty Images
Let’s start with the enthusiasts in the spotlight. In the 1980s, thenteen heartthrob Johnny Depp was among the defenders of the short blouse, at least on the big screen, when he hit his groin a cinematic record in the production A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984).
Johnny Depp in “Nightmare on Elm Street” (1984)
Image: reproduction
In the same decade, the multiartist prince considered the play on stage to be one of his most distinctive brands. Style fused with performances that, like his art, made him immortal. It is worth remembering Wembley Arena in London in 1986.
Prince at Wembley Arena in 1986 while performing in London, England
Image: Getty Images
In later years, particularly in the 1990s, the costume became popular. It was no longer something that somehow belonged to the artistic universe to be adopted in casual looks albeit often in productions by major networks.
For example, Will Smith wore the cropped top as a uniform in the episodes of Um Maluco no Pedaço (1990). Lenny Kravitz, on the other hand, let her dreadlocks extend past the length of her blouse. Even Adam Sandler sported a look like this long before he became a Gen Z fashion icon.
Lenny Kravitz
Image: Getty Images
Will Smith in Crazy in the Piece (1990)
Image: reproduction
In this day and age, celebrities who wear their shirts with exposed midriffs are not coincidentally the same ones who have a major influence on fashion whether they dictate trends in public or are hailed as darlings of designer brands.
João Guilherme can be cited as our Brazilian example by wearing the “dress quickly and react” meme. Or rather, Supla, before influencers even dared to exist on Instagram.
In Strange Lands, Euphoria star Jacob Elordi has already given us an essay for Wonderland magazine in which the costume was the protagonist. In this version, it hugged the stomach like a corset instead of showing the muscular curves.
Even Jaden Smith, singer and son of the aforementioned William Smith, seems to have tiny cuts in his veins. Or rather in the closets.
Jacob Elordi
Image: Playback/Wonderland
Jaden Smith
Image: Playback/Instagram
second act
catwalks and brands
JW Anderson | Fall 2022
Image: Disclosure
The obsession of the big labels to place the crop top as one of the protagonists of their men’s collections is not surprising. Here we can cite some of the driving forces, like the big rage for genderless and the accompanying obsession with the 2000s.
For example, while we see lowwaist trousers in women, the cropped blouse seems to play such a role in men.
Balenciaga is one of the prominent brands. The Demna Gvsalia collection presented for Fall/Winter 2019 has already introduced us to clothing. A shyer version but still smaller than the popular one.
In 2022, arable crops became ubiquitous. For Vetements, directed by fellow Gvsalia, Guram, the blouse appeared in an allearth tones look, with the fine mesh contrasting with the leather of the pants and jacket. And above all, an accessory: the underwear on display. After all, few things are intimately fashionable these days.
Balenciaga | Fall/Winter 2019
Image: Disclosure
Other labels have also been investing in the men’s piece at the same pace: Fendi, in a flirtation with tailoring, JW Anderson, in high relief, and GmbH, in a college adaptation of cardigans.
All this for both the Spring/Summer and Autumn/Winter shows. There’s no bad time for a man and his cropped.
Fendi | Spring/Summer 2022
Image: Disclosure
GmbH | Spring/Summer 2022
Image: Disclosure
What does style consultant Gauss Damascena say in an interview for Ourthis strong presence of the cropped top comes as the younger generations are gaining traction as both consumers and influencers, so trends are gaining strength.
“I believe that the eyes of the fashion market are on young people more than ever, and I find it incredible that fashion can break down barriers and shake up the prevailing aesthetic,” says the expert.
Nobody is better than the young man and his audacity to be the protagonist of these changes.”
Gauss Damascena, image and style consultant
third act
In the streets
How will the cropped top end up on the street?
Image: Reproduction/AlledMartinez
Street fashion around Paris Fashion Week
Image: Edward Berthelot/Getty Images
When it comes to street style, those embracing the crop top as part of the look are largely the queer community. Gradually, as on the catwalks, you can see that genderless fashion is gaining ground among consumers although its use is still somewhat limited to the underground scene.
For Gauss Damascena, there’s a counterpoint: at the same time that these clothes embrace diversity, they also immortalize a male body figure: ripped abs and the socalled “tanquinhos,” which we all know have no reality outside of the Instagram feed are .
“Fashion is far from inclusive,” says the fashion and style consultant. “We’re often inundated with images of defined and naturally unattainable bodies.”
This piece aims to frame and enhance those bodies.”
For those who intend to venture into this fashion with or without a body, within the stereotypes attributed to the crop top, the pro’s tip is: “Pay attention to the image you want to convey in order to be confident.” feel. Do you want to start slow? Try a short overlay with a longer, tightfitting mesh, like a second skin.”