While the “trends” that the New York Times Style section reports on don’t always qualify as actual, real-world trends, last week’s story “Who Wears Crop Tops to the Office?” definitely seems grounded in reality. So let’s chat about it today! (We also linked to the article in last week’s news post.)
So do tell, readers: Have you spotted any Gen Zers (or anyone else) wearing crop tops at your workplace? (Related: Do you work at an office that has drastically relaxed its dress code since the Before Times?) Do you think there’s any way to style crop tops that would make them at least marginally acceptable at the office?
{related: what not to wear to work}
To kick off this open thread, here a couple of excerpts from the story to discuss — particularly the parts we’ve bolded:
On TikTok, videos showcasing crop tops as work wear frequently draw criticism from users, including accusations of unprofessionalism and suggestions that the posters are merely cosplaying the lives of actual office workers. But the trend is also praised, particularly by members of Gen Z, as a stylish show of resistance against the status quo.
As the fashion trends of the 1990s and early 2000s continue to grow in popularity, tops that are cropped or perforated with eccentric cutouts are widely available in stores today. Many retail websites, including Revolve, Forever 21, Asos, Shein and Fashion Nova, showcase crop tops in their work wear categories, along with miniskirts and backless blouses. Based on how they’re presented online, the recent college graduate could be forgiven for thinking that crop tops are unimpeachably office-appropriate.
In last week’s Weekend Open Thread, a commenter posted a link to the NYT story, and it prompted a reader discussion that included the fitting response, “Oh no. No no no no no.”
Readers particularly took issue with the fact that some of the women interviewed simply dislike “the idea of spending money on professional clothing that [they] will wear only a few days out of the week.” After all, as one commenter pointed out, “Work clothes can be cheap.”
Taking a quick look at TikTok, I found a bunch of videos about wearing crop tops at work, with some women saying they do it because they’re the ONLY shirts they have. (As someone old enough to have a kid who’s younger Gen Z, I would say to them: “But aren’t you cold in the winter?! Also, get off my lawn!”)
{related: bare arms at work: yea or nay? (from 2011, for “historical” perspective}
Readers, what are your thoughts? How would someone wearing a crop top be handled by your office?
Stock photo via Stencil.
Kate Antoniades
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