The origins of the clothing are unknown, but midriff tops go back to at least theBronze Age, demonstrated by the discovery ofEgtved Girl in Denmark.
The early history of the modern form of crop top intersects with cultural views towards themidriff, starting with the performance ofLittle Egypt at the1893 Chicago World's Fair.[2] Although the crop top first gained prominence in the fashion industry during the 1930s[3] and 1940s[2][4][5][6]—the latter in particular due to fabric rationing inWorld War II[7]—it was largely confined to women's underwear at the time. It was not until thesexual revolution of the late 1960s and early 1970s that it achieved widespread acceptance,[3][2] worn by celebrities such asBarbara Eden (star of NBC'sI Dream of Jeannie)[8] andJane Birkin.[9][10] A variant style, the tied-up top or knotted shirt,[2] also appeared in 1940s fashion[11] and spread in popularity during the 1960s.
In the 1980s, cut-off crop tops became more common as part of theaerobics craze and as a result of the popularity of the movieFlashdance. SingerMadonna wore amesh crop top in hermusic video for the song "Lucky Star".[12] In the 2010s, the crop top experienced a revival due to the popularity of1990s fashion and they still remain popular in the 2020s.[13][14][15]
Theprotective gear ofAmerican football with no shirt resembles a crop top. Eventually croppedjerseys became available which carried over to several 1980s broadcasts. Men also started to wear crop tops regardless ofsport. Acceptance for men wearing no shirt could be seen to eliminate the need for a crop top. Various crop tops have been worn byrappers as well as American football athletes. However, in 2015, theNational Collegiate Athletic Association[19][20] increased restrictions on men wearing crop tops,[21][22][23][24] which also includes rolling up longer jerseys, giving no reason for the change.[25][26][27][28]
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Media related toCrop tops at Wikimedia Commons