Let’s talk about shoulders. Remember being yelled at in school for wearing tank tops with straps that were too thin and showed too much shoulder? Silly, isn’t it? But after this post, maybe we’ll understand.
Shoulders are sexy. There is no arguing that.
Too sexy for school? I’m not really sure, but as an adult, it’s irrelevant and we can wear what we want when we want, thankfully. Caution, it may not be work appropriate depending on the profession.
To preface, off-the-shoulder tops are different than a strapless top. Off-the-shoulder blouses still have sleeves, and some even have a thin strap to help hold them up. A strapless has no sleeve at all.
Now that we’re clear on that, let’s talk about the different types of off-the-shoulder tops, because there’s more to them than you’d expect! .
Off-the-shoulder tops can have short, ¾, and long sleeves. They can show both shoulders or just one shoulder, come as cropped tops, bodysuits, and regular tops. Rompers, jumpsuits, and even dresses can have off the shoulder tops on them!
You’ll see me wear off the shoulder outfits throughout my OOTD posts. Currently loving this blue of the shoulder dress in these warmer temperatures! Hello ruffles!
I want to show you a few ways to wear off-the-shoulder tops and look amazing doing so. I want you to have the confidence to let your beauty and shoulders shine!
How to wear off the shoulder tops with jeans
There are so many types of off-the-shoulder tops that you can wear with jeans. I actually don’t think there is one that you can’t wear with a pair of jeans, which is great news for off-the-shoulder shirt wearers! Since it is summer, I wanted to show you warmer weather off-the-shoulder tops.
I love the gingham top she’s wearing. Not only is the pattern fun, but the ruffle that goes across the top and arms is mega flirty, giving the top some layered texture. It even has a knot at the bottom, which has been big these last couple of years.
In case you didn’t think of it, you can add knots to your shirts if you want them on a top that doesn’t have it. I like to knot tees that don’t have them for certain occasions, such as a beach or pool day!
The jeans that she’s wearing are dark, ripped, and cuffed so that they look well with her booties. This would be super cute with a pair of mom jeans and white sneakers!
This other outfit, isn’t it super cute? This looks to be an off-the-shoulder crop top, but it’s hard to be 100% sure. It’s flowy and feminine, and I cannot get enough of it.
She’s wearing it with a pair of lighter wash, distressed denim and a pair of heels that match her clutch, which couldn’t be any more perfect. This is the ultimate spring or summer going out look!
How to wear off the shoulder tops with a skirt
I love wearing off the shoulder tops in general, but with skirts is so cute. Check out this outfit where I’m wearing a denim skirt with a long sleeve off-the-shoulder button up!
This first outfit screams spring and summer! I wanted to share this one because it is a great display of how you can wear two clothing items that aren’t completely fitted and not lose your figure beneath it all.
It’s still sweet and feminine, despite being flowy and fun! Plus, that yellow, floral, high waist, mini skirt is killer.
You see that her off-the-shoulder top is a ¾ sleeve and a crop top, and is almost the same material as the skirt. It’s loose enough to almost be a bardot top, but it’s not quite there yet.
This second outfit I wanted to share because it is a great example of how to wear a slim fitted off-the-shoulder with a skirt. This is actually a ribbed bodysuit, so you don’t have to worry about it rising up or becoming untucked!
I really like that she’s wearing a tan faux suede skirt with it. It reminds me of my favorite mustard, mini skirt outfit. I’m wearing a turtleneck, but this outfit is so similar you can see how the off-the-shoulder top would look great with it!How to wear off the shoulder tops for a special event
Dresses with off-the-shoulder tops are perfect for formal events. There’s something about showing off the shoulder and collarbone with a sweetly cut bust that is super elegant.
This first is a cocktail dress. Isn’t it flirty? I love the cut-out area in the front. It gives it some extra character, plus the fit of bottom of the dress resembles a skater dress. Wear this with a cute pair of strappy heels!
This second dress in mustard is super elegant with the wrapping in the front, pleats, and the long slit to show some sexy leg. Of course a pair of strappy heels look great and enhance the length of the leg which is important since it’s exposed!
I like that both of these are off-the-shoulder but show how it looks with a shorter cocktail dress and a longer elegant dress. It shows that the off-the-shoulder aspect is versatile and can be worn for different events. Think…New Years Eve party vs. a ball.
How celebrities wear off the shoulder tops
Kendall Jenner, in this first look, is wearing a white, off-the-shoulder bodycon jumpsuit. I’m not sure where anyone that isn’t a celebrity would wear something like this, but she looks great in it.
I do love off-the-shoulder rompers, however, which are in a way similar. Check out my Michael Costello off-the-shoulder romper outfit! (It has bell sleeves!)
Hailey Baldwin-Bieber, yes Justin Bieber’s wife, is seen in this second outfit. I really liked this cropped off the shoulder long sleeve she’s wearing. It’s like a combination of an oversized sweater and a crop top.
This, clearly, is a casual outfit, unlike Kendall’s. She’s wearing light washed, denim jeans and a pair of heels with it. Nothing fancy, probably super comfortable, and still fashionable!
How to wear off the shoulder tops during winter
Having cold shoulders from wearing an off-the-shoulder top is different than cold shoulder tops, in case you were wondering. Here, we see two examples of ways you can wear off-the-shoulder tops in cooler weather!
In this first outfit, she’s wearing an off-the-shoulder crop top beneath a teddy bear jacket. Her midsection may be cold, but surely the jacket helps. I love my teddy bear coat and would totally wear a cropped, off-the-shoulder top beneath it if I felt like it!
This second outfit is probably the most comfortable sweater ever. It’s a gorgeous material and looks great with her jeans. There are so many off-the-shoulder and oversized sweaters that can be worn like this. Wouldn’t this be a perfect top for a casual holiday party or family get together?
Truly, if you have an oversized sweater where the neck opening is big enough, you could pull it to one side and create your own one shoulder look.
Something to remember when you’re wearing cropped tops: You cannot wear a regular bra with straps with these. If you are uncomfortable letting the girls be free, you can opt to wear a strapless bra, pasties, or a sticky bra. This is very important!
I really love to wear off-the-shoulder tops during the summer. I especially love when my dresses are off-the-shoulder! Check out this white, off-the-shoulder dress, it’s perfect for a summer day!
When would you wear an off-the-shoulder top? To a special event? To a specific place? Do you like the fitted off-the-shoulder tops or the looser sleeves? I want to hear from you! Tell me in the comments below!
