There’s a lot of fashion from the ’00s that we hope to never see again (how were jeggings a thing?), but one quintessential early aughts piece that has never quite been the same since? Going out tops.
Whether it was a halter top hanging together by a thread, a boob tube, or a delicate camisole, evening tops were a risqué affair before we hit the era of minimalism.
But springtime poses a unique challenge when it comes to getting dressed up. Not only do you want to look like you put a little effort in, but you want to be ready for some weird weather — meaning dresses aren’t always a safe bet.
And since we’ve already revived so many trends that we once painfully regretted (chic thongs, anyone?) we’re calling for a return to the going out top.
So, what makes a dressy top a going out top? They must be bold. And not just in a fluorescent yellow tank top kind of way. No, they need to provoke a distinct sense of evening.
An easy way of doing this is incorporating some kind of lace, satin, metallic or sequin element. But (and most importantly) they must have the power to dress up any bottoms you choose to throw under them.
If you’re having to reach for a stack of bangles (in keeping with the ’00s theme) to look a little extra, then they might not quite fill the brief. These should scream that you’ve got places to be, all on their own.
Luckily though, they don’t need to be too Simple Life-esque in skimpiness. Because they’re having somewhat of a renaissance right now, you can find many going out tops that have a more modern appeal. Shop our picks for going out tops that are 2020-appropriate.
Minimalist
Razzle Dazzle
Long-Sleeved
Quirky
