The Carrie Bradshaw-Approved Going-Out Top Is Back

Regardless of how you now feel about nightclubs, your 2000s nightclub uniform (or the uniform you, a third-party nonpartier, once observed others wearing) is now fashion. Going-out tops — a genre that includes tube tops, embellished halter tops and lingerie-inspired camis — are in the midst of a resurgence. And they still come paired with jeans.

OTT tops have been steadily creeping their way back into the fashion zeitgeist for some time now. Two years ago, The Cut wrote of how Game of Thrones‘ Daenerys Targaryen was the mother of not only dragons, but also fashion’s renewed obsession with the type of tops “social mores demand that you hang up … once you stop taking Jägerbombs and start contributing to a 401K.” As early as seven months ago, Man Repeller’s Leandra Medine voiced her theory that going-out tops “are coming back.” Three months later, she made it official, declaring them “back and legitimately better than before.”

We’d argue that the slinky, sexy pieces circled back by way of the underwear-as-outerwear and look at me! look at me!/ bad-taste-as-good-taste trends. And while you’d think that the going-out top renaissance would bring with it some nouveau styling tricks (and Medine argues it has — she likes hers with a floral skirt and sock boots or fancy pants and matching pumps), Vogue.com Market Editor Chelsea Zalopany recommends we stick with tradition, make like 90s and noughties Supers and pop icons and pair our going-out tops with jeans and a heel. “I think just accept and own that the noughties did it right. There’s no shame in an oldie but goodie.” (In the distance, Carrie Bradshaw and Paris Hilton nod their heads with approval.)

Christian Dior Spring 2017, Alexander McQueen Spring 2017, Saint Laurent Spring 2017; Images: Imaxtree

The Spring 2017 runways backed Zalopany’s theory. Saint Laurent’s Anthony Vaccarello gave the “jeans and a top” look his stamp of approval, pairing faded boyfriend jeans with sweetheart-neckline tops, mismatched earrings and point-toe pumps. At Dior, Maria Grazia Chiuri teamed low-slung white jeans with a fluted-sleeve black chiffon top worn over a minimalist bralette. The practicality advocate finished off the look with heel-free sandals and a crossbody bag slung on under the chiffon topper (for added comfort and security on the dance floor, we imagine). Another girls’-night-out look walked at Alexander McQueen, where Sarah Burton outfitted models in painted low-rise denim, opulent floral corsets and matching heeled booties, not to mention a ton of statement jewelry.

Kendall Jenner in Alberta Ferretti Limited Edition Fall 2016 Couture Top, Re/Done x Levi’s Jeans, Gucci Bag & Balenciaga Boots – Out & About in West Hollywood #tapforcredits (scroll left for more pics)

A post shared by Chic Celeb (@chicceleb) on Jun 26, 2017 at 11:41am PDT

Still, seeing as denim is so. good. right now, there’s no need to limit yourself to low-rise takes. Make like Kendall Jenner and pair high-shine tops with lo-fi denim that flatters your figure (whether it be high-waisted, flared, etc.). Anchor your look in the here and now with sleek block-heeled booties and a glittery handbag.

The best part? Because it’s 2017 and all fashion rules have pretty much flown into the abyss, the going-out top and jeans thing works just as well for daytime as it does for nighttime. (Before 6:00 p.m., ground your look with sneakers.) All this to say, it’s time to expand your going-out top collection, which you can easily do by shopping the slideshow below.