Hot Flossing In the Summertime!
Updated: Jun 13, 2021
The official start of Summer is just a few days away, but for those of us in warmer, Southern, climates, it's already here. Tank top and flip flop season is upon us here in humid Miami, Florida. And one the biggest trends in fashion for beating the heat this year is the return of the crop top, with a twist. It's called the midriff floss, where the cropped top, whether in t-shirt, button-down, wrap, or tank top form, has an extension of thin "floss" string that's supposed to be wrapped and crisscrossed around your exposed midriff. You can tie it in the front or the back, whichever is your preference.
I tend to shop for items I expect to be staples in my wardrobe for years to come and, if I'm lucky, also transcends seasons so I'm able to rock it all year long versus storing it away for months at a time. Because I live in perpetual sunshine, the only items I ever expect to store away are sweaters, coats and anything that might cause me to drown in my own sweat. Everything else, I anticipate being able to wear for at least 8 months of the year. However, I will venture out and pick up a trendy item or two...or three, if it's something I find interesting or foresee might actually stick around past its trendy shelf life and become a staple. And then there are items I'm certain will be short lived, but are too much fun to pass up. The flossy midriff falls into the latter category. Plus, at my age, this might be my last go at enjoying having my midriff exposed. Yes, I work out, but I love bacon and bread and pasta and all the stuff that likes to cling to the midsection. For those items with a limited life span in my wardrobe, I most definitely will not splurge on them. Hell, I don't splurge for the classic items that are expected to last. A bargain is a bargain, but it's even better when you know there will be no love lost when it's time to part and the item is handed over to Goodwill.
So, here's my venture into the midriff flossing trend.
I went for something on the mature side with these black pinstripes against a crisp white cotton/linen blend. The high waist of these tailored-fit wide-legged pants allows for a small area of bare midriff for the flossing effect to be on display. In my opinion, it's a nice alternative to your standard tank top. This look is great for a stroll around shopping during vacation, a brunch date, outdoor dinner by the bay/beach or hanging out with friends on the weekend. I'm not one to have my arms out and if you're dealing with fluctuating temperatures, having an extra layer is necessary, so I paired the set with this a white cardigan, which - fortuitously- came with buttons similar to those on the button-fly of the trousers. Also, a bonus is that the cardigan was in a true white, which can be rare these days. I'm not sure what's going on in the fashion industry, but I can't tell you how many times I've order a "white" item online only to have it arrive more ivory , off-white, or in a creamy-white tone. When I order something in white and it shows up as a true white, it's always a pleasant surprise. My expectation is that ivory has become the new white and someone in fashion simply forgot to tell the rest of us.
As a result, this white-white look is a "summer whites" dream. I don't expect to keep the top beyond this summer, but can probably work with the pants for a while longer. They've already been in the wash and survived with flying colors. What you see in these photos is the items post-washing. Now, I have to say the fit on the trousers is amazing for the price. They are very tailored at the waist and the darting/pleating detail in the front gives off the appearance that they cost more than I paid. And it came with pockets, which is always a bonus. The only gripe I have about the pants is the ridiculous lining that stops in the upper thigh area. It's nice they wanted to go the extra mile of providing a lining for an item this affordable, however, it leaves me looking like I'm wearing white boxer shorts underneath, which isn't a look I'm all that comfortable with. The way I remedy issues of this nature, though, is to simply wear a pair of white footless tights/shapewear under white bottoms that aren't opaque. This will not only blend in with any lining (which I forgot to do for these photos), but the extra layer of white underneath gives the garment a whiter appearance, which is never a bad thing. The other strike against the trousers, which isn't really all that bad when you consider the possible explanation, is that they're only long enough for you to wear flat shoes with them. The look works, but it decreases the versatility of the item because you can't wear a higher heel. You can, but it'll look a little off. My thought is they purposely kept the hem at the length it is, so that the white fabric didn't drag on the ground and get dirty when you're not wearing heels. It's only practical to keep the hem where it works best in addition to remaining clean.
Overall, my jump into the flossy fashion pool, was a success. I like the casual classy look I achieved with the cardigan as well as the 2nd look I tried with the pants and different top (shown below). This was supposed to be a more dressed up ensemble and I think I achieved that, but the hem issue nags at me. If only they were just an inch longer!
Let me know what you think. Are you planning to floss your midriff this summer or is it a NO for you?
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