Just when we thought designers were done unearthing Nineties fashion looks – and somehow making them desirable again – along comes another throwback trend we’d forgotten we used to love. This time it’s backless tops getting a new lease of life, the kind that were fashionable in the late 1990s. They’ve got a new name too.
‘Napkin top’ is the moniker given to these garments, because all they consist of is a tiny scrap of fabric, while some have a ‘hankie hem’ like the corner of a napkin.
So how do they differ to the backless tops of yesteryear? Well, if your collection was anything like ours, it was full of brightly colored halter neck designs (our favorite was pink snakeskin print) with beading and/or sequin detailing.
With napkin tops, color and print are off the menu. The 2020 trend is all about black and white, or tonal variations like ivory, cream, oyster, and dove gray.
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As for how you wear it, who remembers teaming their halter hankie tops with that other Nineties classic, impossibly low-slung ‘Britney’ jeans? (Yep, us too).
While some corners of the internet believe low-rise jeans are also due for a resurgence, most napkin top pioneers are pairing their backless numbers with more modern pieces, like A-line skirts and high-waisted trousers or shorts. It’s not hard to see why trendsetters are so enamored with them – as well as being sexy and stylish, they’re great for keeping cool when temperatures soar.
Want to try the trend? Scroll down to shop Savoir Flair’s favorites.
