History
Women
The earliest known origin of women’s midriff-exposing clothing can be traced to the Indus Valley Civilization (c. 2600–1900 BCE) in South Asia. Archaeological finds—such as terracotta female figurines from sites like Mohenjo-daro and Harappa—depict women wearing garments resembling short bodices or bandeaus (early forms of cholis) combined with lower draped skirts, leaving the midsection or navel exposed. These depictions indicate that partial exposure of the waist was culturally accepted and perhaps even celebrated in ancient Indian society.
This early aesthetic evolved over millennia into classical South Asian garments such as the sari (with exposed midriff) and the ghagra choli (or lehenga choli), where the upper bodice (choli) and skirt (ghagra/lehenga) are distinct garments, traditionally leaving the waist and navel visible. These clothing traditions are deeply rooted in Indian cultural, artistic, and climatic contexts rather than foreign influence.
During the colonial period (18th–19th centuries), Western Orientalist artists and scholars—fascinated by Indian art, dance, and women’s attire—romanticized these styles. Their interpretations helped shape Western conceptions of “Eastern exoticism.” This aesthetic influence contributed indirectly to the design of belly dance costumes in Egypt and the Middle East during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Western costumers, inspired by colonial-era depictions of Indian and “Oriental” women in midriff-baring attire, popularized the two-piece ensemble with an exposed waist, merging local Egyptian dancewear with this idealized imagery.
Therefore, while Indian civilization provides the oldest archaeological and artistic evidence of intentional midriff exposure in women’s clothing, the Egyptian belly dance costume was a later syncretic development—shaped by Western Orientalism, colonial cultural exchange.
Summary of Key Points
1. Oldest archaeological evidence: Indus Valley Civilization (2600–1900 BCE).
2. Continuity: Visible in later Indian styles like sari and ghagra choli.
3. Textual echoes: Vedic and classical Sanskrit references to garments such as stanapatta (breast band) and uttariya (upper drape).
4. Colonial influence: Western Orientalists adapted and romanticized Indian and Near Eastern dress, influencing modern belly dance costume design.
5. Conclusion: Midriff-baring women’s attire originated independently in India and later inspired global reinterpretations rather than being a direct exported fashion.
The early history of the modern form of crop top intersects with cultural views towards the midriff, starting with the performance of Little Egypt at the 1893 Chicago World's Fair. [2] Although the crop top first gained prominence in the fashion industry during the 1930s [3] and 1940s [2] [4] [5] [6] —the latter in particular due to fabric rationing in World War II [7] —it was largely confined to women's underwear at the time. It was not until the sexual revolution of the late 1960s and early 1970s that it achieved widespread acceptance, [3] [2] worn by celebrities such as Barbara Eden (star of NBC's I Dream of Jeannie ) [8] and Jane Birkin. [9] [10] A variant style, the tied-up top or knotted shirt, [2] also appeared in 1940s fashion [11] and spread in popularity during the 1960s.
In the 1980s, cut-off crop tops became more common as part of the aerobics craze and as a result of the popularity of the movie Flashdance . Singer Madonna wore a mesh crop top in her music video for the song "Lucky Star". [12] In the 2010s, the crop top experienced a revival due to the popularity of 1990s fashion and they still remain popular in the 2020s. [13] [14] [15]
Pristin's Eunwoo wearing a crop top
Woman in tied shirt
Sofie Dossi wearing a crop top
Men
Crop tops have been worn by men [16] since the 1970s. [17] The early Rocky films have Sylvester Stallone and Carl Weathers wearing crop tops while working out. [18]
The protective gear of American football with no shirt resembles a crop top. Eventually cropped jerseys became available which carried over to several 1980s broadcasts. Men also started to wear crop tops regardless of sport. Acceptance for men wearing no shirt could be seen to eliminate the need for a crop top. Various crop tops have been worn by rappers as well as American football athletes. However, in 2015, the National Collegiate Athletic Association [19] [20] increased restrictions on men wearing crop tops, [21] [22] [23] [24] which also includes rolling up longer jerseys, giving no reason for the change. [25] [26] [27] [28]
Since the mid-2010s, the male crop top has seen a major resurgence in popularity, [29] including prominent celebrity figures such as football player Ezekiel Elliott, [30] rapper Kid Cudi, [31] rock star Josh Kiszka, and actors Matthew McConaughey and Zac Efron. [32]
A man wearing an improvised crop top
Gay porn star François Sagat man wearing a cropped vest
