Off the shoulder tops & dresses are a favorite of designers and celebs. Discover the 10 chicest ways of rocking this latest 80s inspired trend in 2016!
From off the shoulder dress to crop tops, from off the shoulder sweater to jumpsuits, this trend can be worn with so many outfits. So let’s take a look at my 10 favorite ways to rock this latest trend.
How to Wear Off the Shoulder Tops & Dresses
1. With Pencil Skirts
I love pencil skirts, and they add a touch of class to every outfit. So if you want your off the shoulder outfit to look feminine but not girly, edgy but not slutty, add a pencil skirt. Formal cotton pencil skirts, frayed denim skirt, or leather pencil skirts – all are great ideas!
2. Full Sleeved Off the Shoulder Top with Jeans
Here’s the most casual, wearable way to rock this trend. If you want to balance the bare shoulder look with covered arms, go for a chic full-sleeved top and pair it with ripped skinny jeans or leggings. Also add a cross-body bag like Kendall Jenner for a casual street-style look!
3. Off the Shoulder Crop-Top/ 2-Piece Outfits
So chic!! Matching sets are sill very trendy. You can pick out an off-shoulder top to match your skirt or culottes. You can also select a two-piece outfit. I’m loving the off-shoulder tops with midi-skirts a la Dior FW16 collection and Miranda Kerr:
4. Off the Shoulder Party Dress
Off-shoulder trend is not just great for street style, but for formal-dos and parties, too! Here are some celebrities who rocked off the shoulder dresses at the red carpet. Also check out two of my favorite off-shoulder couture gowns from SS16 runway collections!
5. Off Shoulder With Straps Dress
Off-shoulder too much for you? Select a dress with straps for a combination off-shoulder neckline look. They’ve been all over the runways: Chanel, Roberto Cavalli, Dior, Dolce & Gabbana and more:
6. Off-Shoulder Coat & Jacket
This trend is for every season! Â Dior made a big case for off-shoulder bar-jackets and coats in their SS16 collection, and then again in their Fall Winter 2016 collection:
6. Off-Shoulder Worn Over a Tee or Top
This is the trendiest, straight-off-the-runway way to wear this trend. If you’re feeling experimental, or don’t want to “bare the shoulders”, layer your outfit to create a casual effect. Wear your off the shoulder top or dress over a casual top or tee – it could be a halter top, a sheer tank top or even a full-sleeved sweater, but it should be fitted enough to not show layering lines under.
7. One Sided Off-Shoulder
One-sided off the shoulder tops and dresses are also very trendy. Check out these different styles:
8. The Layered Look
If you want the layered look, but don’t want the casual look of wearing a tee under your off the shoulder top, go for a built-in layer. I love the folded off-shoulder sweater by Dior here, and also Chanel’s off-shoulder maxi-dress with a choker-like neckline with roses and a long ribbon!
9. With Another 80s Element
Wanna make your outfit sexy in a retro way? The off-shoulder trend was very popular in the 80s, so you can add other 80s elements to your outfit to make the inspiration bolder. I recommend French lace tights or a perm!
So these were the 10 ways to rock off the shoulder tops and dresses. Are you loving this latest trend that’s taking the runways by storm? How would you wear it? Comment below! Lemme know!
Shilpa Ahuja the editor-in-chief of ShilpaAhuja.com, which she founded with the goal of inspiring confidence in the modern working woman through fashion. Other than defining the direction of the magazine, she also writes about fashion & beauty trend forecasts, industry analysis, and opinions.
Shilpa’s work has been published in the University of Fashion blog and Jet Airways magazine. She is also an artist, illustrator and cartoonist. She is also the creator of Audrey O., a comic series that represents the lifestyle of millennial women. She enjoys creative writing and world travel. Her art has been exhibited at Harvard Graduate School of Design and the Aroma Hotel, Chandigarh and been published in Chandigarh Times.
Originally from Chandigarh, Shilpa also has a degree in architecture and has worked in interior project management. She is also the author of the book “Designing a Chinese Cultural Center in India”. Shilpa has a Masters in Design Studies degree from Harvard University.
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