by Carrie Eckles

Created on: July 05, 2010

Trapeze tops have been a warm weather staple in recent years and with good reason: they’re cute and they allow great air circulation around your body, keeping you nice and cool. However, these adorable shirts can be very tricky to wear. If you choose to wear a trapeze top, the easiest way to complete your outfit is to dress around the top, making it your statement piece.

Fit

Fit is the most important thing when you’re looking to wear a trapeze top. Trapeze tops are best suited for a slim shape; however, anyone can wear them as long as they keep their own proportions in mind. No matter what your body shape, there is a golden rule for the trap top: always make sure the top fits snug around the shoulders. (Keep in mind that “snug” does not mean tight.) By keeping it close-fit at the shoulders, you create a shape, which is important: if the shoulders are too loose, the blouse has no shape and will most likely look very boxy instead of attractively drape-y.

The hem of the trapeze top is also important. It should always hit just above the crotch. If it’s too short, it veers in the boxy direction and looks as though you pulled it out of your little sister’s closet; if it’s too long, people will think you’ve been shopping in the maternity section. Hitting the hem at the right place adds to a slimming effect. The hem is especially important for pairs and hourglasses, whose bodies are naturally more difficult to dress in a trapeze top due to their curves.

The Top

If you’ve never worn trapeze tops before, it’s best to go in a “safe” direction. Think about it: women who don’t wear dresses often go for the little black dress, because it’s their safest bet. The same can be said with the trapeze top, but in this case, it isn’t black. The little black dress of trapeze tops is an off-white or cream gauze-y number that hangs just right. A great example is Love 21’s “Braided Floral Trim Top”. The color scheme is very versatile, as is the style and fit. Since the color is neutral, you can dress it up by throwing on a black bomber jacket and mini or dress it down for the weekend by slapping on a pair of nicely worn-in boyfriend jeans.

To create a long, lean effect when wearing a trapeze top, try adding a pair of high heeled sandals. Go brown, neutral and bohemian for day and jazz it up for a night on the town with black or gold snakeskin.

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