Punk Crop Tops Are Back in Style - How to Wear and DIY Them

Punk Crop Tops Are Back in Style

Crop tops have been a staple fashion item for decades, going in and out of mainstream style. Recently, punk-inspired crop tops have made a comeback in women's fashion. These edgy cropped tops are perfect for expressing your rebellious side while staying cool and comfortable.

The History of Punk Crop Tops

Crop tops first emerged in the 1930s and 40s, but became iconic in the 1970s and 80s punk eras. Musicians like Debbie Harry of Blondie and Joan Jett of the Runaways made the cropped tops and high-waisted shorts/skirts combo popular. The DIY, ripped and studded punk crop top style was a rejection of the more "proper" fashions of the day.

In the 90s, crop tops went mainstream thanks to pop stars like Britney Spears. However, they maintained their rebellious vibe in punk and grunge styles. Recently, with the revival of 90s fashion, crop tops have made another comeback with both punk and non-punk stylings.

How to Style a Punk Rock Crop Top

One of the great things about punk-style crop tops is how versatile they are. Here are some tips for rocking a punk crop top:

• Pair it with high-waisted bottoms like jeans, cutoff shorts or a skirt. This accentuates your waist and gives a nod to the 70s punk era.
• Layer it over a long sleeve fishnet top for an edgy look.
• Throw on an oversized flannel or leather jacket to add some punk attitude.
• Accessorize with chokers, stacked bracelets, a spiked dog collar, or an iconic punk belt.
• Give the crop top a distressed, DIY look by cutting it yourself, adding studs, rips or safety pins.
• Try out unique prints and fabrics like houndstooth, plaid, faux leather or velvet.
• Incorporate punk hair and makeup like a mohawk, colored streaks, dark lipstick, heavy eyeliner, etc.
• Add punk footwear like combat boots or platform shoes to complete the look.

Punk Crop Tops You Need In Your Wardrobe

Here are some of the top punk-inspired crop tops that are perfect for channeling your inner rocker chic:

• Studded faux leather crop top - Nothing says punk like a leather and studs combo. Pair with high-waisted jeans for a badass look.
• Distressed band tee crop top - Cut your favorite band tee into a crop top for an easy punk DIY project.
• Fishnet crop top - Layer a fishnet crop over a bralette for some sexy punk style.
• Plaid crop top - Plaid has punk and grunge vibes. Style with cutoff shorts or a mini skirt.
• Graphic logo crop top - Choose tops with punk bands, quotes or tongue-in-cheek sayings.
• Houndstooth crop top - Houndstooth adds punk edge to any crop top.
• Long sleeve crop top - Counterbalance your cropped top with long sleeves for a cool contrast.
• Cropped punk tee - DIY hack your oversized tees into cropped tops.

How to DIY a Punk Crop Top From an Oversized T-Shirt

One of the easiest ways to get a punk-inspired crop top is to make one yourself from an oversized t-shirt. Here are the steps:

1. Find an oversized t-shirt, ideally a rock band or graphic tee, to transform into a cropped top. Unisex boxy cuts work best for this project.
2. Cut the shirt to your desired crop top length. A good rule of thumb is 1-3 inches above your belly button. Cut off any excess material.
3. To get a more rounded shape, cut the side seams of the tee up towards the armpits. Scoop out the extra fabric.
4. Cut the neckline wider and rounder, scoping out the extra fabric for a loose, off the shoulder look. Bind with bias tape.
5. Cut the sleeves shorter or remove them completely for a sleeveless crop top.
6. Add punk DIY embellishments like studs, patches, safety pins, rhinestones, lace, bleaching, etc.
7. Style your new cropped band tee with high-waisted bottoms and punk accessories.

Upcycling oversized tees into punk crop tops lets you customize the perfect cropped punk look while avoiding waste. You can keep the easy DIY cropped style simple or go all out embellishing it with studs, patches and rhinestones. Now you have a whole new punk rock wardrobe potential lying around in your old t-shirts.

Express Yourself with a Punk Crop Top

Crop tops are back in a big way, especially edgy punk variations. With their rebellious styling and versatility, punk crop tops let you show off your midriff while channeling your radical side. Style them with high-waisted bottoms, layered with fishnets, or embellished with studs, safety pins and patches. Or easily DIY your own cropped tee out of an oversized graphic t-shirt. So claim your punk rock style this season with the comeback fashion item: the punk crop top!

FAQs

What is the history of punk crop tops?

Crop tops first emerged in the 1930s and 40s, but became iconic in the 70s and 80s punk eras when musicians like Debbie Harry and Joan Jett made them popular. They maintained their rebellious vibe in 90s grunge and punk styles.

How do you style a punk crop top?

Style with high-waisted bottoms, layer with fishnets or a leather jacket, add chokers and stacked bracelets, give it a distressed DIY look, and pair it with combat boots. Go for studs, plaid, houndstooth, and unique prints.

What are some punk crop tops to get?

Some top picks are studded faux leather, distressed band tees, fishnet, plaid, graphic logo, houndstooth, long sleeve, and cropped punk tees.

How do you make a punk crop top from a t-shirt?

Cut an oversized tee to your desired crop length, cut the side seams higher, widen the neckline, shorten or remove the sleeves, and add embellishments like studs or rhinestones.

Why are punk crop tops back in style?

With the revival of 90s fashion, crop tops have made a major comeback, including edgy punk variations. Their versatility and rebellious styling make them a staple item once again.