By now, you’ve probably seen it just about everywhere. The off-the-shoulder trend has risen in popularity quite quickly, and by the looks of it, it’s not showing any signs of stopping soon. In fact, lots of brands are just getting started incorporating the style into their collections, making it simple for just about everyone to jump on the bandwagon and snag an off-the-shoulder top or two to add to a flirty summer wardrobe.
What’s not to love about off-the-shoulder styles, after all? They’re fun, a little bit sweet and a little bit sexy, and they’re seasonally appropriate! This is one of those rare trends that anyone can pull off, but some women out there might still be stumped on how to style their own shoulder-baring finds—and that’s where I come in. There are quite a few simple ways to wear the off-the-shoulder trend, below are some of my favorites!
The Casual Way
Off-the-shoulder tops exude an ease associated with the no-fuss feel of summertime. So if you want to amp up your usual casual cute look, a great way to do so is to wear a Spanish-inspired top (also trending this season) like the first image in this StyleCaster slideshow. Paired with your favorite cutoff denim shorts, you’ve got a carefree but cute look with minimal effort.
The Happy Hour Look
To transition gracefully from day to evening, there are a couple quick and easy switches to make. You can keep your denim shorts on from the tip above, but now, change into a pair of nude heels and tuck in your shirt for a more polished but non-stuffy look. You can also opt to put on a pair of white shorts or palazzo pants to amp things up just a bit more.
The Relaxed Vacationer
Just like an off-the-shoulder top has ways to be worn both casually and more refined, so do dresses. Nothing shows off freshly sun-kissed skin and a tousled topknot quite like a loose, woven cotton off-the-shoulder dress like those seen in this Lyst edit. Dramatic, flared sleeves add to the flirty nature of this piece, and a pair of lace-up gladiators would be the icing on the top to this chilled out, vacation vibe.
The Modern Sundress Style
Last but not least we have an updated version to the summer staple: the modern sundress. Putting bohemian inspiration to play but bringing luxe accessories into the ensemble to balance things out like Jamie Chung’s look in this Real Style article is a perfect outfit that dips into both the pools of playful and sophistication. A sleek hairstyle is sure to help set the mood for a modern sundress look that can last well into nighttime activities.
Wearing the off-the-shoulder trend is easy as long as you employ some of the tried-and-true styling tricks that help set the tone for your outfit, depending on the occasion. You can make an off-the-shoulder top your new favorite lazy day go-to, or you can choose to spice up your date-night attire and show a little shoulder to heat things up. The best part of this trend is how versatile it is, so have fun with it!
