Off-the-Shoulder Tops Do It All
Farewell, wear-it-once party blouse.
You may have heard — and become subsequently stressed out — that the going-out top is back. How might one define this contentious piece of 2000s-era clothing? It’s best understood when compared to its sartorial opposite: the staying in top. In this dichotomy, worn-at-home chemises are cozy and oversized, while night-on-the-town tops are outré and skin-baring. One is for feeling comfortable; the other, looking good. But what if you had a piece that did both? Off-the-shoulder tops are just that.
In the age of WFH coziness, getting dressed for one specific archetype doesn’t fit into our multi-hyphenate worlds. The contemporary going-out uniform is not necessarily a shimmery, hip-bearing number. It should be multifunctional; working well whether you are sipping martinis or sitting in a cubicle. It accentuates the décolletage, it is never itchy, and it often has a pop of textural intrigue.
Perhaps this is why the Spring 2025 runways celebrated off-the-shoulder tops in all their forms. From plunging silhouettes at Rotate to sexy lace shoulder-bearing garments at Yuhan Wang, this season, designers are playing freely with the timeless top. Shoulder-bearing numbers were worked into winter-ready wardrobes, too. Michael Kors offered a cropped button-up take on the cozy off-the-shoulder sweater (above), while The Row showcased its signature pared back aesthetic with a boxy, black structured number. Again and again, off-the-shoulder tops bring a sense of elegance to any occasion.
A skin-hugging silver design pairs well with slouchy trousers. An XL thickly-ribbed sweater can be worn alongside micro shorts, tights and kitten heels. Even an all-black number can be made interesting thanks to a dramatic fold-over detail that catches the eye. At their best, off-the-shoulder tops break the stuffy rules of a situational-specific garment.
From airy boho-ready styles to full-body-warming sweaters, below are the coolest off-the-shoulder tops to show now.
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Natalie Michie is the style editor at FASHION Magazine. With a pop culture obsession, she is passionate about exploring the relationship between fashion, internet trends and social issues. She has written for Elle Canada, CBC, Chatelaine and Toronto Life. In her spare time, she enjoys reading and over-analyzing movies on TikTok.
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