By Kelly Mosser

Stars like Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera made bare midriff all the rage in the ’90s fashion scene. This summer, the trend is back, but with a conservative twist. This season’s ready-to-wear looks involve just a hint of skin, retro styles, and structured fabrics.

For a versatile and appropriate outfit, it’s best (and most fashionable) to expose only about one to two inches of tummy this summer. This look can be achieved by combining a crop or a bandeau style top with a bottom that boasts a high waist. Try a pair of high-rise jeans with flair at the bottom or a full A-line skirt that fastens at the natural waist.

This look can be polished if textured with sturdy fabrics. Structured garments can even make this look appropriate for work. Avoid fabrics that are too clingy, as they begin to look distasteful and reminiscent of the Spice Girls. Kristen Stewart recently nailed this look by pairing a modest white top with a pair of pleated grey trousers and bright yellow pumps.

Another way to own this trend is to invest in matching separates for a more formal event. This look is fresh and comfortable, and draws the eye to the smallest part of your figure. While being caught in the same outfit is a major celebrity “don’t,” both Kim Kardashian and Gwenyth Paltrow dazzled in a black design by Emilio Pucci that consisted of a floor-length skirt that sat above the navel and a short-sleeved top that left just a slice of skin exposed in the middle.

The beauty of this trend is that it’s simultaneously daring and reserved. Even women who don’t have Britney’s ’90s washboard abs can partake in this style because it flatters by drawing attention to one of the slimmest part’s on most women’s bodies without revealing too much. It’s best to leave a little to the imagination anyway.

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