From Hailey Bieber to Bella Hadid: Sexy A-list trend that’s turning heads (and defying winter)

There’s one trend that is defying the season – and it’s been seen on Bella Hadid and Hailey Bieber, who was branded ‘extreme’ for wearing it. See the photos.

Bralettes and crop tops are defying the seasons, and trending on stars like Hailey Bieber, centre, and on the runway.

It may seem like a bizarre trend in the dead of winter but bralettes and crop tops have gone from undergarments to outerwear, with a surge in demand for the revealing items.

Trending on TikTok and with “it” girl fans including Bella Hadid and Hailey Bieber – who wore a tiny Saint Laurent chain-mail bra to Met Gala afterparties, in an outfit branded “extreme” – these bras and crops are made to be seen.

Channelling fashion’s current obsession with Y2K and not dissimilar to outfits worn by Paris Hilton circa her Simple Life era in the early 2000s, they’re designed to be worn with unbuttoned shirts, longline coats, and matching mohair cardigans over the top during colder months.

Hailey Bieber wore this Saint Laurent bralette to a Met Gala after-party at Zero Bond in May. Picture: Gotham/GC Images

And stylists are predicting demand will spike further in Australia as shoppers return to “going out dressing” post-Covid lockdowns.

Bralettes and crop tops were a staple of Australian designers Bec + Bridge and Michael Lo Sordo on the runways at Afterpay Australian Fashion Week.

An Australian luxury fashion expert says there had been a rise in demand for crop tops and bralettes as outerwear “over the past six months” among her A-list clientele.

The outfit channelled the current Y2K-inspired trend. Picture: Gotham/GC Images

“The crop top and bralette have been a consistent request for us … ever since the emergence of the Dior and Celine iterations several seasons ago, but with that being said we have definitely seen an uptick in the past six months,” luxury stylist Gabriel Waller said.

“This style appeals to so many clients due to the versatility and overall comfort that it offers”.

The Los Angeles-based stylist and luxury product sourcing expert – who counts Ms Bieber, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley and Khloe Kardashian among her clients – showed off the trend, sporting a denim crop top, teamed with wide-leg leather pants during her residency at Mornington Peninsula hotel Jackalope.

Luxury fashion expert Gabriel Waller, wearing a bralette for her styling residency at Jackalope. Picture: Instagram

A model walks the runway during the Michael Lo Sordo show at Afterpay Australian Fashion Week. Picture: Getty Images

“A great crop top or bralette can be worn on its own with a pair of shorts for day or dressed up with a blazer at night,” Ms Waller said.

The rise of the crop top and cardigan combo has been underway since 2019, when Katie Holmes created a near-frenzy over the Scarlet cardigan and Eda bralette from New York-based brand Khaite – a look which was recently redone this season by Target.

Bec + Bridge’s take on the bra as a top trend during AAFW. Picture: Getty Images

The crop top was everywhere at Bec + Bridge’s 21st anniversary runway show. Picture: Getty Images

P. E. Nation co-founder and creative director Pip Edwards said crop tops could be styled with “high waisted suit pants or denim”, teaming it with “sneakers and an oversized boyfriend jacket for a day time look”.

“For night I would wear the crop with a cropped blazer and pencil skirt and a great pair of heels or chunky platform boots,” Ms Edwards, who is a known fan of the crop-as-a-top look, said.

“A crop can be worn all day, day to night, depending what you pair it with.”

Originally published as From Hailey Bieber to Bella Hadid: Sexy A-list trend that’s turning heads (and defying winter)