Crop tops are making a comeback, ladies! Especially when it comes to fitness. The off-the-shoulder 80’s variety has been happening for a few years and “tasteful midriff” has been all over red carpets this past year but now the shrunken 90’s belly-baring style we all remember from our Gwen Stefani posters is back big time too – in fitness.
Just got this ad in the mail from Dancewear Solutions! Anyone want to sing Tragic Kingdom with me??
And I’ll admit that with a tank underneath, I kind of love the look. I’ve always been a fan of layers!
But.
True story: At a previous gym a woman was spotted lifting weights in a tiny crop top, similar to this but a bit shorter:
That last detail is important because every time she lifted her arms to do her shoulder press, her shirt went right up with her – at which point everyone discovered she wasn’t wearing a sports bra underneath. Oops. There were a few awkward minutes where everyone wondered if we were really seeing what we were seeing but yes, we were all watching Twin Peaks, no TNN channel required. A gym employee hurriedly offered her a large gym tee to cover her goodies. I love the cut-up-tee trend as much as the next girl (probably more than the next girl, actually) but that was a bit over the top. (haha, see what I did there? I’ll be here all day.)
Now, I’m not normally the kind of girl to worry about what someone else is wearing at the gym. Old, holey sweats? Head-to-see-through-toe Lulu? Unremitting black spandex? Sauna suit? Leotard? Do your thing, girl! And I also don’t clutch my pearls when ladies workout in just a sports bra (although that’s not something I do myself). Plus I’ve been known to wear my fair share of really weird looking stuff to the gym. But I’m having a hard time not giving the side-eye to the under-boob trend.
I blame “fitspiration” pics like these, as evidenced by the multitude of similar selfies showing up in my feeds:
I tried to pick a really tame example so it wouldn’t get anyone in trouble at work! Also purposefully picked one where the woman’s face is obscured since it’s not my intent to call out any particular person – just the shorty shirt trend!
Another reason why fitspo sucks. Just…how is this practical? The only time under-boob doesn’t become total-boob is if you’re a) holding perfectly still or b) holding your top with one hand at all times – both of which kinda preclude exercising, right? But of course they’re not meant to actually exercise in. Other than the woman I cited above, every instance of a crop top I’ve seen at an actual gym has at least had a sports bra underneath for modesty (and chafing!). Yet despite how practical real women are, fitness mags are still trying to sell us on under-boob! Fitness supplement ads are the worst.
You’re gorgeous Kate! But don’t do any shoulder presses m’kay?
On the flip side (hee!), I have seen plenty of “cheeky” shorts at the gym, showcasing the other hot trend: underbutt. While Daisy Dukes have been a thing since… Daisy Duke… I hadn’t realized they’d become such a thing in fitness until a company recently sent me a sports bra and pair of their new shorts line to try out. When I took it out of the package, my friend standing nearby said, “Oh, did you get a new swimsuit for Jelly Bean?” Jelly Bean is four. And my friend made an honest mistake as it definitely looked like it would fit her better than me!
They were very similar to these:
Oy. The only thing I could think about was how unhygienic I would feel sitting on the weight bench in these. Okay, and embarrassed. That’s just a lot of southern exposure for this girl.
I can see how in hot yoga, it might be helpful to wear something closer to a swimsuit than gym clothes but for everything else? I dunno if I can get behind (Okay, I’m done now, I swear!) this trend. Less is definitely not always more.
For me it’s not about judging people at the gym (and I am really worried this post will come off judge-y) but more about how fitness seems to have this expectation that women have to be sexy before we’re allowed to be anything else – like comfortable or functional.
So what do you think of the selfie underboob trend? Can you really not show off your abs without flashing the girls? What fitness clothing trend would you like to see go? Do you have a fit fashion trend that’s totally impractical but you love anyhow?
All I can say is I want to wear a crop top with my big preggo belly! 😉
Aw I totally think you should! Maybe with a bra though – preggo boobs are a force in their own right!!
I’ve always hated underboob shots, but I didn’t know that’s what it was called. There are no muscles there, ladies, and no reason to show it except to be an exhibitionist. This trend is right up there (down there) with duck lips.
This baffles me. Isn’t the point of a sports bra containment? Why would someone who is exercising purposely breach containment?
“breach containment”!! I love this! You are hilarious:)
As a guy, I believe I am in the anticipated…er…target audience…of such a fashion trend.
But personally I am not really a fan of seeing things in a public gym…sightings… that I would actually prefer to reserve for my next wedding night.
There have been women work out across from me wearing such low low low cut tops that I closed my eyes and focused concentrated effort on my light warm-up reps.
At that range, there was no safe way to have my eyes open.
Walking from one work out area to another, I’m checking for food crumbs on the tops of my shoes.
And then if they come up and chat (as most of the time I am taller) I detail every variance of shade in the color of their eyes.
And the bright side…I am the usually only guy who knows that they HAVE eyes.
The other guys are audibly drooling.
And they try to sneak some shots with their camera phones.
The outfits you are describing will make it worse for the women involved.
I do not really get what their upside is.
Way to stay safe! 🙂
“As a guy, I believe I am in the anticipated…er…target audience…of such a fashion trend.” That assumption is really a stretch. Women, like men, have at least 385,283,480 reasons why they do the things they do. Getting attention from men is only one of those many, many possible reasons why a woman dresses the way she does. Even if she’s wearing revealing clothing or high heals or make-up or whatever, you really can’t assume that she’s doing it for men. For example, I tend to wear a lot of low-cut tops, not because I give a damn it men notice my cleavage, but because my body type is such that clothes just fit me that way. It’s hard for me to find tops that don’t show cleavage unless I’m buttoning a cardigan all the way or something.
Ah! Education! I love it!
Although I would have to disagree with your inclusion of men having “at least 385,283,480 reasons why they do the things they do” as well.
That…I am an expert on.
YERGH! This is SO frustrating! It’s not about confidence when you’re showing it off to everyone else, it’s about a deep-seated need for approval. Whether it’s undeboob, butt cheeks, or just those fitness selfies. As you say, the tops and shorts are completely impractical. And displaying your abs at the gym is fine, whatever: taking endless photos and putting them up on the internet, IMHO, means you need that external approval even from complete strangers.
It’s like when a woman gets breast implants “in order to feel better about [her]self.” How about this: Get the implants because you want bigger boobs, then use whatever money you have left to see a therapist if you’re feeling badly about yourself. They are two completely different things. There’s nothing wrong with doing either (or both), but don’t look to your physical appearance to fix whatever’s going on inside.
Of course, these are things people need to learn for themselves. When we’re young, we put a great deal of our energy into how we look. But it’s getting extreme, in a very unhealthy way.
And please notice there is no male equivalent. These trends are, of course, directed at women. Because women work out to be sexy and appealing, while men work out to be strong and healthy, right? ARGH!
THIS. You said it perfectly! “They are two completely different things. There’s nothing wrong with doing either (or both), but don’t look to your physical appearance to fix whatever’s going on inside.” Also, good point about there being no male equivalent…
You can’t blame a person for acting on a need for approval. We live in a society that demands physical perfection, especially for women. It’s almost impossible to undo that kind of socialization. You don’t have to agree with what people do when it comes to this kind of approval-seeking, but consider getting your head out of your butt? Not everyone is as perfect as you. You don’t know everyone’s story, you don’t know why they do the things they do, so stop being so judgmental.
And you can’t possibly presume to know that “men work out because they’re normal self-respecting people, women work out because they’re paradoxically insecure, conceited attention-seekers.” Give me a break.
Now here I have to disagree with you Thuja.
While living one’s life for the approval of others IS a choice, it is not judgmental to note, like Azusmom, that it IS an unhealthy choice on SO many levels.
And one does not have to be “perfect” to see that or live that.
I also have to disagree that it is “almost impossible”, as you say, to undo that kind of socialization.
Precept and example are always great educators, if people take the time to share their knowledge.
Thus I also disagree with your contention that Azusmom has her head…uh…in an anatomically incorrect position.
No need for rudeness.
And what Azusmom said was that these trends were directed at women.
Which is correct.
And Azusmom also said that there was no male equivalent.
Which is also correct.
And she was frustrated with the implied assumption from that…and that assumption was that “Because women work out to be sexy and appealing, while men work out to be strong and healthy, right? ARGH!”
See?
Note Azusmom’s frustration?
Therefore, your pronouncement that Azusmom “presumed” such things was also in error. Because she was, in fact, denouncing such assumptions.
All that being said, I understand that everybody has “hot button” issues, and this seems of some importance to you.
And I am very happy you commented on my comment!
I am excited to hear more from you, Thuja!
I see where you’re saying. I must have read Azusmom’s comment incorrectly. The first time I read through it, it sounded very judgmental and hate-y. So I apologize for the ‘tude in my previous comment.
I just hate seeing people taking others’ actions out of context, judging people for doing exactly what society expect of us. Our culture tells women to waste half the hours of their day primping and grooming, so you really can’t blame a woman for doing that. I don’t like it, it’s not healthy, I try not to do it myself, but I understand why some women willingly (as it were) participate in it. That’s really all I’m getting at.
I’m not under any delusion that I’m dropping some amazing, original philosophy bomb, either. This is basic stuff that we all know. If you (not you personally, the universal “you”) see someone making choices that you think are unhealthy but otherwise aren’t hurting anyone, don’t judge them or hate them or give ’em the stink eye. They have their reasons. *My* problem then is that I tread into concern troll territory, which isn’t much better than being a hater, but I try not to act on it.
I say it’s almost impossible to undo that socialization out of shear observation. I don’t know very many women (any women?) who don’t go to some irrational length to get a step closer to culturally mandated physical perfection, myself included. We all know that it’s unhealthy to feel that your self-worth hinges on your appearance, so if it were that easy to overcome that socialization the cosmetic surgery industry would have collapsed a long time ago.
Of course, I don’t mean to completely exclude men from this analysis. Y’all deal with your own societal pressures, but, ya know, there are vastly unequal standards and I’m talking more about what I know.
Hello, Thuja! So happy you came back!
I see what you are saying as well…
Though around here, it would not be about “blaming” a woman for unhealthy choices or “judging them” or “hating them” or “give ‘em the stink eye”.
Around here, acting on a need for approval-self-worth hinging on appearance is a known contributor to eating disorders, so the context would be “Please don’t die!”
Charlotte herself has been on that path and many of her readers have been on that path and/or have seen others who have been on that path, and its an experience they really do not wish on anybody else.
And you are so right about there being unequal standards between men and women.
Speaking personally, I am 210 with muscle and discernible abs…but such was not my “goal”. My ex was 200…not muscle…and I still had passion for her because I loved her…although I would encourage her to be healthier for her hearts sake.
I do not hold women to a ridiculous physical standard.
(I just was not fond of her abuse of me and our children.)
Hi Guys!
Thank you, Darwin!
And, yes, I wasn’t trying to judge women for falling into the trap (I spent too many years in that very trap), I was trying to express my frustration with our culture, which, as you say, Thuja, demands women be physically perfect and look 25 all of our lives. I spent a number of years as an actress in Hollywood, and the lengths women would go to to not only to achieve that physical perfection, but to deny their intelligence, individuality, and strengths broke my heart. It angers me to see the majority of women dismissed because they don’t look a certain way.
Thankfully, I live in a fairly conservative community where it’s unlikely that either under boob or bum cheeks are likely to appear. But having said that, as a spin instructor, I’ve seen plenty of cleavage shots courtesy of large breasted women wearing low cut tops in the front row of my spin classes. What do they think happens during a bent over hill climb?
The only thing I can say in their defense, being a D-cup myself (and not happy about it!) is that it’s truly difficult to find a workout top, other than t-shirts, that don’t expose the girls. We often don’t do it on purpose, but gym tops just fit us differently. I don’t like wearing t-shirts when I work out because I find them uncomfortable, and I sweat even more.
The other option is layering, and that gets VERY uncomfortable.
Well I don’t have anything to worry about in this department! But I’m glad Alyssa chimed in on behalf of the larger busted ladies. The amount of e-mail I get about managing larger breasts during exercise is significant:)
I’m glad Alyssa spoke up too! I wasn’t meaning to be rude at all. As an A-cupper, I really hadn’t thought about that aspect of it.
Yeeowzer. I hadn’t thought of it either until this time around preggo and nursing. I’ve gone from a small B cup to a DD and there is No. Containing. These. Things. They are two forces of their own and I am just living in their world. I also hate (HATE) T-shirts because I sweat like a dude and wet, slappy tshirt material? Gross. So, I just work out at home for now and my hubby watches appreciatively, making indecent remarks the whole time, which is funny for both of us. But seriously, it’s crazy hard to be decent with such huge, um, tracts of land, as it were…
🙂
You weren’t rude at all! It’s just a matter of experience, lol!
Those shorts look so dang uncomfortable. Even if I were a socially acceptable size for those shorts (and/or they made them in “big booty” sizes) I wouldn’t wear them. I don’t enjoy clothing riding up into my Lady Zone when I’m exercising. That’s why I always wear underwear. Even if you can see EVERY line, I wear my draws.
Speaking as a person who is woefully unfashionable (see above about underwear lines and my not giving a hoot) I say as long as you’re not exposing yourself (boob or crotch) then go in peace. That holds for workout and any clothing.
I want some of the really tacky 80s exercise fashions to come back, like the leotards with the big belts and huge leg warmers. NO ON looks good in that. Oh, and short permed hair, al la the Let’s Get Physical video.
Hahah good point about the comfort factor! I too greatly dislike anything up in my biz! And you know how much I want leotards to come back in style!!;)
Oh my word I am cringing at the under boob! I am all about the sports bra when I workout- but one that is not going to ride up anywhere I don’t want it to ride up, and it has to cover everything or I won’t be comfortable!!! (Note: I have a VERY flat chest which is oddly the only reason I probably feel comfortable wearing only a sports bra because there is clearly NOTHING to show off. And I mean flat, like, pancake, couldn’t do underboob if I TRIED flat!)
My gym doesn’t seem to attract either underboob or underbutt fashions, so have only seen on the web. But I am still like a 9 year old at the beach when I see what some people will wear: OMG look at that woman in the thong!! You can see her whole entire butt!!! Look at that old guy with the huge belly and the tiny weeny speedo underneath!!! It’s all I can keep to do from pointing and giggling.
…Unless it’s a known nude beach, and then suddenly I don’t care at all what anyone wears or doesn’t. Weird how context is everything!
You mentioned still like being a 9 year old. It actually starts MUCH younger with guys.
As a four year old, I was playing at a neighbors house and the kid and I were running a muck at full speed when suddenly out of the blue he stops dead in his tracks in a way I thought only a cartoon character could.
I call him. Nothing.
He is staring off to the side.
I ask what he is doing and he beckons me over.
His Mom is sitting on the toilet with the door open.
Ooops! I dive to the side.
“Stop looking! Its rude!” I whisper to him.
His focus is much too intense to acknowledge me.
I grab his arm, but dynamite would be the only thing to stir him from his transfixed state.
He would not be moved until she was fully clothed again.
“That was your MOM!” I said, pointing out what I thought should be obvious.
“But did you SEE?” he asked
I realized at that point he wasn’t seeing his Mom. There was no humanizing aspect.
Even for his Mom.
He was seeing a half-naked lady…butt and lady bits…and that was all that mattered.
I was there most of the day and he would continually stop to check if he could catch her in the bathroom again.
4 years old.
Not sure it ever really subsides.
This is what the fashion industry caters to.
Wow Darwin! That is amusing and disturbing all at the same time!
Might just be a stereotype, but I do think guys and gals are wired differently when it comes to the sight of nakedness. I mean, I still get a kick out of the “naughty” factor of seeing people naked unexpectedly–I DO wish streaking would come back!–but male or female, it never gets me feeling particularly amorous to see someone unclothed.
But then I could be some sort of freak, always a possibility!
*laughs* Perhaps with you it is more of a “context” thing?
Quoting You: “Weird how context is everything!”
Yeah wow, that is kinda disturbing Darwin! Never had an experience like that with any of my kiddos…
Glad to hear it!
…and general male immaturity and mentality IS disturbing.
(The things I hear that I don’t want to!)
“like a 9 year old at the beach when I see what some people will wear” Buwhahahah – I am totally the same way! Why do you not live by me so we can be immature together?!
My gym has a no belly showing and no daisy duke dress code and I am glad. Makes for a lot less awkwardness. Plus, it takes a lot keep my girls contained when I workout- I can’t imagine flashing them around on purpose. I love showing off the abs I work for, but not at the gym. Plus, well, I’m a 40 yr old married woman…it’s just not necessary for for me to do that to get a good workout.
We have more of an issue with see through outfits than any of this stuff. People dress fairly frumpy at my gym but I guess that can be expected when the topic of the day is which top will keep both puppies with their noses pointed in the same direction all the way to the end of the workout without chafing.
Ahahahah this is my new fave euphemism!! “will keep both puppies with their noses pointed in the same direction “
Ha, the sweaty fitness underboob reminds me of the pervy posters my stepdad used to have up in his basement weight room when I was a kid, and how I used to like to play with his weights but I hated being in that room because of the half-naked sweaty women. So that is what I always think of whenever I see this trend – my stepdad plus age-inappropriate posters equals the antithesis of sexy.
The fitspo fashion trend that really annoys me is the one where the women are doing things like squats and straight-legged deadlifts with bottoms that go straight up their crack. It just looks so uncomfortable and so…yeasty. *shudder*
Yeasty!!! Hahahahah awesome. And I’m sorry I brought up such an ooky memory! Eek.
Hooray, another way to judge people!
I’d never dare attempt either of these trends, but going to the gym is hard enough without enduring judging from everyone else about my workout gear.
I do sympathize with people who find this sort of stuff a distraction (mostly dudes, I’m guessing). If I were trying to lift heavy, I’d rather not be worrying about someone skimpily dressed walking into my line of sight or any other disruption to my concentration. But beyond that, whatever gets you safely through a workout is fair game.
For me it’s not about judging people at the gym (and I was really worried this post would come off judge-y so I am truly sorry for that!) but more about how fitness seems to have this expectation that women have to be sexy before we’re allowed to be anything else – like comfortable or functional.
The post wasn’t judge-y. Some of the comments are. It’s a complicated issue and one important subtlety of all this is that there’s a difference in intent between advertising and non-promotional selfies. If I’m proud of my abs and the way they contribute to my physical aesthetic (and yes, that is one reason I work out – because I like the way it makes me look) then sure, I might throw in some underboob if I feel like it. Well, I mean, I wouldn’t *personally* do that because my boobs obey gravity like it’s their job. My six pack (oh, if only) would have its own set of boobs.
But advertising and promotional materials are different, and I agree with your point. Fitspiration that’s sexy first and fit and functional second is annoying.
I just have images of someone doing a downward dog in one of those loose crop tops… maybe because it happened at a yoga class I was at.
The twin peaks are meant to be contained sometimes ladies!
I like the option Athleta call cover-your-assets length. 🙂
Please do not interpret my disdain of these fashion pieces as jealousy that I could never and therefore should not ever wear them. Not jealous at all. My six-kids baby belly badge of triumph precludes any fitness jealousy. Except that I got the belly more from cookies than babies.
I’m SO glad that my gym does not have this issue! SO glad. We notice when they are kicking ass, not by what they wear. 🙂 But we do live in a small town, so the population is a little different I guess. I just think about how impractical any of that would be bench pressing, dead lifting and squatting. And that’s what we are there for, right?? 🙂
Yoga promotes healthy body and mind. They helps us stay fit and stronger and have a happy point of view in life.
Holy underboob batman!! I’m glad I don’t care much about the workout gear I wear. T shirt and shorts and I’m pretty much good to go.
The funny thing is, despite all of the fitspo in my news feed, I have never actually seen anyone ever dress like that too actually work out and I coach at a wide variety of gyms in addition to CrossFit. I always assumed that they were just photoshoots (because nobody really looks like that without some self-tanner and dehydration), but if companies are actually starting to sell this stuff… Yikes! If I wanted TnA while I worked out, I’d watch Bodyrock.
Many postures in yoga require that you lift your own weight. And some, like Downward- and Upward-Facing Dog, help strengthen the arm bones, which are particularly vulnerable to osteoporotic fractures. In an unpublished study conducted at California State University, Los Angeles, yoga practice increased bone density in the vertebrae. Yoga’s ability to lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol may help keep calcium in the bones.