Going-Out Tops From the 2000s vs. Now

going-out-tops-2000s-261457-1529979675889-main

(Image credit: Rex Features)

The year was 2003, and a show called The O.C. had taken pop culture by storm. While the (insane) drama that unfolded in Orange County was the thing that initially reeled me in, I was also in awe of all the aspirational fashion on display. Sure, looking back, not all of the style moments are great, but I still have the white Chanel dress Marissa Cooper wore to prom seared in my mind.

In fact, I recently found myself reflecting on how closely I tie one of the biggest ’00s trends directly to the show. I’m talking, of course, about going-out tops. Less a specific trend than an overall idea, going-out tops were what we all wore on the weekends while going out with friends in the mid- to early aughts, and they ranged from lingerie-style numbers to bustiers to DIY’ed options made from bandanas (yep, that was a thing).

I can’t tell you exactly when the reign of the going-out top came to an end, but until now, I was grateful we had forgotten all about them. But hot on the heels of the ’90s style revival, ’00s trends are making a return—yes, even going-out tops (although this time around, the styling feels a bit more subdued). Ahead, shop the 2018 versions of ’00s going-out tops.

Tube Tops

As Lucy Williams notes in her photo, tube tops feel very Carrie Bradshaw circa Sex and the City Season 4. Here's how to style them the 2018 way.

A photo posted by on

Chainmail

Celebs like Bella Hadid and Kendall Jenner have hopped back on the chainmail bandwagon. Remember when Paris Hilton wore a dress version for her 21st birthday?

A photo posted by on

Lingerie top

In the ’00s, a lingerie top and jeans was a pretty standard going-out look. We're seeing a return to the pairing in 2018.

A photo posted by on

Read about the 2018 trend Charlotte low-key wore on Sex and the City.

Associate Director, Special Projects

Kristen Nichols is the Associate Director, Special Projects at Who What Wear with over a decade of experience in fashion, editorial, and publishing. She oversees luxury content and wedding features, and covers fashion within the luxury market, runway reporting, shopping features, trends, and interviews with leading industry experts. She also contributes to podcast recordings, social media, and branded content initiatives. Kristen has worked with brands including Prada, Chanel, MyTheresa, and Luisa Via Roma, and rising designers such as Refine and Tove, and her style has been featured in publications including Vogue.com, Vogue France, WWD, and the CFDA. Before Who What Wear, Kristen began her career at Rodarte, where she worked on assistant styling, photo shoots, and runway shows, and at Allure, where she moved into print and digital editorial. She graduated from the University of Southern California, where she studied art history and business, and currently lives in New York.