Are Cold Shoulder Tops Still in Style?
Cold shoulder tops have been popular in the last few years because they give an outfit a subtly sexy vibe. Recently I’ve had a few emails asking if they are still in style, and the answer is yes.
Although the trend has peaked, cold shoulder tops have managed to hold their own and are still fabulous for spring and summer. Here are some of the best cold shoulder tops for women in stores now.
1. Floral Cold Shoulder Top
Cold shoulder tops tend to fall into one of two camps: simple, comfy and t-shirt-like, or soft, flowy, and romantic, like this pretty floral one. The painterly print, the soft pastel colors, and the breezy chiffon fabric make this floral cold shoulder top ultra-feminine.
To look modern, pair this sweet top with something more rugged, like these faded jeans with the raw edge step hem. Braided mules enhance the boho vibe. A slouchy bag with gold chain detail makes it Haute Hippie. Don’t forget some dangly earrings to play up the cold shoulder detail.
shop the look
2. Slit Sleeve Cold Shoulder Top
One of the most elegant types of cold shoulder tops has long sleeves and fine slits rather than large cutouts. This bold pink ruffle neck cold shoulder top is a great example. The sleeves are like long dramatic curtains that someone has just opened a tiny bit to give a sneak peek. I also love the dainty button that hold the slits together at certain points.classy-looking looking top, especially with black!
shop the look
3. Keyhole Neckline Cold Shoulder Top
Keyhole neckline cold shoulder tops have added sex appeal. This one is a bit of a twist on thathree with 3 keyholes or slits at the neckline. Animal Print is always gorgeous as a silky blouse, and paired with white jeans and chocolate accessories, this leopard print cold shoulder top is a chic summer look.
shop the look
4. Ruffle Sleeve Cold Shoulder Top
Here’s a top that is sure to wow. This feminine, lime green cold shoulder top wilovely pretty swiss dot texture is a tribute to spring! Bright colors like this are trending, but you can get too much of a good thing. The best way to style such a bright hue is to surround it with neutrals.
Add your favorite jeans, and then accent with soft white. A simple mule, a beautiful off-white bag, and some pearlized white earrings balance the bold green and keep your outfit from looking too flashy.
shop the look
5. Dark Floral Cold Shoulder Top
Cold shoulder tops with dark gloral prints are beautiful to pair with your favorite jeans. Just pick out one of the colors in this dark floral cold shoulder top and find a bag to match. This brings the dark floral to life and makes the outfit look coordinated.
shop the look
6. Eyelet Cold Shoulder Blouse
A pretty white eyelet cold shoulder top (similar) will have you floating through summer. Intricate eyelet embroidery and cinched sleeves make this fresh and feminine with a pair of your favorite jeans and some white sandals.
shop the look
7. Long Sleeve Cold Shoulder Top
I’m always getting asked about long sleeves in summer, and here is the perfect top. This gorgeous cold shoulder blouse gives you the arm coverage you crave but keeps you cool with its ruffled shoulder cutouts. Pair it with flare jeans and taupe accessories for a casual but classy look. The V-neckline is a beautiful touch and is always flattering, especially if you are big-busted.
shop the look
Want to see more? Check out this cold shoulder post or the cold shoulder tops below.
shop more cold shoulder tops here
I like & appreciate fabulousafter40.com. Also, I agree w/ Lulu, who said, “…they are now a little dated but can still be worn another season or two. I just purchased one from Old Navy…I think it looks pretty; I wish it were here to stay.” I wish it were here to stay too. Why can’t it be here longer than a couple more years? Many women like cold shoulder tops & I’m sure many guys like seeing women in them too. Of course, there are hard shoulder tops I don’t like, but others I’ve loved since they came out & will continue to. Some fashion comes & goes while others are timeless classics, but why can’t those of us who love cold shoulder tops request them from stores & make them (or at least try to make them) more timeless than just a couple? More years? Just as there are always options of many types of necklines & sleeves for different tastes, in a perfect world, the cold shoulder would continue to be made available to women who like or love it & no one would judge others about it.
Clothing manufacturers often push something new to SELL more. I’m not talking about the creative folks in fashion design. I mean the cold, complex world of business, including corporations. Corporations don’t care about millions of families’ limited wardrobe budgets or that, often, the money someone is about to spend unnecessarily on fashion could better be donated to refugees, etc. Sometimes (not always), it’s people who are relatively shallow or self-centered & who have money to throw around who proclaim things ‘out of fashion because *their* high-flying budget allows them to change even their furniture when they so much as get a little tired of it. I love the fabulousafter40 dot com website & fashion tips. Also, nothing beats the company of women! Just remember that w/ gas & housing prices as they are, & things looking like we might be going into recession, people’s 1st-world problems such as ‘what might that shallow/judgmental person over there think of my cold shoulder top’ start looking a bit different. I like fashion, but a sense of perspective & a higher value system can be called for, too. There are videos on youtube about how Americans see America when they come back (at least to visit) after living abroad for years. One of the video makers said the 1st thing she noticed was “consumerism & materialism mentality…” which other returning-American video makers saw. Forex, this is a perfect video for anyone interested (just copy & paste the title to youtube): How I See the US After Living Abroad for 15 Years [CULTURE SHOCK]
AJ, you are spot on! It’s not just a matter of the expense. The waste worldwide is staggering.
Admittedly, they’re not my favorite style of tops. However, cold shoulder tops will have their periods of waning popularity, and like a phoenix, they’ll rise from the ashes. I don’t want to see CS tops oversaturating the retail market like they did a few years ago.
I don’t understand why these cold-shoulder tops are popular. To me, they look sloppy, show an odd part of the body and look unflattering to everyone.
I don’t like them much, but it’s good to have to stay calm if you don’t want your upper arms but have good shoulders. They can hide that aging thing under your underarms. Some fashion bloggers say these tops are out; I haven’t seen any in the stores.
My friend called cold shoulders “covid vaccine tops” cuz they make it easy to get your vaccination :-)
That’s funny, Lisa!
I love your site, Deborah. I went out and got three new pairs of long shorts this week after reading about them here :-)
That’s great, Lisa. Please tell me what else you’d like me to write about. Cheers!
I’m glad you posted this. I’ve been wondering the same. My take is that they are now a little dated but can still be worn another season or two before they look downright dated. I just purchased one from Old Navy, a blue tropical floral. I think it’s such a pretty look; I wish it were here to stay.