July 11, 2025, 6:57 am | Read time: 3 minutes
A bare back 90 years ago was a sign of emancipation and great courage! Today, we wear a halter top as if it’s completely natural. The style is back in fashion, largely due to a resurgence of 2000s trends. We present models that best capture the vintage vibe and offer practical tips for wearing them.
The halter top is available today in more styles than ever before! From pinstripes to glitter jeans and satin, we see it in stores. But how do you best combine it, and what do you wear underneath?
Overview
Halter Top – Even Marilyn Monroe Wore It
Hollywood divas like the iconic Marilyn Monroe and dancer Rita Hayworth wore halter tops and backless swimwear as early as the 1940s, making a statement for free femininity. Showing skin was a major taboo in many circles back then! Monroe, later a sex symbol, made a statement by combining elegance with confidence.
Back then, the style, where the straps run around the neck, was made in high-quality fabrics like silk and satin. There were also sturdier versions made from cotton or crepe.
The Revival of Halter Tops in the 90s
Even in the hippie years of the 70s, feminist halter tops were popular. But the style saw its biggest hype in the late 90s into the early 2000s. Made from stretch materials like Lycra, elastane, or spandex, the top was particularly form-fitting. Glitter and mesh fabrics were also popular; after all, the halter top was a staple of the trendy disco outfit in this decade.
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Glittery and Colorful in the Y2K Look
This exact 90s and 2000s style is being imitated again today. Tops in the halter style are made from soft polyester fabrics and adorned with rhinestones to give them an extra party flair. Whether in Barbie pink, pink, denim, or midnight blue.
Basic Colors
If you want to integrate the halter top into your capsule wardrobe, your core inventory, you should purchase it in either white, gray, or black. These tones are great for combining; from a summery all-white look to an edgy Berlin outfit in black.
Trendy Mocha Mousse
If you want to wear a halter top in the summer that matches many outfits, you might also opt for a nude tone. You can’t go wrong with anything from beige to brown—especially since according to Pantone, the trend color for 2025 is Mocha Mousse!
Halter Top in Suit Style
Striped and made from sturdy fabric, some halter designs come along. The great thing: You can easily wear them to more formal occasions. In pinstripe design or with classic black-and-white stripes, this top ensures you create a modern and confident office look.
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Shop the Look! How to Combine the Top
Model Marcella Marschner shows how to perfectly combine a halter top. With jeans culottes and medium-sized hoop earrings, you showcase the black top fantastically; almost as well as your back.
To give the halter top the necessary street style flair, beige “Air Force 1” sneakers from Nike were combined. This quickly creates an elegant and casual retro look.
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What Goes Under the Top
With a halter top, you want to avoid the bra showing through. Therefore, it’s a good idea to wear a adhesive bra. If you’re wearing a white top, a skin-colored bra is the best choice.