Top of the crops: for what lies beneath let the Nineties be your guide

...after all, the woman in your life is no smalls matter, says Karen
Calvin Klein exclusive for Urban Outfitters, basics crop top from Hanro and cotton bra from Bodas
Karen Dacre22 December 2015

Ah, Christmas. That joyous time of year when whole families come together over email to share web links (e.g “I like these Nike Roshe kicks. Size 10 please”) and debate Secret Santa budgets in Whatsapp groups (“Mum wants to put it up to £30 this year, I blame George Osborne”). It really warms the cockles, don’t you think?

Alas, with Christmas Eve looming and approximately 24 shopping hours left before Westfield shuts its doors, the snuggly small talk (“I’ll get you the toaster to match the bin I got you last year and make up the rest in whatever is nearest the till in M&S, probably socks”) is rapidly giving way to blind panic.

It is during these last hours of madness that the real Christmas horrors occur as hysterical and hungover husbands/boyfriends/misc head for lingerie departments with dental-floss-drawers at the forefront of their minds.

Yes, while London’s menfolk may be miles ahead in the gender equality race, at Christmas, and no when more so than during the final hours of Advent, a surge in the sales of outdated, pin-up style lingerie - the sort that causes actual bodily harm (chafing and much worse) - has become part and parcel of the season.

But here’s the thing: it doesn’t need to be this way. As we near the end of a year in fashion in which comfort has prevailed it seems apt that we end with a trend that feels as good as it looks.

Much like the tractor sole shoes, the sloppy sweatshirts and the tuxedo track pants that have dominated the everyday wardrobes of style plates in 2015, December’s prevailing lingerie trend places emphasis on practicality.

The latest incarnation of the nod to Nineties nostalgia that has built in pace for seasons now, a crop top and matching jersey knickers are where underwear is at right now.

Not surprisingly, it is Calvin Klein - the brand which brought us this look first time round - that is the leader in this field.

Among its reissued styles is a marl grey jersey crop - the classic option if you’re buying for a woman who favours a pared-back look and a monochrome version which aches with cool.

Beauty Christmas gift guide

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A cross between a sports bra and the crop tops we bought in M&S as teenagers, the joy of this combo as well, as being ridiculously of the moment is that it is immensely comfortable too making it the no-brainer for those with plans for couch surfing this Christmas.

An alternative underwear gift, namely because it suggests you prioritise your style cred over any sort of secret desire to see her dressed in a set of Ann Summer’s finest (scratchiest), the crop-top combo should earn you healthy bonus points on Christmas morning - especially if you buy her a set in the correct size.

Of course, it’s not every woman who wants to look like a Nineties throwback, and for them I’d suggest low-key lingerie brands such as Hanro and Bodas.

Specialising in beautifully soft jersey underwear, Hanro has a host of seamless bras and pants in neutral shades to delight the minimal dresser while Bodas has a cotton crop-top in fleshy peach as well as black and white.

Hurray for smalls mercies.

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