Let’s start off by saying this: anyone can wear the cut-out trend, it’s not reserved for TikTok teens or Kardashians and it’s set to be massive in summer 2022.
With partywear making a comeback, cut-outs will prove an easy way to tap into 2022’s ultra-glam, eveningwear aesthetic. From the runways in Paris and Milan, to fans including Dua Lipa and Lizzo, showing off the smallest sliver of bare skin is the simplest way to master the trend for overtly sexy dressing.
My personal love for the cut-out trend is this; I can artfully choose pieces that reveal small snippets of my body. A clever game of peek-a-boo with my outfits allows me to show off my shoulders in one look, then the small of my back in another. If I don’t particularly want my full midriff exposed, I’ll pick out a top that sticks to my belly-button or obliques etc – you get the picture.
However, I fully understand how cut-outs can feel inaccessible for most of us who don’t feel blessed with Hadid-level bodies. But I’m here to say they’re categorically not. Tapping into this trend is easy as pie. Here’s how…
How to wear cut-out fashion this summer
Go for colour
Sticking to neutrals is definitely not the way to wear cut-out pieces anymore. Tap into the Gen-Z aesthetic by turning your attention to colour-filled pieces. They’ll eliminate that 2000’s girl band vibe (sorry, Liberty X) and pack extra punch.
Get to know Instagram favourite London-based brands such as Farai London and Poster Girl, who count Kylie Jenner, Cardi B and Summer Walker as fans. They excel at cut-out pieces that work for beach holidays, summer festivals or a fabulous night out. Yes, it’s sexy – but it’s not obvious, a win in my eyes.
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Choose floaty silhouettes
Want to expertly execute cut-outs as a beginner? Allow me to introduce the floaty floral dress. Irish influencer Lynn Kelly has dubbed this the ‘perfect spring dress’ and it’s the easiest way to ease into the cut-out mood.
Yes, your sides are out in the open, but the floaty silhouette feels comfortable. You won’t find yourself wrestling with errant straps or accidentally putting your arm in the wrong hole.
You can go to a wedding in this dress, meet your boyfriend’s mum, or wear it to work (dress code dependent), it’s far more cutesy and fun than its body-con counterparts.
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Bare your back
It’s subtle but chic, whilst still managing to be totally in-your-face. The search for the ultimate cut-out back always leads me to 1972 movie Le Grand Blond avec Une Chaussure Noire, (a snappy title…) and the incredible, butt-crack-baring black dress worn by the movie’s femme fatale.
To add insult to injury, my long-time style crush Hailey Bieber gave a nod to the dress at the 2019 Met Gala – and just like that, I’m sold.
Whilst I’m not recommending we go the whole way here, an open back feels like a less obvious way to wear cut-outs. If you’re looking for backless dresses where bras are most definitely allowed, find strappy-back options or even pieces where only the lower back is cut out. There is plenty to choose from.
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Get inventive
Stomach cut-outs are so obvious, right? If you’re bored with midriff-baring pieces, start thinking outside the box.
Note how Dubai-based influencer Jessica Kahawaty has opted for peek-a-boo sleeves. Bella Hadid is a fan of the hip bone flash, but that one’s not for the faint-hearted. Find a lattice-sleeved top at Urban Outfitters or Karen Millen, or shoulder-bone showing options at Reformation and Zara.
Trust me, there’s plenty of places to plonk a cut-out and search hard enough you’ll find them all. Just watch out for the sun, keep your SPF at the ready and you’ll avoid some very dodgy tan lines.
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Try out a tank top
Give your jeans and a nice top a welcome upgrade and turn your attention to your tank tops. There is a plethora of hole-y vest tops available to purchase, and when paired with baggy jeans and a trusty blazer, the missing patches of material will add a new dimension to your everyday look.
Discover tanks that work at Frankie Shop, & Other Stories and Pretty Lavish. For best results, go up a size – anything too tight will feel restrictive and just remember, when it comes to cut-outs, comfort is key.
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