Cool and Sizzling : Day or Night, the Bare Look Is Cool When Temperatures Heat Up

When the weather is hot, well-toned young women wear black lace bra tops to parties, shopping malls and even the supermarket.

An abundance of other midriff-revealing tops, especially halters and man-tailored shirts tied high above the waist, also have been sighted at L.A.’s fashionable night spots, among them Small’s K.O., a neighborhood bar in Hollywood, and Onyx, a Silver Lake coffeehouse.

During the day, tiny tops are worn with hot pants for a ‘60s look, or paired with baggy jeans, cut-off jean shorts and a variety of cowboy boots. At night, the bustier or Lycra halter top can be dressed up with a bolero jacket or blazer and pleated trousers.

In the ‘60s, Cher was probably the first celebrity to bare her naval regularly on television. And Madonna gets credit for popularizing bras, camisoles and other underwear as outer wear in the ‘80s. But it wasn’t until this past summer that the bras-in-public trend crossed over to the mainstream.