FANS:

MEMORIES:

What better way to show off your rock-hard abs than with a midriff-bearing belly shirt? Madonna certainly couldn’t think of one. The video for the debut single “Lucky Star” featured the pop princess in a cropped mesh shirt layered over short tank tops, and teenage girls everywhere ran for the scissors.

 

These short tees that showed off your belly were popular with boys as well. The heavy metal scene featured flamboyant rockers such as Motley Crue, whose scantily-clad style included skintight net shirts. Metal fans followed suit, and boys cut off their muscle tees just like their favorite rock stars.

 

And what if your abs were more pillowy than rocky? Not a problem – the “carwash” style shirt had strips cut out on the bottom, hung with colored beads that clicked and swung when you walked, and helped hide that generous belly. You could buy your own beaded tee in a tourist store, or make your own at home. Kids took a tee shirt (ones with cool slogans like “Frankie Say Relax” and “Choose Life” were popular choices) and cut strips from the hem to about halfway up the shirt. Then they slid beads up each strip and tied the bottom in a knot to keep the beads from falling off. If you were really feeling creative, you could do the same thing with your sleeves.

 

But you better keep up with that Jazzercise video – belly tees always look better with a good belly!