MEMORIES:

PHOTOS:

The halter top has graced women in every style from elegant to casual, depending on the material and what was happening underneath the actual halter. Evening gown below? Elegant. Nothing below? Casual.

 

The style consists of two pieces of material coming up and over the bosom, and tying together behind the neck. It first made it’s appearance as the bodice for evening gowns in the 30’s, creating a flattering neckline. By the 40’s it had made it’s way as the cut for bathing suits, partly because of wartime fabric rationing. There was much less material and construction required for a halter top, and the style was encouraged to help the war effort.

 

The halter top was back in the 70’s, this time as a casual top. In the decade of bra burning and letting it all hang out, the halter was a good way to keep yourself supported while still showing a lot of skin. The backless design was sexy and a way to show the world that no, you weren’t wearing a bra. So there. The halter also appeared as the bodice style for dresses and jumpsuits.

 

The halter remains a sexy top option today, morphing into modern backless styles that still show the world that, no, you aren’t wearing a bra.