By Lina Psaila

Just when you thought that you’ve experienced one too many cold shoulder street style shots on Instagram- the off the shoulder extravaganza continues to make a strong statement for SS17 – this time with a twist. Succumbing to the umbrella trend of the deconstructed, the cold shoulder 2017 rendition, borrows inspiration from other 90’s paraphernalia such as bralletes, sheer garments and waisted styling to create the ultimate antidote to cold shoulder fatigue. Here are four ways to style your fave off the shoulder top this season.

Keep it Simple

The sartorial spectrum ran from plain wearable to aspirational on the SS17 runways. Take cues from the romantic simplicity of the asymmetric shoulder ruffled dress and pair it with one of the season’s hottest items – the basket bag. Reminiscent of a young Bardot strolling around the streets of the French Provence, this style infuses femininity due to the full midi skirt with the sheer illusion of an extra layer of fabric. Finish the look with a pair of wedges or flatforms, and a floppy straw hat for the ultimate 2017 take on
Parisian elegance. Alternatively, grunge it up with a pair of low-cut studded booties, a white bandeau shirt, leather skirt and heavier make-up in the style of Jourdan Dunn.

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Wild at at Heart

Update your OTS top for Spring 2017 by layering it over tops and other blouses as seen on Altuzarra, Vera Wang, Gabriella Hearst, and Tome to name a few. And if you’re as daring as Altuzarra, follow a no-rules regime when it comes to matching patterns. Clash your florals with stripes and keep a few colour palette similarities to create a balanced yet laissez-faire outfit. New York designer Joseph Altuzarra cited Wild at Heart as one of the main touch points of his SS17 collection, saying the collection was “a modern take on romance and kitsch.”, hence re-creating a feeling of letting go forcefully – and constructing an effortless look with pathos.

Work your way in reverse, by layering your tank over your OTS following in the runway footsteps of Tome for SS17. The best part is that you can easily incorporate the look with items already hanging in your closet, such as plain tees, asymmetric tops and classic tank tops.

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Punk Noir Corsetry

If mixing prints and colour hues leave you feeling chaotic, choose Vera Wang’s styling suggestion for SS17 of a muted palette in black, occasional dark brown, white or navy while juxtaposing it with bold designs, meaning corseted jackets sliced horizontally above the bust. Layer them over ribbed tanks exposing your midriff, and for a full take on Vera, pair them with peplum shorts. In this a 2 for 1 styling deal, you land two powerful SS17 trends instantly: the new cold shoulder silhouette with punkish corsetry. Voila!

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Wrap it

Get into the take-up-space mindset of Christobal Balenciaga, and follow Delpozo’s example of bubble-like volumes and plays with architectural forms. Always referencing art in his work, this year he felt inspired by Spanish Impressionist Joaquin Sorolla and contemporary artists Soo Sunny Park. For him, the OTS trend had nothing to do with tops and blouses. He scraped the top completely and replaced it with a well proportionate pastel wrap, which acted as a coat paired with a sheer buttoned up white top. If the cold shoulder bubble top is too much of a commitment for you then opt for a chunky wrap and wear it over your tank top by making a secure knot and exposing your shoulders. You can also go for a duster coat or a funky kimono worn over your top while leaving the shoulders bare.

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