As I write this, the day’s weather forecast includes a high of 22 degrees—it’s safe to say the time has come for summer dressing. This is, of course, easier said than done. And while I love the idea of donning outfits that channel a warm-weather holiday in Italy, I find myself reaching more for casual summer staples this time of year. One such staple is the halter top—which, I admit, I did not have on my bingo card for this season’s biggest fashion trends. But I’m certainly not upset about it.

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It makes sense that halter tops are trending for summer 2025. It girls like Bella Hadid and Jennie Kim have been sporting versions reminiscent of the Y2K and early-2000s era, giving the look their seal of approval. On top of that, with its sleeveless, open design, it’s a natural option for beating the heat. After all, this is the season when you most likely don’t want anything touching your body—and like backless dresses, what better way to achieve that than with a halter?

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Courtesy of Dale Arden Chong
In my DIY halter.

To be honest, I can’t see why you shouldn’t have a handful of these in your warm-weather wardrobe. From sleek and simple styles from brands like Nili Lotan and Éterne to head-turning options in iconic prints (ahem, Pucci), there are undoubtedly a few to add to the rotation when you aren’t in the mood to wear a tank or blouse. (And if you’re like me, you can fashion from a scarf—I recently styled with a collar necklace for a chic going-out top.) Of course, there’s no need to get crafty when there are so many gorgeous options to choose from on the market. And whether you style them with a simple pair of wide-leg jeans, micro-shorts like Ms Hadid, or a maxi skirt, I promise you’ll be looking like a style star all season long. Ahead, see my favourite halter tops to incorporate into your 2025 summer capsule wardrobe, below.

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From: ELLE US
Headshot of Dale Arden Chong
Dale Arden Chong
Senior Fashion Commerce Editor
Dale Arden Chong is the Senior Fashion Commerce Editor at ELLE.com, where she edits and reports on the latest trends, labels, and designers in the fashion space to bring you the best items that will elevate your wardrobe. With a passion for great sartorial stories and getting dressed (as well as a knack for nerding out over the details), she has a robust knowledge of high-quality design, construction, and materials based on testing hundreds of products over her eight-plus years in the industry, writing stories for Glamour, Who What Wear, Entertainment Tonight, and others. So, if you ask her for a shopping recommendation, she'll give you five picks plus her honest, unfiltered opinions. Dale graduated magna cum laude from the University of Southern California's Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism with a degree in Journalism and a minor in Communication Design. In 2015, she was a finalist for the National Arts and Entertainment Journalism Award in the Online category of “Commentary/Analysis/Trend” for her article “Calvin Klein Underwear: What Is Plus Size?” Outside of the style world, her hobbies include cooking, playing tennis, ceramics, and watching BTS dance videos on YouTube, among other things. Follow her on Instagram at @dalearden.