The Trouble with Shoestring Strap Tops

Now that summer is here and temperatures are climbing from moderate to unbearable within a few hours, we feel increasingly tempted to wear fewer clothes - and in doing so, we often find ourselves standing in front of our wardrobes, holding a barely-there top and wondering if it's "too much" to sacrifice fashion in favor of comfort. Tops with shoestring straps are on the "easy to put on, easy to get wrong" list, and the reason I'm bringing them up today is to warn you that it's at best unwise to don such a top if you're over 18. Just remember that there are other, fashion-friendly ways to keep cool.

The trouble with shoestring strap tops is that the straps alone commit a number of fashion blunders: they may expose your bra straps, and one look at Amy Winehouse's shabby figure should be enough to dissuade you from this fashion no-no. Then, the tiny straps have the uncanny effect of making everything else look big, your shoulders and bust in particular. Even women who are relatively lean can easily look like they're playing college football in their spare afternoons. Also, the whippet-thin straps bisect your clavicle in a very unflattering way and the clavicle is just about the only part of a woman's body not affected by fatty deposits.

As you can easily see, shoestring strap tops are a true calamity for the upper part of your body, which is usually the most attractive and flattering area of our anatomy. Your neckline, shoulders and bust will thank you if you avoid donning such tops this summer (and every summer, for that matter) and go for a more flattering style - there are literally hundreds to choose from. If keeping cool is a priority, why not go for a billowing, empire-waist blouse or a sheer cotton shirt - or choose one of the many dress styles and cuts available - which are most likely to flatter your body shape and keep you cool fashionably?