Gwyneth Paltrow Put This Trend on the Map 20 Years Ago

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(Image credit: Rex Features)

I have a thing for fashion, which should come as no surprise since, after all, I’m a fashion editor. But I also have a thing for movies—and the fashion moments in them always stick with me. I grew up watching pretty much everything from retro movies to modern-day ones and could dedicate an entire lazy Saturday to watching films. Some I’ve written about before like The Talented Mr. Ripley, Marie Antoinette, and My Father the Hero, but there are also others that I haven’t touched on like the ’90s flick Great Expectations, which in my opinion, is far underrated in terms of its fashion moments.

In the 1990s revival, Gwyneth Paltrow plays the rather unpleasant Estella. But where the charm of her character stops, the alluring outfits make up for it. Really, it’s a study in ’90s minimalism, and it brings out the best in cool, streamlined style. And for me, one of the standout outfits is the apple green blouse and matching slip skirt (designed by Donna Karan) that has always struck me as endlessly chic.

What’s most noteworthy to me about this outfit in 2018 is the relevancy of the top Paltrow is wearing. The blouse, secured just at the top, leaving her midriff exposed, is a precursor to one of the biggest trends that’s popped onto my radar recently. Open-front tops seem to be turning up everywhere. And just a few weeks ago, I adopted the trend for myself. It’s no secret that trends from the ’90s are coming back into play, but this has to be one of the freshest iterations I’ve added to my wardrobe. Ahead see how to wear the open-front top trend in 2018 and shop our favorite styles.

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(Image credit: Rex Features)

Gwyneth Paltrow in Great Expectations, putting the open-front trend on the map.

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(Image credit: @kristenmarienichols)

I decided to try the trend for myself when I discovered this top from Ciao Lucia. And yes, I’m a true fan. I have a feeling this will be my go-to top for the summer ahead.

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(Image credit: @trustmebuythis)

Who What Wear Editor Nicole Akhtarzad is also an early adopter of the trend.

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(Image credit: @ciao__lucia)

Another version of the top from Ciao Lucia, this one has very on-trend seashells printed on it.

Shop more open-front tops

It may come as no surprise, but I’ll be wearing these tops all summer long.

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Associate Director, Special Projects

Kristen Nichols is the Associate Director, Special Projects at Who What Wear with over a decade of experience in fashion, editorial, and publishing. She oversees luxury and runway content as well as wedding features, and covers fashion within the luxury market, runway reporting, shopping features, trends, and interviews with leading industry experts. She also contributes to podcast recordings, social media, and branded content initiatives. Kristen has worked with brands including Prada, Chanel, Tiffany & Co., and MyTheresa, and rising designers such as Refine and Tove, and her style has been featured in publications including Vogue.com, Vogue France, WWD, and the CFDA. Before Who What Wear, Kristen began her career at Rodarte, where she worked on styling, photo shoots, and runway shows, and at Allure, where she moved into print and digital editorial. She graduated from the University of Southern California, where she studied art history and business, and currently lives in New York.