Like bare arms and legs, your upper abdomen is going to be getting a lot of sun this season thanks to the spring 2013 runways. Now, if you were to take a survey asking women if they would feel comfortable baring a part of their stomach while wearing a dress or shirt, I guarantee that at least 70% would say “oh hell no.” Not only is the stomach one of women’s biggest “problem areas”, but it’s also an area we cover up for the majority of the year (unless you live in a bikini, in which case you are hereby excluded from this entire post). But before you turn your back on the trend, know this: revealing the upper abdomen — we’re talking just below the boobs — can actually be extremely flattering, and requires little to no work at the gym.

Unlike the crop tops before them, these upper torso cut-outs aren’t here to expose your FUPA. Instead, they show off the flattest part of your stomach, provide ventilation (the under boob sweat is one of my biggest issues come summertime and this nixes that whole problem), and may actually be sexier than cleavage. Should you be a man reading this right now, you’re probably thinking, “Sonia doesn’t know anything when it comes to sexy dressing.” And given my recent stint with gaucho pants, perhaps you’re right. But in the act of self-defense, I too think I am right.

The upper-ab cut-out leaves much more to the imagination than a J.Lo style dress or Lil Kim nipple pasties. While cleavage will always have a place in the world of fashion (as it should), this new epidermal focus is far more refined and elegant than a set of perfectly plump knockers pouring out of a strapless gown. Maybe not for the office or the first time you meet the parents, but for a summer party (like this very Memorial Day Weekend!), it’s definitely worth taking out for a test run. Also, for the record: bras are optional whilst going crop-top. Feel the freedom and find your own suitable cut-out dress from my picks below.