One-Shoulder Tops Are My Summer Guilty Pleasure

Racked is no longer publishing. Thank you to everyone who read our work over the years. The archives will remain available here; for new stories, head over to Vox.com, where our staff is covering consumer culture for The Goods by Vox. You can also see what we’re up to by signing up here.

For some people it's self tanner or ugly, comfy sandals, but my guilty pleasure this summer is one-shoulder tops, without a doubt. My love for the style feels guilty mostly because one-shoulder tops are really close to being Those Shirts — the comically confusing blouses with unnecessary, over-the-top detail. And when the one sleeve shirt is long, it can look especially silly.

Still, I can't help but want every one I see — and ever since Michelle Obama wore one strolling through Italy, approval from anyone else isn't really necessary, is it?

The asymmetric style is great because it’s equally playful and versatile; a one-shoulder top looks just as cute tucked into a pair of culottes at work as it might flowing over a pair of jeans at the bar. (Tip: They look even better when you throw on some loud earrings.)

Like ruffled or off-the-shoulder tops, the whole one-shoulder thing makes any simple, regular shirt look and feel a lot more chic, and just that much more exciting and fun to wear. Here, I've rounded up a handful of my favorite options out there right now if you have a soft spot for them, too.