The early history of the modern form of crop top intersects with cultural views towards the midriff, starting with the performance of Little Egypt at the 1893 Chicago World's Fair.
[2] Although the crop top first gained prominence in the fashion industry during the 1930s[3] and 1940s[2][4][5][6]—the latter in particular due to fabric rationing in World War II[7]—it was largely confined to women's underwear at the time.
It was not until the sexual revolution of the late 1960s and early 1970s that it achieved widespread acceptance,[3][2] worn by celebrities such as Barbara Eden (star of NBC's I Dream of Jeannie)[8] and Jane Birkin.
However, in 2015 the National Collegiate Athletic Association[19][20] increased restrictions on men wearing crop tops,[21][22][23][24] which also includes rolling up longer jerseys, giving no reason for the change.
[25][26][27][28] Since the mid-2010s, the male crop top has seen a major resurgence in popularity,[29] including prominent celebrity figures such as football player Ezekiel Elliott,[30] rapper Kid Cudi,[31] rock star Josh Kiszka, and actors Matthew McConaughey and Zac Efron.