STAR TRENDS

Off-the-shoulder shirts are sensual

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Jennifer Connelly wears a black off-the-shoulder blouse. To see more Star Trends visit PEOPLE.COM

(PEOPLE) -- Looks like a bare market these days as stars like Jennifer Connelly and Alyssa Milano greet the summer in off-the-shoulder blouses.

The ethnically inspired tops, made popular in the late '70s by designers such as Halston and Yves Saint Laurent, offer "a subtle way to be sexy without going overboard," notes stylist Rachel Zoe Rosenzweig.

"They show skin without showing cleavage, which is a lot classier," agrees actress Amy Pietz, who revels in revealing what her bohemian blouse doesn't hide. "I've been lifting weights lately," she says, "so I like to show off my shoulders."

The gathered top is particularly "sensual" when paired with a streamlined pant, says L.A. boutique owner Cameron Silver, who warns against getting carried away with the look.

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"If you're going to wear a ruffly skirt and an off-the-shoulder blouse, you better have castanets in your hand," he jokes. "When you do the head-to-toe look, you look like you work in a Mexican restaurant."

Alison Singh Gee and Amy Baumgartner contributed to this report