STELLA MCCARTNEY GIVES US SOME KNICKERS TO BE PROUD OF

Britain's Katarina Johnson-Thompson celebrates while competing in the women's heptathlon high jump, in her Stella McCartney-designed Team GB kit. 

Stella McCartney's Team GB designs are the fashion gift of the London 2012 games that just keeps giving. As the athletics kicked off on Friday, it was the turn of the crop top and sports-knicker combo to fly into rather superb action.


Olympic pinup Jessica Ennis put the look through its paces with some first class hurdling, and it responded with gorgeous gusto.


The graphic blues, the white and the outlining red – on the crop top's neckline and the top of the knickers – becoming even more wondrous when they are hurtling toward you at breakneck speed.


Equally fierce in Team GB cropped numbers were Yamilé Aldama competing in the triple jump and Katarina Johnson-Thompson during the high jump.


Fashion trainspotters will note that both women chose a different set of bottoms to Ennis. Aldama went for a deeper shape in solid navy with a flash of red stripe running down the side while Johnson-Thompson sported a skimpy navy pair with a thick block of red around the waistband.


McCartney's kit had been criticised at its launch for not using enough red. This week, the designer hit back saying that there was "tons of red" in the kit while also pointing out: "It is the first time women have really been dressed specifically in the Games. They normally get the men's gear and they just have to put up with it."


A replica of the McCartney crop top is being sold for just under £30 on the internet.


The crop top-as-fashion-look has many fine non-sporting ambassadors too, from Madonna to Rihanna, Versace to Pucci.


Prada's spring/summer 2012 collection featured smashing bandeau tops paired with pleat skirts, dangling earrings and car-inspired sandals.


But if anyone takes the all time crop top icon medal, it is Sex and the City's Carrie Bradshaw. Her many midriff-baring ensembles include a white shirt knotted under her bust with a belt worn around her naked stomach and a skirt.


Off the track, the crop top look can be tricky. Aside from requiring the body of an athlete, or at least being an A-lister with a trainer, balancing the bottom half of the outfit is no picnic.


This was something cheerleaders during the basketball might have realised in retrospect. Hot pink crop tops? All right. With black pleather-look trousers? It's a no from me.

That Hippie Penny Lane