Stunning Photo of ‘Crop-Top’ Brian from Wildwood, NJ Turns 40!

Hater's Gonna Hate

Everything about this photo tells a story about my childhood that I refuse to hide from, and quite frankly, how could I?  The picture, taken at Wildwood Crest in the summer of 1984, turns 40 years old this week, and I'm not running from it.  I'm embracing my inner "Chunk" from the Goonies and doubling down on it with this post!

Combining a sleeveless crop top tee and hiked-up cotton shorts doesn't leave much to the imagination.  But 10-year-old Brian didn't give a crap about the haters.  He wore what he wanted, showed as much belly as he wanted, and posed in front of the Chateau Bleu in North Wildwood like the Caldor influencer he was.

FAQ's About the Stunning Image

How can you look at this picture without having a million questions? There are a thousand things worth pointing out, so I will do that without fear. 10-year-old Brian taught me that nothing, not even this fence, can hold me back.

• The outfit was undoubtedly a boardwalk purchase, and I believe it came as a 'set.' There's no other way to explain the perfectly matched shade of electric blue. This would have been an $8.99 purchase in the Summer of '83. If purchased in '84, it would have cost about $3. My guess is it was last summer's leftover.

• The belly shirt/crop top was the style in the early 80s, and 10-year-old Brian was clearly up on all the latest trends.  And what better way to stylize your wardrobe than clothes shopping on a South Jersey boardwalk? Haters will say those abs are photoshopped, and I'll tell them that's impossible.  Photoshop wasn't even invented back then.

Watch the Tram Car, Please!

• The pose: This was well before social media, but that didn't mean we didn't take photos. We had plastic-covered albums with flip pages that we filled once the pictures were developed two weeks later at a Foto-Mart.  Let it be known that a shhhmexxy pose like this was a one-shot deal back then.  There were no reshoots or retakes.  The disposable camera had a certain number of pictures you could take, so you either nailed it (like I did) or you missed your chance at glory.  I shot my shot here, so you can't be mad.

• The licking of the lips: do you have to ask?  This pose screams, "Ladies, please wait your turn!"  The fence can't tame this tiger. This subtle gesture was my way of letting everyone know that no one will be denied.  Or I ate an Entenmann's donut and was licking the white powder off my lips.

So there you have it—the real story behind the viral photo of 10-year-old me that has captivated the Capital Region and has South Jersey beach-goers wondering when I'll be making my return visit.