History Main / BareYourMidriff

* ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyEquestriaGirlsForgottenFriendship'': This being a BeachEpisode for the series, the swimwear worn by Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Sunset Shimmer and Trixie include bared midriffs.

* ''Creator/GlitchProductions'' seems to be fond of this trope. Saiko of ''Machinima/Supermarioglitchy4sSuperMario64Bloopers'', Meggy as she appears in ''WebAnimation/SunsetParadise'', and both Belle and Bo in ''WebAnimation/MetaRunner'' all apply.

* ''Film/Daredevil2003''. Elektra's HellBentForLeather outfit leaves her midriff exposed, and [[SubvertedTrope Bullseye exploits this]] by stabbing her there with one of her own sai's. She doesn't learn her lesson after being brought BackFromTheDead for the [[Film/{{Elektra}} spin-off]], as the only thing she changes is the color of her outfit.

* ''Film/Daredevil2003''. Elektra's HellBentForLeather outfit leaves her midriff exposed, and [[SubvertedTrope Bullseye exploits this]] by stabbing her there with one of her own sai's.

* Particularly common as athletic attire. Many people especially in hot weather go shirtless or wear something partially revealing for clear reasons.

Compare AbsoluteCleavage, {{Underboobs}}, ShowgirlSkirt, ZettaiRyouiki (has a similar effect, but lower on the body), and SexyBacklessOutfit. Compare and contrast NavelWindow, where the character's outfit only exposes their navel and a little bit of skin around it, and NavelOutline, where their clothing is tight enough to make the outline of their navel visible.

* Holly wears a midriff-baring shirt in [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KwKnE7eRAlI this]] Checkers commmercial.

* ''Creator/GlitchProductions seems to be fond of this trope. Saiko of ''Machinima/Supermarioglitchy4sSuperMario64Bloopers'', Meggy as she appears in ''WebAnimation/SunsetParadise'', and both Belle and Bo in ''WebAnimation/MetaRunner'' all apply.

* Melony and Ellen in [=WhizBang=] Pinball's ''[[Pinball/WhoaNellieBigJuicyMelons Whoa Nellie! Big Juicy Melons]]'' combine this with WhoWearsShortShorts

* ''Film/{{Pistolera}}'''s most common outfit for her RoaringRamageOfRevenge is a leather tank top and PaintedOnPants; leaving her midriff bare.

** ''WesternAnimation/{{Aladdin}}'': Jasmine's outfit, which codified the BedlahBabe trope for modern audiences. Aladdin's outfit too.

Compare AbsoluteCleavage, {{Underboobs}}, ShowgirlSkirt, ZettaiRyouiki (has a similar effect, but lower on the body), and SexyBacklessOutfit. Compare and contrast NavelWindow, where the character's outfit only exposes their navel and a little bit of skin around it, and NavelOutline, where their navel is somehow visible ''through'' their clothing.

[[folder:Comic Books]]
* ''Franchise/TheDCU'':
** ComicBook/BlackCanary: Not typically part of her costume attire, but generally her civilian attire, at least from the 2000s-onward, tend to be almost exclusively shirts that don't cover her navel. Which somewhat makes sense since that was fashion of the time and she was a woman in her mid-20s.
** ComicBook/{{Huntress}} in ''Comicbook/BirdsOfPrey'' bared her toned midriff despite wearing a full body costume and cape. Hey, if you did 700 sit-ups a day to maintain those gorgeous abs, wouldn't you? An irritant for many fans who remember the time Huntress got ''shot four times in the stomach.'' The belly window varies DependingOnTheWriter and artist, and Creator/GailSimone said that her costume was going to be changed to not include it a few issues into the 2010 relaunch. Unfortunately, the title was cancelled mid-story. As of Huntress-Year One, her midriff is properly armored.
** ComicBook/{{Stargirl|DCComics}} from [[ComicBook/JusticeSocietyOfAmerica the JSA]] has worn a belly shirt since her first appearance in her short-lived [[Comicbook/StarsAndSTRIPE solo book]]. She once justified it to Supergirl by noting that it sometimes distracted male opponents.
** Several female ''ComicBook/TeenTitans'', most notably ComicBook/{{Starfire}}.
** Comicbook/{{Supergirl}}: [[ComicBook/Supergirl2005 Post-Crisis ]][[http://vignette3.wikia.nocookie.net/marvel_dc/images/0/03/Supergirl_Vol_5_54_Virgin.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20100513211832 Kara Zor-El]], from her reintroduction until the New 52 reboot gave her a LeotardOfPower costume, and some of her animated counterparts wear midriff-baring shirts. Cat Grant often mocked her by wearing that kind of outdated clothes. In ''Comicbook/ManyHappyReturns'', Linda Danvers also bares her midriff.
** [[ComicBook/{{Hawkman}} Hawkgirl and/or Hawkwoman]], ComicBook/PostCrisis at least. Appropriate, given Hawkman's status as a [[WalkingShirtlessScene Flying Shirtless Scene]].
** Most versions of Comicbook/{{Aqua|man}}girl:
*** [[https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/aquagirl_i.jpg Tula]], the first Aquagirl, pre-''ComicBook/{{Flashpoint}}''.
*** [[https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/aquagirl_lorena_marquez.jpg Lorena Marquez]], the second Aquagirl.
*** [[https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/marvel_dc/images/e/ee/Tula_Earth-22.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20100909100242 Tula II]] of ''ComicBook/KingdomCome''.
** Aqualad's wife [[https://i.pinimg.com/originals/08/d3/06/08d306948c7b891607ddd9180e4395f3.jpg Dolphin]].
** ''ComicBook/{{Superboy|1994}}'': Roxy's outfits all showed off her midriff before she joined the Police Academy and started tying to distance herself from her dad's schemes.
** Harley Quinn, since the New 52 reboot, in ''ComicBook/SuicideSquad'', ''ComicBook/HarleyQuinn'', and most other appearances. This was somewhat controversial with fans who preferred her earlier harlequin costume with no exposed skin at all except her face.
** This is glaringly the costume theme for almost all female characters in ''ComicBook/GothamCityGarage''. Even ComicBook/{{Nightwing}} gets in on the act by not wearing a shirt.
** ''ComicBook/Robin1993'': The grey skinned shapeshifter Tim Drake fights in Bludhaven is basically wearing a sports bra instead of a top.
** ''ComicBook/WonderWoman1942'': Several Golden Age villains had midriff exposing costumes, perhaps most notably Zara who combined a strapless bullet bra with harem pants and jewelry to evoke a BedlahBabe aesthetic.
** While Mike Deodato was the artist on ''ComicBook/WonderWoman1987'' he managed to put ''all'' the Amazons (who look younger than forty anyway) in midriff revealing outfits, most of which covered less than a sports bra. Yes even Franchise/WonderWoman herself, who ended up in an outfit ostensibly inspired by biker chic that consisted of skintight black shorts, a black bra and an open jacket.
** Several of Cassie's ComicBook/WonderGirl outfits included short black tank tops or large but cropped black t-shirts with the golden-yellow [[superscript:=]]W[[superscript:=]] emblem emblazoned across them.
** In ''ComicBook/AmethystPrincessOfGemworld'', [[https://dc.fandom.com/wiki/Ingvie_(Prime_Earth) Princess Ingvie]] and her archers of House Citrine wear midriff-baring outfits.
* ''Franchise/MarvelUniverse'':
** Comicbook/{{X 23}}, the CanonImmigrant [[DistaffCounterpart female]] [[OppositeSexClone clone]] of ComicBook/{{Wolverine}} exemplifies this trope. Just about every thing she's worn, give or take a few outfits, shows her belly. It came to the point where when the third incarnation of Comicbook/XForce was formed, she was the only girl in the team whose uniform had this. Good thing she didn't inherit Wolverine's propensity for [[CarpetOfVirility chest hair]]. Notably, the few times where she had a uniform that isn't an example of this trope (other than her origin story where she was only about 13 or 14) was when it wasn't her creators Craig Kyle and Christopher Yost writing her (Chris Claremont first and later Christos Gage and Dennis Hopeless) so this might be due to AuthorAppeal. She gave up baring her stomach when she took on the Wolverine identity [[ComicBook/AllNewWolverine for a time]], but after Logan came back to life she was back showing it off.
** Surge is also known for this. Makes for awkwardness when her roommate, a Muslim girl, makes a veiled insult in retaliation when Surge calls her out on her clothing.
** The new(er) Scorpion, Carmilla Black has had some form of belly baring in all variations (though the variance isn't much) costumes she's worn.
** Callisto of the Morlocks, maybe one of the pioneers of this look...
** ComicBook/EmmaFrost rarely covers her midriff, [[HeroicSeductress she uses sexuality to her advantage]].
** [[ComicBook/{{Bloodstone}} Elsa Bloodstone]], especially her original costume (since it was based off her father's, but since his bared his chest, and being a Marvel Comic they couldn't really bare hers anymore than they already were, the midriff was left more open seemingly to compensate.).
** Dagger, as in: [[Comicbook/CloakAndDagger Cloak &]], always had that dagger shape in the front of her costume that puts her navel prominently on display.
** Comicbook/JeanGrey in ''Comicbook/UltimateXMen''. Comicbook/RachelSummers has a nearly identical outfit now.
** The Regan Wyngarde version of Lady Mastermind. Though hers is more in the "Dagger" style.
** Julie Power (Lightspeed, formerly of Comicbook/PowerPack), who somehow was allowed to age [[NotAllowedToGrowUp while the rest of Marvel is stuck in eternal agelessness]], wears no material between her ribcage and her belt. Notably, when the rest of the Pack team up with the children of the [[ComicBook/FantasticFour Future Foundation]], Julie is back to wearing her old, full-body costume. This is either an art error or an intentional change to appear "classier" in front of the children.
** The Comicbook/KateBishop version of ComicBook/{{Hawkeye}} in the Heinberg/Cheung era of ''ComicBook/YoungAvengers''. In the 2012 ''Hawkeye'' series and the Gillen/[=McKelvie=] era of ''Young Avengers'' she wears a more body-covering costume.
** Comicbook/IncredibleHulk's Comicbook/MarvelNOW costume, which is a suit of armor that shows off his abs when transformed.
** Comicbook/CarolDanvers' [[http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-psSgoaSGl5g/UdPnfBW241I/AAAAAAAAAG4/rtaDc6WFSvg/s500/Ms._Marvel_Kree-suit.jpg first costume]].
** The Comicbook/ScarletWitch wears one during the Kurt Busiek/George Perez era of ''Comicbook/TheAvengers''. They attempted to {{justif|iedTrope}}y it with her saying she was going back to her gypsy roots, yet the outfit would have easily made her ancestors blush.
** When Mark Bagely is drawing ''Comicbook/UltimateSpiderMan'', you can guarantee most of the girls will be drawn this way.
** Yelena Belova, ComicBook/BlackWidow's LegacyCharacter and rival.
* One of the [[DorkAge many unpopular things]] about the Kelley Armstrong issues of the ''Series/{{Angel}}'' comics was Kate Lochley's new midriff-baring costume, which was both out-of-character for someone who had previously dressed fairly professionally, and [[ChainmailBikini stupid]] for a non-powered human character in a canon full of hand-to-hand combat using edged weapons and claws.
* After Jenny Quantum from ''Comicbook/TheAuthority'' aged herself to look like a young woman in her twenties, this became her dress code almost exclusively. At one point she got "tired of menstruating" and de-aged herself to look about 11. The bare midriffs stayed, however.
* Dinah from ''ComicBook/{{Blacksad}}'' has this and [[spoiler: It's significant to the plot]].
* Claire Redfield, in the comic book of ''Code Veronica''; since she is dressed that way in the game, it is unsurprising.
* ''ComicBook/{{Empowered}}'': Sistah Spooky and Ninjette have baring-midriff {{Stripperiffic}} costumes. Same thing for Emp's [[ClothesMakeTheSuperman hypermembrane]] as soon as it start getting shredded... that is, most of the time.
* ''ComicBook/{{Femforce}}'':
** Colt wears a short blue jacket that stops just below her breasts, leaving her entire midriff bare.
** Tara Fremont's preferred attire is a camouflage bikini.
** Garganta's outfit is just slightly more modest than Tara's.
* In ''Comicbook/FreddyVsJasonVsAsh: The Nightmare Warriors'', Ash's girlfriend Caroline is shown wearing just a bikini, showing off her midriff. Furthermore, a girl getting mugged by a group of men at a railway station is shown wearing a midriff exposing shirt and three of the nightmare warriors (Tina, Rennie and Stephanie) are all shown wearing shirts that show off their belly and bellybuttons. Later, Maggie Burroughs/Kathryn Krueger is transformed into a new outfit by Freddy which shows off her midriff.
* ComicBook/GeminiStorm's Elizabeth Rose.
* In the SLG WesternAnimation/{{Gargoyles}} comic, Angela's look changed to fit this trope, whereas previously (as in the animated series) she had a single-piece tunic.
* In the French-Canadian comic book ''ComicBook/LesNombrils'', as could be guessed from its title, bared midriffs are a definite feature of the titlular girl trio.
* After nearly 70 years of wearing a one-piece bathing suit, ComicBook/PhantomLady started doing this.
* ''ComicBook/{{Pack}}'': Patience, TheLeader and TokenHuman of the group, wears a vest that shows off his arms and abs.
* ''Comicbook/{{Powers}}'' has Deena Pilgrim, who as a detective is allowed to come up with her own dress code. As she remarks to her pissed-off partner Christian Walker early on, while trying to get him to forgive her for going through his things (she thought he had powers): "And I wear these little belly shirts. That's gotta do something for you, right?" It's far less {{Stripperiffic}} than normal for a comic book, but she wears midriff-baring shirts almost exclusively. Some of the regular heroines of the ''Powers'' world go for the more traditional comic book heroine outfits, though.
* Ashleigh from ''ComicBook/{{Scion}}''. [[http://web.archive.org/web/20190710201000/http://comicbookdb.com/graphics/comic_graphics/1/150/9251_20061213175758_large.jpg All]] [[http://web.archive.org/web/20190710201000/http://comicbookdb.com/graphics/comic_graphics/1/282/138824_20080816121716_large.jpg of]] [[http://web.archive.org/web/20190710201012/http://comicbookdb.com/graphics/comic_graphics/1/12/9272_20051116232336_large.jpg the]] [[http://web.archive.org/web/20190710201001/http://comicbookdb.com/graphics/comic_graphics/1/151/32335_20061216012041_large.jpg time]].
* Princess Sally Acorn, Julie-Su, [[EvilIsSexy Regina Ferrum a.k.a. The Iron Queen, and Fiona Fox]] in ''ComicBook/SonicTheHedgehogArchieComics''.
* In Franchise/StarWarsLegends, throughout ''ComicBook/TalesOfTheJedi'' several ''male'' alien Jedi wore midriff-baring shirts, most notably Memit Nadill and Odan-Urr.
* ''Webcomic/VanVonHunter'''s perpetually amnesiac sidekick, whose outfit consists of a vest that covers her up top to the diaphragm, low-cut trousers with panty-flash splits, boots, and of course The Gloves of Lifting.
* Any female character in the ComicBook/ArchieComics franchise who isn't Ethel or Miss Grundy has a tendency towards this.
* ComicBook/RobynHood's [[CivvieSpandex camo top]] leaves her impressively ripped abdomen bare.
* In the Belgian comic ''ComicBook/GastonLagaffe'', Gaston frequently has a gap of bare skin between his sweater and trousers. Unusual in that this isn't drawn for sexiness but as part of his general slovenliness and lack of care for his appearance.
[[/folder]]

* The Fantanas in [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F614uU3DsqM several]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eEb0cYq6dvIcommercials.]]

* "A Thousand Quivers" [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57kX_8gTdM0 Coty Wild Musk]]

* Hinata Mitsutsuka from ''AudioPlay/ExitTunesPresentsACTORS'', in a costume he wears for a [[https://twitter.com/ACTORS_info/status/657183210170781696 special illustration]].

[[TruthInTelevision Midriff-baring outfits are popular]] in RealLife, and have been for centuries, although for a while, it was just in certain cultures and, within those cultures, certain occasions. It's more like 60 years that it's been widely considered acceptable. Even [[BellyDancer belly-dancing]] outfits weren't midriff-baring before the "cabaret style" began with the most famous [[http://www.berkshirefinearts.com/uploadedImages/articles/349_Hesperion-XXI-led-by313091.jpg "Little Egypt"]], a belly dancer who performed at the UsefulNotes/{{Chicago}} World's Fair in 1893.

Can come with a MinidressOfPower, ChainmailBikini, LingerieScene, BlackBraAndPanties, {{Loincloth}}, SexySantaDress, or WalkingSwimsuitScene as long as it is either a skimpy two-piece bikini or a [[http://www.thefreedictionary.com/monokini topless monokini]].

* The Fantanas in those commercials for [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F614uU3DsqM]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eEb0cYq6dvI]]

[[folder:Webcomics]]
* ''Webcomic/{{Unsounded}}'': Crescian men wear a simple short shirt with ties holding the sides as casual wear. it cuts off just below the pecs. It seems to usually be worn under other clothes, but not always.
[[/folder]]