Like many Millennials, I spent a fair chunk of my teens clad in cropped tops and jackets: From the crew-neck tees and bleached denim of the '90s to the long-sleeve iterations of the mid-noughties, it really was the silhouette du jour. My feelings towards the trend have somewhat cooled over the last decade, partly due to changing personal preferences, but also as a side-effect of the 'bigger-is-better aesthetic that has prevailed within the fashion world.
While I doubt I'll ever return to the belly-button bearing designs of my early teens, I have developed a bit of a soft spot for the many waist-grazing jackets that have been cropping up (sorry) in the spring collections this year. There's so much to choose from: From fitted denim and slouchy shearling to tailored leather and traditional boucle. Loewe's cropped leather jacket is the ultimate IMO, with its clean-lined appeal that will pair beautifully with a white tee and wide-leg denim. So simple yet so effective.
I personally feel like this trend should be reserved for elevated waistlines only, and by that, I mean to stick to high-waisted trousers, skirt and jeans. This will keep the proportions balanced, and ensure your outfit looks contemporary. Case in point: I've been inspired by Ven's Wife Style's fabulously throwback double-denim outfit featuring wide-leg, high-waisted jeans, which overlap with her cropped denim jacket. I'll be recreating this look with Arket's patchwork denim jacket and a pair of colour-match jeans.
If you're still feeling a bit chilly, there's also plenty of puffer and wool-based pieces that will carry you through spring's variable temperatures. But whatever you crave, there'll be a style for you. Scroll down to see and shop my cropped-jacket edit.
Keep the spring chill at bay with a cropped puffer and tailored trousers à la Oluwaseun.
Another double-denim look from Camille Charriere, but this time rendered in spring-ready white.
We have so much love from Oumaya's colour-pop shearling, which will add personality to any spring outfit.
Shop Our Cropped-Jacket Edit
Up Next: Spring/Summer 2021 Trends: The Most Important Fashion Looks You Need to Know
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