Each season ushers in a fresh style that seems to blow up overnight. Sometimes people love it (like bows or mary janes) and other times it’s despised (like capris). But this go-round, the item is a lot more versatile. Cropped jackets are everywhere, and they’re even easier to incorporate into your closet. We compiled some of the best cropped jackets to shop for this season, along with a breakdown of how we all styled them.
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Emma Oleck, fashion market editor
I don’t usually go for a cropped tweed, but if and when I do, the challenge is keeping it edgy and cool. Channeling Nicolas Ghesquière at Balenciaga, Karl’s Chanel, and ’90s McQueen, I wanted to lean into the “lady” of it all with my choice in accessories and silhouette while simultaneously deconstructing the aristocratic vibes with something semi-satirical. I opted to wear Vaquera’s panty-front pencil skirt, accompanied by fishnets, chunky knit gray socks, archive Prada pumps, layered pearls, and Olsen-inspired oversize sunnies. I think the secret to making this work is mixing textures, adding humor, and not taking yourself too seriously. Ha!
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Danya Issawi, fashion news writer
I know we’re toeing the line here on what’s considered cropped, but one thing about me is that I will be warm and comfortable, even if it means bending the rules. Even with the cute cinching ribbons on the sleeves, this Free People jacket is so deliciously puffy. I wanted to balance out all that swaddling with something slightly form-fitting so I didn’t get lost in the coat and become one moving, shapeless blob (sometimes I like going blob mode, but not today). This sweater and skirt set from Entire Studios was equal parts cozy and, dare I say, sultry to balance out the utilitarian vibe of the jacket. I finished off the outfit with a pair of pointed vintage Isabel Marant boots to elongate the look and a set of very old, very warm black leather gloves from my boyfriend’s grandpa.
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Asia Milia Ware, beauty editor
Cropped jackets are a staple in my wardrobe because of my body type; the jacket style is always so complementing. But this was probably my first time styling a cropped jacket with peplum details, and because it’s a windbreaker, I wanted the look to feel sporty. So I added a pair of Adidas track pants. The navy-blue accents felt like a great juxtaposition to the baby blue, and the hints of yellow added a spring feeling to the look. I’m always in heels, so I styled it with a pump to make it a bit more sporty chic and fitting for my style. The Lorvae sunglasses and Ottolinger bag were the perfect accessories to complete the look.
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Morgan Evans, Cut Shop market editor
Metallic anything (especially gold) can be hard to style, but one of the best ways to make a metallic pop, but not look over the top, is by pairing it with a neutral. So I styled this sleek Veronica Beard gold leather jacket with black details, like my Zara turtleneck and suede Stuart Weitzman sock boots with just the perfect two-inch heel. And I couldn’t help but wear my favorite straight-leg Reformation jeans. I didn’t want to overaccessorize the jacket since it’s a bright statement piece on its own, so I went with accessories that help enhance the gold. I topped off the look with some round gold earrings and a vintage black leather belt with elegant gold hardware. I then added a silver-and-gold Rabanne chain bag that also plays off the metallic elements of the look.
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Brooke LaMantia, editorial assistant
I’m a sucker for a frilly Peter Pan collar, and I immediately envisioned my look once I spotted this Anthropologie denim jacket. As someone who tends to incorporate oversize items wherever I can in my wardrobe, a cropped jacket seemed daunting at first. But this quilted jacket was just the right size: comfy and loose but cropped right at my hip to pair well with any (of my many) midi skirts or dresses. This white Sandy Liang dress is one of my favorite pieces to wear, and I decided to pair it with my burgundy Weejun loafers and some red socks. I’ve been obsessed with that pairing since I saw a few girls on my Pinterest feed doing it, and I’ve adapted it to my wardrobe.
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Maridelis Morales Rosado, photo editor
While I usually lean toward boxy and oversize silhouettes, I surprised myself by liking a look that fit closer to the body. I’ve been aiming to embrace a scholarly touch in my style recently, and I always love finding new ways to layer button-downs. I loved how my vintage button-down peeked above and below the jacket, defining my waist. I paired it with my favorite shorts from Sincerely Tommy (which I’m obsessed with since I can adjust them to be high or low rise). I’ve also been experimenting with implementing new boots from Vagabond into my wardrobe, and this outfit was a good fit for them. I felt that the sunglasses completed the look, covering the range of neutrals with a pop of saturation (yes, denim is a neutral in my book).
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Bianca Nieves, senior shopping editor
I love a good denim-on-denim moment. A Canadian tux can do no wrong in my eyes. That being said, as soon as I saw this dark denim cropped jacket from Madewell, I knew it would match with my favorite pair of dark denim jeans from Uniqlo. And it did. I wanted to break up the monochromatic look, though, so I paired it with an Aligne top, which has a very dramatic, Conclave-esque collar. It worked, especially since I topped it off with my favorite glasses from Warby Parker and a Prada bag.
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Chinea Rodriguez, shopping writer
I wear oversize jackets, but a cropped one can get the same effect, especially this leather one from DKNY. I balanced the shape with wide-leg jeans from Dissh. Since this jacket has a lot of color with the patches, I chose a white tee instead of something colorful to contrast the solid black. It’s not too form-fitting, so I think it pairs with the jeans perfectly. I added a pair of pointy boots to dress it up and kept my accessories minimal to focus entirely on the jacket.
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Hanna Flanagan, shopping editor and writer
This tweed jacket is not something I would usually gravitate toward, so I originally had some difficulty styling it; nothing looked quite right. That is until I played up the schoolgirl look by pairing it with sheer black tights and a Balenciaga skirt that hits me right below the knees. I wore a plain black turtleneck underneath to make the top half of my look more interesting, then added black knee-high boots to stop the whole thing from looking too much like a Catholic school uniform.
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