Pick of the Crop

Given the recent Arctic weather and weekend of chocolate indulgence (or month+ if you’re me) it’s probably not the most ideal time for me to suggest that we all start exposing more skin. BUT I’m going to because this season there is no escaping the crop.

Crop tops, cropped trousers, cropped jackets- take your pick. Or don’t- just wear them all together. Chances are either way you’ll be perfectly on trend.

Chanel led the way at Paris Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2013, showcasing a series of cropped jackets:

Lagerfeld played on the proportions of the jackets, as seen above,  contrasting the cropped length with increased volume: wider shoulders and bell sleeves.

Balmain‘s spring/summer collection focused on another instance of cropping, the crop top:
 

The crop top this season is mostly reminiscent of fashion from the 60s and that’s definitely the way it comes across in Louis Vuitton’s spring/summer collection, especially with the monochrome vs bright yellow chequerboard prints.

However, is anyone else getting a strong flashback to the 90s with this trend? Remember ‘Clueless’, that pivotal 90s teen film? They loved a good crop top. As did S Club 7.

Obviously this isn’t the intended look for right now but the point I’m trying to make is that the crop top is not a new phenomenon, it’s been in and out for decades. The great thing about this season is that it’s a lot easier to wear. As seen above at Balmain, crops were showcased with high waisted skirts or trousers for a much more flattering look and frequently with a long line jacket or blazer worn over to complete the outfit.

Celebrities have embraced the crop top in all it’s forms, as seen below Millie Macintosh, Diane Kruger and Melody Nazarian.

By looking at the way the trend has translated into high street and celebrity fashion there seems to be a clear favourite in the form of the long sleeved edition of the crop. Pair with something high waisted and you’re good to go. The ideal look for spring.

Finally to clarify the rule that all good things come in threes, we can note the other important crop for this season- the cropped trouser.

Alexander McQueen’s Spring/Summer runway saw a series of cropped trousers paired underneath long-line jackets with nipped in waists to emphasise the waist and hips of a woman’s silhouette. The shorter length trousers evened the proportions of the looks and really allowed the heels to shine out in the collection.

The cropped trouser is once again very easy to get hold of this season whether in block colours or in bright summer prints: opt for a high waisted style or those that sit just above rather than on the hips for a more flattering look.

Shopping time!
Here’s my favourite of all the cropped pieces from the high street:

TOPSHOP:

http://www.topshop.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?beginIndex=1&viewAllFlag=&catalogId=33057&storeId=12556&productId=9833978&langId=-1&sort_field=Relevance&categoryId=423012&parent_categoryId=203984&pageSize=2000

http://www.topshop.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?beginIndex=1&viewAllFlag=&catalogId=33057&storeId=12556&productId=9859075&langId=-1&sort_field=Relevance&categoryId=423012&parent_categoryId=203984&pageSize=200

http://www.topshop.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?beginIndex=1&viewAllFlag=&catalogId=33057&storeId=12556&productId=9324924&langId=-1&sort_field=Relevance&categoryId=208524&parent_categoryId=203984&pageSize=2000&refinements=category~%5B715507|208524%5D&noOfRefinements=1

http://www.topshop.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?beginIndex=1&viewAllFlag=&catalogId=33057&storeId=12556&productId=9250024&langId=-1&sort_field=Relevance&categoryId=208526&parent_categoryId=203984&pageSize=2000

AMERICAN APPAREL:

http://store.americanapparel.co.uk/8379st.html?cid=1656-1659

http://store.americanapparel.co.uk/rsa0345.html?c=Imperial%20Purple

ZARA:

http://www.zara.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product/uk/en/zara-neu-S2013/358005/1150045/COOL+WOOL+TROUSERS

NEVER FULLY DRESSED:

 

http://www.neverfullydressed.co.uk/clothes/tops-tees/crop-knit-cream.html

SISTER JANE:

http://sisterjane.co.uk/new-collections/our-swan-days/

ASOS:

http://www.asos.com/ASOS/ASOS-Trousers-in-Micro-Geo-Print/Prod/pgeproduct.aspx?iid=2738701&cid=2640&sh=0&pge=1&pgesize=200&sort=-1&clr=Blue

http://www.asos.com/ASOS/ASOS-Blazer-in-Crochet-Lace/Prod/pgeproduct.aspx?iid=2672663&cid=11894&sh=0&pge=0&pgesize=200&sort=-1&clr=White

There are so many ways to wear the crop trend this season that it really is worth everyone giving it a shot. Embrace your inner Mad Men with high waisted cropped trousers and a matching crop top or do casual daywear with a long sleeved crop top and shorts. Just go for it, you won’t regret it!

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@runwytowardrbe