The season of "cropped jackets" is about to begin, short jackets, sometimes very short to the waist, which for spring-summer 2026 will displace oversized blazers from the must-have podium. The name derives from the English "cropped," meaning "cut," garments shortened compared to the traditional silhouette. One example is the crop top that leaves the midriff exposed, a garment much loved by teenagers that has recently also entered the world of men's fashion thanks to style icons like Damiano David.

Now, women's fashion is turning to jackets with silhouettes that are smaller than the aesthetic standards of recent seasons. Matthieu Blazy's breakthrough came with his first attempt at Chanel's creative direction: he revived the classic tweed jacket, significantly shortening it compared to previous seasons and the designs of previous creative directors. On the Parisian runway, Blazy proposed the style beloved by founder Gabrielle: a boxy silhouette, four pockets, a round collar, and a row of jeweled buttons. The (winning) idea was to return to Mademoiselle Coco's personal style, elegant and refined, with various versions of the essential tweed (with an imperfect weave or embroidery evoking French atmospheres). The inspiration is tied to the original 1920s style, often worn by Gabrielle, and inspired by the wardrobe of the man she fell in love with: Hugh Grosvenor, the second Duke of Westminster. It was his effortless elegance and his English tailoring that inspired this short, comfortable and practical jacket, which has now become iconic.

For summer 2026, the cropped jacket offers numerous reinterpretations, revisited with classic tailored cuts, aviator jackets, bolero jackets, or bomber jackets, in technical fabrics or even leather and suede. For example, it's cropped to just below the bust in the Max Mara model, which drew inspiration for the collection from Madame de Pompadour, queen of Rococo. Her unconventional spirit is evident in the ultra-short jackets paired with pencil skirts or cigarette pants. A black ribbon is used as an elastic belt to accentuate the waist and show off the midriff. At Givenchy, meanwhile, the second collection designed by Sarah Burton is very sexy, with cropped jackets featuring cocoon silhouettes and peak lapels (a breast pocket and satin lining) or bomber-style cuts, with zip closures and stretch knit collars and cuffs.