There’s this new-old trend, coming back to haunt anyone that played in the fashion sandbox in the early nineties.  Cropped. Cropped sweaters, cropped t-shirts, cropped jackets…it’s everywhere.  What do the Demoiselles think of this trend?  Well, it’s complicated…

Jen: The cropped shirt has one thing going for it that the nineties lacked: it’s being worn with high-waists. Pairing a baggy, cropped sweater with a pencil skirt is cute; pairing a cropped cardigan with flat-front, high-waist trousers is quirky and shape-flattering. So, in 2010, I am giving cropped shirts two thumbs up.

Lindsay: …
Lindsay: I’m uncomfortable. I know how I’d like to see a cropped item of clothing work, but I feel like cropped sweaters and tops can be compared to the legalization of medical marijuana. You can let people have it, telling them it should be used in specific ways, but you know they’re not going to use it that way. I fully expect to see [more] cropped tees over low-slung jeans and bare midriffs abound. Not to mention, while I love the silhouette of a tight-fitting pencil skirt with a cropped, chunky sweater over it, I’m a fan of versatility, and I’m not sure that a cropped top gives enough options to get my two thumbs in an upright direction.

Jen: So, you’re uncomfortable about cropped tops for the same reason I’m uncomfortable with leggings.

Lindsay: Tou. Che, my dear. Leggings-syndrome, indeed. The last thing I want to see is a further 1980s revival, and unleashing croptop approval into the world makes my palms sweat.

Jen: Then what do we tell our readers? Do we give them some basic “cropped top dos and don’ts?” Do we tell them to avoid the trend altogether? Or do we just cross our fingers and…hope? The world is watching, Lindsay.

Lindsay: We tell our readers to not be awful when dressing themselves! If that includes cropped shirts and sweaters, then they need new glasses. (That’s right, you filthy hipsters!) I say try it with high-waisted skirts and pants, but the second you start showing off your belly-button, step away. Once you get comfortable re-living Flashdance, there’s only a very small chance of recovery.

Jen: Agreed. And I’ll add something I rarely say: do two trends at once. Wearing cropped sweaters in neutral tones, like gray, tan and cream, will appear less eighties-tastic than jewel tones and other bright colors. And for God’s sake, do NOT pair them with hooker boots.