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Cropped jackets
Short cut. Long line.
Cropped Jackets for Women
Eleven in the morning on the Piazzetta in Capri. The cappuccino is still hot, the high-waisted trousers are freshly pressed, and anything longer than the waist feels like too much. A cropped jacket keeps the line short and the look finished. Gaby, the Baindoux cropped shirt jacket, comes in 16 colours below.
What is a cropped jacket?
A cropped jacket is a short jacket that ends at or just above the hips. The short length shows the waistband of trousers, skirts and dresses, so the waist stays visible. A cropped jacket for women works over high-waisted pieces, where a longer jacket hides the proportions.
The spencer: a jacket cut short by fire
The short jacket has a famous ancestor: the spencer. In the 1790s, George Spencer, 2nd Earl Spencer, reportedly had his tailcoat cut short after the tails were burned by coals from a fire. British officers took up the short cut as mess dress. Between 1790 and 1820, Regency women on both sides of the Atlantic wore the spencer as a fitted jacket cut just above the waist.
The short jacket, then and now
In the 19th century, “spencer” became the word for any short jacket or coat. The Regency spencer sat high over light empire dresses. The cropped jacket of today does the same over a slip dress, a pleated skirt or wide trousers.
Baindoux trades the wool of the Regency for Giza cotton terry. The womens cropped jacket stays light on a warm day and holds a clear shape. Giza cotton holds dye, so the 16 colours of Gaby stay rich season after season. Why Giza cotton holds colour so well is explained under properties of Giza cotton.
Styling a cropped jacket
To style a cropped jacket well, pair the short top half with a high waist below.
- Wide-leg trousers with a high rise, for a long line from waist to floor.
- A midi dress or a slip dress, with Gaby buttoned to the top.
- High-waisted shorts, like Abbygill, for a short jacket women wear on hot days.
- A bandeau or a fitted top under Gaby worn open, for the evening.
- A pleated skirt at midi length, with Gaby closed.
Gaby has a shirt collar, wide sleeves and metal buttons down the front. The boxy cut sits just above the hips, so a tucked-in top keeps the silhouette clean.
Capri, from the Piazzetta to Via Camerelle
Eleven o’clock. The first espresso on the Piazzetta. Gaby, our cropped shirt jacket with metal buttons, in White, buttoned over a navy midi dress. The short cut ends just above the hips, so the waist of the dress stays visible.
One o’clock. Lunch at Marina Piccola. Gaby in Pink hangs over the shoulders of a white shirt dress, sleeves rolled once, with flat sandals and a straw bag. The pink brings colour to an all-white outfit.
Six o’clock. The Faraglioni from a boat. Gaby in Electric Yellow, open over a white swimsuit and wide white trousers. The wide sleeves catch the sea breeze, and the yellow stands out against the blue water.
Nine o’clock. Dinner on Via Camerelle. Gaby in Black, buttoned and worn as a top with high-waisted black trousers. Gold earrings add a warm accent to the black.
Three colour pairings for the island:
- Club Blue with white and natural leather sandals.
- Bordeaux with sand and gold.
- Nude with cream for a tonal, quiet look.
For more outfits along the Italian coast, see what to wear on the Amalfi Coast, and for the overall feel, the guide to the quiet luxury outfit.
Gaby, the Baindoux cropped jacket
Gaby is a cropped shirt jacket in Giza cotton terry, with a shirt collar, wide sleeves and metal buttons. Gaby comes in 16 solid colours: Club Blue, Electric Yellow, Nautical Blue, Olive, Black, Blue, Bordeaux, Brick, Dark Blue, Green, Nude, Pink, Purple, Red, Sand and White. For longer cuts, like the club blazer Darling Jackie or the collarless Le Temps Perdu, see all women’s jackets.
Try the fit
Gaby comes in two sizes, S and M. The boxy cut makes the fit personal, so a try-on in one of the Baindoux stores helps. Online orders follow the delivery and returns terms, with free shipping within the EU.
More from Baindoux
Frequently asked questions
Who are cropped jackets for?
Cropped jackets suit anyone who wears high-waisted trousers, skirts or dresses. The short length shows the waist, so the jacket adds a layer without hiding the shape of the outfit.
What is the difference between a cropped jacket and a bolero?
A bolero ends above the waist and usually stays open at the front. A cropped jacket like Gaby ends around the hips and closes with buttons.
What do you wear under a cropped jacket?
A fitted top, a bandeau or a tucked-in shirt works under a cropped jacket. Keep the top close to the body, so the boxy jacket stays the focus.