If your closet has been feeling a bit challenging to put outfits together, I may have a solution for you. Over the last few years, many of us have been swapping out our skinny jeans for new silhouettes. From straight leg jeans to trousers, things are a bit looser on the bottom these days.
And the number one thing I hear from readers is how hard it is to incorporate these new bottoms into our current wardrobes. The thing that I’ve found that has made a huge difference in getting more out of my closet, is to invest in two things. Fitted first layers like tees, tanks and body suits. And second, cropped third pieces.
And yes, cropped first layers are great, and I’ve got an entire post on that here. But today, I want to dive into all things third pieces that are cropped.
The Cropped Third Piece
What’s A Third Piece?
A third piece is simply your topper to your outfit. Your shirt is piece one, bottoms are piece two, and the third piece can be a variety of items from jackets, blazers, scarves and even belts. It’s that last piece that really completes the look.
I preach constantly that a third piece helps to make your outfits feel more put-together and more interesting. And one of the things I’m finding is a cropped third piece is the answer to my outfit woes.
Types Of Third Pieces
I want to exclusively focus on toppers for today. These can be blazers, denim jackets, bomber jackets, cardigans and lady jackets. You could even do vests, leather jackets and trenches.
Why Do Cropped Pieces Work Best?
One of the best ways to create a visually appealing outfit is to think about proportions and balance. So if we’re doing looser style bottoms, it’s important to balance it out on top with slightly fitted pieces. This may mean tucking your tees in, a fitted tee or tank, or even a bodysuit.
But another way to do that, and to complete the look, is to just go for cropped items. It shows off the waist and balances out the outfit. This helps to also create proportions by breaking your outfit into thirds. This is always a good rule of thumb when creating balance and proportions with your outfits.
Shop Cropped Third Pieces
Which Pants Go With Cropped Jackets?
Quite a few options can go with your new cropped jackets. And that’s why we love them! You can wear them with so many things. My general rule of thumb is to stick to things with a higher rise, and a bit of a looser fit on the bottom.
But don’t just stop at bottoms, cropped jackets and other third pieces are absolutely perfect with dresses and skirts.
- Trousers – wide and straight
- Wide leg jeans
- Striaght leg jeans
- Bell bottom jeans
- Wide leg cropped
- 90’s jeans
