Redefining masculinities

The cropped-top trend has been around for a good while, and is historically considered to be an evolution deriving from garments initially seen as feminine, now incorporated into men's fashion. The said piece of clothing, which is typically characterized by being shorter than usual, allows the abdomen to be seen, and has been adopted by men of different styles and body types as a way to reaffirm their bodies and challenge stigmas. It was a men's trend in the 1980s when actors like Johnny Depp and Alex Winter wore in films. During that era, cropped-tops were synonymous with strong men who almost literally lived in the gym; AC Slater wore it in Saved By, and Patrick Swayze and Keanu Reeves wore it in Point Break.

Currently, its comeback is experiencing a renaissance in menswear, with celebrities and men of all walks of life embracing it. It has become somewhat a versatile staple that could easily be combined with different styles, from casual looks to more smart or formal outfits, yes I did say ‘formal’.

It's not just designed for slim men, but it’s rocked and worn gracefully by men of all sizes and body shapes. The length of the garment can vary, reaching the waist, always above the buttock, or some barely passing the chest, reminiscent of bullfighter jackets which to me are, undoubtedly, one of the most beautiful and striking uniforms to this day). They can be paired with multiple options, whether be it shirts, T-shirts, sweatshirts, polo shirts, or anything that excites one. They will always elevate and add a fashionable touch to your look.

Crop garments (and the concept) are generally-speaking synonymous with youth, confidence, and sexuality, and they’re not just related to the Body Positive movement. It factually originates from American sports culture a few decades back. According to ‘Crop Tops Are For Guys’ an account on good ol’tumblr, its path in fashion didn't begin as women's clothing. "The truth about the crop top movement is that it's been around since the 1970s," the account holder cites. "The crop top was originally created by men for men and was part of menswear for years before women started wearing it." During this decade, bodybuilders would cut off the bottom of their shirts to avoid gym dress codes that prevented men from working out shirtless.

The VTMNTS brand presented the first runway show of its new project in 2023 in Paris, featuring a cropped version of the leather jacket and a very sexy, high-necked cropped-top, while Fendi, for Spring/Summer 2022, gave us a chic, pistachio-coloured micro-blazer. Emerging labels and young designers also embraced the cropped-top and cropped-jacket. JW Anderson and GmbH, the subversive Berlin collective, often play around experimenting with the aforementioned adding artistic and colourful accents.

I am wearing an oversized, cropped-blazer, featuring a beige-y, checked print, bulging shoulders, long sleeves and an oval, cut-back making the sight of the rare of the garment to appear even more severe and also quite original. This goes beautifully with the tailored, chocolate-brown shorts and the matching brown, leather belt knotted up to give it a twist. A basic, white T-shirt is always rather effective to relax the look, yet mine has some chill, yellow details in the neck and sleeves giving a slightly retro-sporty vibe. The multicoloured, stripe-y socks add a bit of funk to the outfit and I can’t but love how these elements tie up with the classic, brown, leather loafers. The footwear is a great example of basics everyone should have in their wardrobe as they never get old and easily lift any look. The colour-blocked, brown and white sunglasses follow along with the colours of the rest of the outfit and the tablet sleeve with a touch of red in the buckle. The colour contrast comes in strong with the yellow, cross-body bag making it all pop and be more fun and relaxed.