A cropped sweater has carried a lot of subcultural signals, and the V&A holds a multicolored cropped mohair and string jumper sold by Vivienne Westwood and Malcolm McLaren at Seditionaries in 1976. The same museum has a blue mohair jumper cut off by Angela Salt in 1994 to wear to techno nights. Here is how to choose a cropped sweater that sits right at the waist.
Cropped Sweater: Punk, Techno and Jawbreaker
A cut-off with a past
The V&A records a multicolored cropped mohair and string jumper sold by Vivienne Westwood and Malcolm McLaren at their Seditionaries shop in 1976, part of punk's anti-establishment look. It also holds a jumper made by Angela Salt in 1994, cut off from blue mohair and worn to techno and ambient nightclubs as part of her New Age-Ambient-Techno look. Vogue describes Rose McGowan's thin purple and pink cardigans in the 1999 film Jawbreaker as cropped to reveal her character's midriff. A cropped sweater has always been a signal.
Where it should end
A cropped sweater sits at the natural waist or just below the bust. It is made to be worn with a high-waisted bottom. Look at the hem, which should be ribbed so that it does not roll up. Try raising your arms in the fitting room to see how far the hem travels.
Fibers and fuzz
Mohair is fuzzy and cozy. Merino is smooth and warm. Cotton is cool and easy to wash. A cable or rib pattern looks crisp. Picture her in a fuzzy lilac cropped sweater and high-waisted jeans, walking home from a night show in winter. A soft knit makes a short sweater look generous.
Pairing it
A cropped sweater looks good over a collared shirt, a slip dress or a tank. Pair it with a pleated skirt, a pair of trousers or jeans. Add a long coat to balance the proportions. Store it folded.
What I would skip
I would skip cropped sweaters with hems that curl and a fit so snug that the arms ride up. A cropped sweater should feel purposeful, not accidental.
