Poplin Style Direction | Seattle Personal Stylist for Women Everywhere

View Original

On Trend: Cropped Jackets + Maxi Skirts

As a personal stylist for women, I get VERY excited with changing seasons. As a person living in the Pacific Northwest, I love my green surroundings but that doesn’t stop me from being a superfan of spring and summer. Around here, spring introduces more color into the often dark wardrobes of our region. We all get excited to get dressed this time of year which typically means a waitlist for my services around now. So, if you’ve been pining to become a Poplin client, now’s the time to reach out.

If you are here for a little style inspiration, I’ve got you. One of spring’s big trends is pairing cropped jackets with maxi skirts. You’re already seeing the straight denim maxi literally everywhere. That’s why I was ELATED to find the leather version masquerading as denim below. If you’re ready for some ideas to have fun with spring’s trends without looking like every other woman with equal enthusiasm, this post is for you. Enjoy! And as always, LMK how it goes.

Loving this affordable, boxy cropped blazer. Available in multiple colors up to size XL.

Few things are as timeless as a Breton tee. This classic is available up to size 20/22.

Woah! This skirt is made from real leather designed to look like denim. Available up to size XXL.

Still haven’t found your dream loafers? Look no further than these beauties available in multiple colors up to size 42.

As a personal stylist for women, I’m always on the lookout for new trends and especially those that may seem tricky for my community to master. That’s why I’m particularly enthusiastic about the cropped jacket/ maxi skirt combo. After all, it’s been a while since we’ve really embraced the maxi skirt (while the maxi dress has been going strong for ages). The strong high waisted pant wave means that many women already have a cropped jacket in their collection. If this sounds like you, it’s not wildly unlikely that there’s a maxi skirt that’s been living in your closet for some time but hasn’t made it into the regular rotation.

Not to worry, Dear Reader. Now is the time to embrace Spring with this fresh pairing. Whether you use new or existing pieces, or a combination of the two, here’s how it’s done.

5 Ways to Pair a Cropped Jacket with a Maxi Skirt

Bomber + Cargo Skirt

Bomber jackets and cargo skirts both have the potential to overwhelm your frame and make you look larger than you are. In order to combat this, be sure to keep things in proportion and highlight your smallest point. Your pairing will change based on your body type, so opt for an approach that is flattering for your frame. Need ideas? Check out the Poplin Pinterest boards which are organized by body type and personal style key words.

Leather braided jacket available up to size 10. Female founder, shop small.

Grey leather cropped bomber jacket. Available up to size XL. Female founder, shop small.

Elastic waist A line Cargo skirt. A major find if your weight fluctuates. Available to size XL.

Make your outfit memorable with an eye catching pair of Docs. I recommended these to a client a few months ago and they look incredible on plus they are pretty easy to pair.

Vest + Straight Maxi Skirt

A vest is a stellar way to communicate your authentic personal style. Try a masculine inspired classic piece or something leather to channel your inner Stevie Nicks. Or balance both with a classic vest and leather skirt. The straight maxi with a front slit is literally everywhere this season. Your 90’s inspired piece is sure to get lots of wear throughout the year. This look is super useful for various weather and is ripe to layer a blazer over top for colder temperatures.

Menswear inspired vest with straight maxi skirt. Coordinated set or wear solo. Available up to size large. Female founder, shop small.

You’ll have this in your collection for years to come. Store it when it seems dated and pull it out again when the time is right. Leather straight maxi skirt available up to size 12. Ethically made.

Designer strappy heels on super sale. Yes, please!

Cropped Blazer + Silk Maxi Skirt

If you picked up some silk maxi dresses or a silk maxi skirt in the fall, you can still get lots of wear out of them. Simply pair with a cropped blazer. Remember that shiny fabrics reflect light differently depending on the angle, so if you are feeling sensitive about certain areas of your figure, silk is likely to highlight those areas. In contrast, if you are eager to show off some of your favorite assets, silk is a stellar choice.

Cropped blazer. Available in three colors up to size XL.

Satin Effect long skirt. Available to size XXL.

Bam! This breathtaking metallic blue wedge is available up to size 40 European with a lovely chance to shop small from female founders.

Vintage inspired jacket + Bold Print Skirt

If you lean toward the eclectic and prefer mixing prints and textures, the cropped jacket + maxi skirt trend is a great canvas for your approach. Don’t be afraid to mix and match with pieces that bring a strong sense of individuality to your look. Try two different textures or a large print coupled with a very small print to kick things off. Stripes or pin dots can also look great with florals, depending on the size of each print. Just stick with the same color scheme if you are mixing prints. Or, opt for multiple colors in the same print. Go! Go! Go!

Cropped vintage inspired jacket. Available in three colors up to size XL.

Bold print maxi skirt with pockets! Available up to size XL. Ethically sourced, female founder.

Eclectic dressy flats just for you. Available up to size 43 European.

Leather Moto + Vegan Leather Crossover Maxi Skirt

One important element of developing your personal style is knowing if you lean toward an effortless mix and match approach or if you prefer things to feel more intentional. Here’s a solid example of the intentional matchy- matchy approach. Coordinating the color of your jacket and shoes is great indication of a purposeful style. That doesn’t have to be difficult. When you identify your color palette and only buy items in that palette, all your pieces will work with your other pieces. Translation: You’ll quickly discover multiple items in your collection that are the same color as others, making an outfit like this a happy discovery rather than the result of hours of internet shopping.

Finally! This favorite cropped moto jacket is on sale! Available up to size 12.

Faux leather crossover skirt available in two colors and up to size XL. Female founder. Shop small.

I’ve had a pair of these for years and love this season’s new color offerings. Available up to size 41 European.

And there you have it! I can’t wait to hear how you’re making this trend work for you. Happy styling!


Pin This!


Come on In!

Holy crow there are a lot of benefits to being a member of the Poplin community. You’ll receive my Top 100 Favorite Retailers Organized by Personal Style AND the Wildly Popular Six Weeks of Style Tips. Poplin email subscribers also get the newsletter directly to their inboxes every other Friday PLUS all sorts of bonus content that is not published on the blog. Sign up! We won’t spam you or share your info with anyone else. Already on the list? Share Poplin with a friend who’d love this content, too!