Something fascinating is happening in men’s fashion: shirts, sweaters, and even T-shirts are all getting noticeably shorter, almost as if they’re shrinking in the wash. What’s even more surprising is that their prices certainly aren’t following suit!
Luxury brands are leading the charge. Louis Vuitton, for instance, offers a stylishly cropped zip-up shirt for a hefty $1,590, described as ‘fashion-forward.’ At recent fashion shows, like Coach’s New York Fashion Week presentation, models sported tees and sweaters that barely skimmed the navel. Eckhaus Latta even showcased a button-up that dramatically ended above the waist, sometimes without sleeves, putting more skin on display than ever before.
This trend isn’t just for the haute couture runways; it’s quickly trickling down to popular mall brands.
You can now find a ‘straight-hem’ shirt from Madewell for $88, or an equally short version from Levi’s for $80, neither of which would cover much of your back pocket. Abercrombie & Fitch has truly embraced this aesthetic, featuring 68 styles of men’s ‘crop’ button-ups on their site. Corey Robinson, Chief Product Officer at Abercrombie & Fitch, notes that younger, iPhone-generation customers are opting for ‘a looser fitting shirt that’s just shorter,’ calling it a significant ‘microtrend’ for their demographic.
These shorter styles, featuring flat hems, are evident across the spectrum, from high-end labels like Louis Vuitton to accessible brands like Abercrombie & Fitch.
Observations from Milan Fashion Week confirm this shift, with shirt hemlines steadily rising closer to the belt.
To achieve this sleek, abbreviated look, some men are even venturing into women’s sections for clothes, but many are taking matters into their own hands. TikTok is currently flooded with DIY tutorials showing how to transform regular shirts into cropped versions right at home.
Shan Molu, a 32-year-old product manager from Atlanta, shared his experience, saying he purchased a fabric-cutting kit online to tailor his button-ups into shorter, ‘baby-doll’ styles. Similarly, Andrew Buck, a 27-year-old software engineer in New York, and many others, are finding success by buying inexpensive vintage button-ups from thrift stores and cutting them to their desired length. ‘You can really make them your own,’ he explained.
Recognizing this grassroots trend, Abercrombie & Fitch decided to fully lean into cropped tops. As Mr. Robinson pointed out, ‘Not every guy is going to feel comfortable cutting off his own shirt,’ highlighting the demand for ready-made shorter options.
Think of the shortened shirt as the perfect companion to the popular baggy pants trend. As men’s trousers have grown wider and looser over recent years, a shorter top creates a much-needed proportional balance.
Andrew Buck elaborates, ‘Wearing a longer, looser tee with baggy pants can make you look shapeless and even shorter. A shorter, more fitted top breaks up that silhouette, creating a more dynamic and stylish appearance.’
Francis Reece Jimeno, a 29-year-old barista from Brooklyn, pinpoints the rise of baggy jeans as the beginning of this ‘era of cutting clothes,’ where personal customization became key.
High-fashion designers like Eckhaus Latta and Coach have been prominent in showcasing these cropped styles on their runways.
Interestingly, men’s button-ups have seen a ‘shrinking’ phase before. Back in the early 2000s, when menswear favored tighter silhouettes, brands such as A.P.C., Band of Outsiders, and Steven Alan offered slim-fit dress shirts that often looked like they’d accidentally been put through a hot wash cycle.
However, today’s rendition is distinct: hems are typically flat or nearly flat, and the abbreviation is more daring, often rising above the belt. This design deliberately exposes skin with movement, for instance, when reaching for something. In a fashion landscape where bare ankles and arms are commonplace, the midriff — whether toned or relaxed — is emerging as a surprising new area of focus in male fashion.
As Mr. Jimeno mentioned, ‘If I cut my shirt, then I can showcase my tattoos,’ highlighting the desire for personal expression through this style.
This trend isn’t entirely new; it echoes a 90s fashion moment. One might recall Brad Pitt’s iconic portrayal of Tyler Durden in ‘Fight Club’ (1999), whose awkwardly short shirt hinted at this very aesthetic.
The current fashion inclination clearly favors shorter tops, manifesting in both tinier T-shirts and dramatically shrunken button-ups for men.
This modern cropped look is even making its way to popular culture, notably seen on characters like Lochlan (Sam Nivola) in the latest season of ‘The White Lotus.’
More broadly, these shorn hemlines signify a major shift away from traditional, conservative dress shirts. Mr. Robinson of Abercrombie noted a ‘casualization of the entire market,’ observing that even short-sleeve button-ups — once associated with an older ‘dad’ aesthetic a decade ago — are now wildly popular among their teenage and twenty-something clientele. This relaxed, shorter style is even prominently featured in hit shows like ‘The White Lotus,’ on characters such as Lochlan.
For many, this trend aligns with evolving workplace norms. ‘If you’re going to the office and it’s business casual, where you’re not necessarily required to tuck your shirt in, then, yeah, I think a lot of people are leaning more toward that shorter, boxier look,’ Mr. Molu explained. ‘It just feels a little more casual and modern.’