Why the Little Jacket Trend Is Taking Over for Spring 2026

When Chanel’s Matthieu Blazy speaks, we listen—and his spring 2026 debut made one thing clear: little jackets are in, in a big way. The show’s opening look proved it. Cropped and cut with strong shoulders, Blazy’s reinvention of the classic Chanel jacket—this time also rendered in structured wool instead of tweed—perfectly captures his vision for the brand: a blend of masculine polish and feminine elegance. As Vogue Runway and Vogue Business’s global director, Nicole Phelps, noted, “One of his first instincts [Blazy explained] was to consider Chanel’s adoption of her boyfriend Boy Capel’s wardrobe, and the rule-breaking way she made the utilitarian aspects of traditional men’s tailoring her own.”

Dries Van Noten cropped embroidered blazer

Blazy wasn’t the only one borrowing from the boys. At Dries Van Noten, traditional tuxedo jackets were cropped almost to the rib, featuring delicate embroidery and preppy, popped collars. Dior’s Jonathan Anderson put his stamp on the staple, too—think an allover sequin number paired with a matching pleated miniskirt. Schoolgirl dressing just got a couple notches cooler. Then there was Altuzarra’s luxe leather version, which served as a strong foundation for the collection’s more flouncy pieces—balloon pants, polka-dot dresses, and statement skirts. Catherine Holstein of Khaite is no stranger to new tailoring codes either; her sleeveless, cropped jacket in classic khaki already has a waitlist of thousands.

Since the little jacket’s runway debut, the high-street has taken notice. There’s J.Crew’s tweed take, Alex Mill’s cropped collarless style, and Zara’s semi-shrunken military jacket (another trending silhouette this spring). Styling-wise, the piece is endlessly versatile. Go the Chanel route and team yours with matching trousers and a low-heel pump, or pair one with a breezy poplin skirt and a colorful lightweight knit for easy spring days ahead. I’m especially drawn to the latter, considering minimalist takes from Rùadh or Liberowe to up my transitional layering game. What about you?

Below, discover why the little jacket trend is everywhere—and on everyone—this spring. And yes, we have Matthieu Blazy to thank for that.