Polka Dot Half Zip Cropped Sweatshirt

A half zip is the most practical neckline on a sweatshirt, because you can open it for air or close it against a draught without changing what you are wearing. This one pairs that with a cropped body and polka dot detail, so it reads as a deliberate top rather than a gym layer, and the crop keeps it from swamping a high-waisted bottom.

Wear it with high-waisted denim or a wide-leg trouser so the crop lands at the waistband, or over a longer shirt if you prefer more coverage. The half zip makes it easy to layer under a jacket without a collar fighting the neckline.

Cropped knitwear lives or dies on the bust and length figures, and both are published. Check the length against where you want the hem to land relative to your waistband, and compare the bust against a sweatshirt you already own.

Because it is cropped, the sleeve length matters more than usual: a sleeve that finishes at the wrist on a short body will sit above it on a taller one. The supplier publishes it, so check it alongside the length if you are outside average height, and size up if you would rather it sat longer.

The supplier lists a cropped sweatshirt with a half zip and polka dot detail, and provides bust, top length and sleeve length measurements. Machine wash cold and tumble dry low.

Shipping: Ships from the supplier in the United States. Supplier-advertised shipping cost: $5.99. Delivery is typically 2-5 business days for US stock.