The cropped trouser is one of those cuts that looks wrong on the hanger and right on the body, which is probably why a lot of men walk straight past it. Done badly it reads awkward, too short without reason, like something shrank in the wash. Done well it is one of the sharper silhouettes in a modern wardrobe. The break sits above the ankle, the shoe gets to do its job, and the whole thing has a considered quality that full length trousers rarely achieve at the same level of effort. We have been specifically interested in versions that work without a show pony shoe to justify them. Trousers that stand up in a loafer, a clean trainer, or a sock free leather shoe without looking like they need the help. Fabric weight matters here too. Something with enough structure to hold the line through a full day. These are the ones that make the case properly.