The resurgence of fleece has tracked the rise of athleisure. The ubiquitous polyester fabric now finds itself in both innerwear (see: fleece-lined warming gear) and outerwear (the beloved teddy bear coat).
This fall, I have been loving cropped fleece jackets designed with multiple zippered pockets and in neon colorways. The pockets alone are enough of a selling point for me, but the style is also forgiving on a shorter frame and showcases a longer leg-line.
One of my favorite fleece purchases is the (super cozy) Free People Hit The Slopes Fleece Jacket pictured here, which is lightweight but warm. When I am wearing this jacket, I rarely feel the need to carry a bag because of its three zippered(!!) pockets, especially when I am just biking around my neighborhood.
The style is cropped but loose-fitting, so your normal size should allow for two or three midweight base layers. The jacket in size XS measures 22″ in length, with 28.5″-long sleeves.
This little jacket, with its stand collar and elastic cuffs, is incredibly wearable and effortlessly chic for the weekend: On colder days, I just throw it over a base layer of HEATTECH t-shirts and leggings (usually with the snap closures undone). The shorter length of the jacket also pairs well with (fleece-lined) sweatpants.
You can buy the Free People Hit The Slopes Fleece Jacket at Free People, Nordstrom, Revolve Clothing, Macy’s, South Moon Under, Amazon, Zappos, and Shopbop.
