Emma Stone looked so cool at the recent BAFTAs in a Chanel dress with matching trousers… She certainly stood out amongst the princessy ball gowns.
This dress-over-trousers trend – although not new to us Club Forty-ers as we were wearing dresses over trousers in the 90s, weren’t we??!! – is a great solution for these transitional months when Winter isn’t quite behind us and Spring still seems a way off.
My legs are unsightly – I haven’t got around to making that waxing appointment, or bought any fake tan yet – and quite frankly the chill in the air means that I am only just considering ankle exposure!!! So layers are still the savvy option right now and layering a dress over a pair of jeans or trousers is actually a sensible, but on-trend, solution.
If, like me, you are also bored of your Winter go-to looks, then styling a dress over trousers is a fresh change and makes use of items already in our wardrobe.
In my opinion, this look has two advantages; 1) We get to wear a dress (in advance of warm weather), but still cover up the aforementioned pasty-white, hairy legs; and 2) We can effectively ‘shop our wardrobe’ for this look, so no need for any new purchases – hurrah!
This is a shirt dress I purchased a couple of years ago but haven’t worn for a while… wearing it over jeans gives it a new lease of life.
The dress-over-trousers combination works with a variety of dress types and trouser shapes. The more fashion-forward girls have been wearing slip dresses or floral maxi dresses over trousers. I love the 60s silhouette of a tunic dress over flared trousers. Skinny or cropped jeans as well as wide-leg trousers all work too. Leggings are of course another option (tip – leggings are going to be big again, especially stirrup leggings!)
It will take some experimentation to get the combination on point, but it’s definitely worth a try – don’t you agree?
I think it’s a great, versatile look that, as long as you get the proportions right, works with most body shapes (and hides a multitude of sins!) Plus it can be dressed up or down.
The dress and jeans combo with trainers is great for busy Mums or on casual weekends. Whilst a shirt dress over a pair of wide-leg palazzo pants or tailored trousers will look super chic for the office. And for a cool evening outfit, wear a mini dress, or a sheer long dress, over leather-look leggings with spiky heels.
It was Celine’s A/W16 show that first brought this trend back, and it’s set to last into the summer – think floaty dresses over lightweight trousers and flatform sandals.
So what are your thoughts on the dress-over-trousers look? Are you going to embrace this trend all over again?
As always, I’d love to hear from you, so please do leave a comment below and share your outfits on Instagram – #clubfortyclub and don’t forget to tag me (@clubforty.claire)
Thanks for reading!
5 comments
I have always been a fan of dresses over footless tights/ leather look leggings with heels. Funnily enough I was only thinking about this the other day as I dragged a dress on in the middle of Zara (rather than queuing to try it on) over my jeans and was thinking that it looked better than with tights. I have loads of shirt dresses which would look ok with jeans or leggings for early spring.
I love that we are so in-tune style-wise Louise! ♥
Love this look! I have a shirt dress that I wear leggings with, does that count?!? I like the flared cropped trouser and dress look but I think it might suit a taller person than me! Will deffo try out spring time!!
Yes, leggings count Helen!
I love the idea, but as a shorter (5″3) larger (size 14/16) girl, I think it always makes my bum look big ? Although smooth leggings & killer heels can help ! X