Credit: (Photo by Christian Vierig/Getty Images)
Fashion
Dresses over jeans are making a comeback - here’s how to wear them (according to the experts)
1 year ago
3 min read
The 00s style statement is back in the spotlight. Here’s how to make the most of it.
Whether you love it or loathe it, it seems Y2K fashion is here to stay. Moving on from crop tops and cargo pants, we’re now firmly back in the dresses-over-trousers era, which, to be honest, we aren’t too upset about. However, as it’s important to have both the confidence to try a new(ish) trend and the knowledge of how to pull it off well, we caught up with stylist Sarah Barlow and Stylist’s own fashion director, Lucy Reber, to find out how to get the resurgent trend right this time around.
“Styling dresses over jeans is such a vibe and takes me back to being 14 quicker than anything else,” says Reber. “I like to think I’ve amassed a few tips on how to do it in the intervening years.”
It may have seemed like a slightly strange trend a decade or so ago, one that touched on the high/low styling rule (where a formal fashion item is pared back with a more casual pick). But the dress-over-trousers look seems to have taken a much more elevated approach this time around.
Credit: Getty
“I love the idea of wearing jeans with something with dramatic puff sleeves and a wide trapeze shape – think Cecile Bahnsen or Simone Rocha,” says Reber, stressing the importance of having fun with shape and texture. “To balance out your silhouette, you could also opt for a lighter silk option, again with puffed sleeves, like something cool by Rotate, in silk or sequins.”
If you’re a regular Stylist reader, you probably know how much we love a dress, so be sure to take a look at our shopping pages for button-down midi, long-sleeve mini and chunky, knitted style inspiration.
For stylist Sarah Barlow, the key to nailing this look is contrasts. “Denim itself is quite a rigid and masculine texture, so offset it with a feminine ethereal dress on top with lots of movement, such as a light floaty slip, perhaps in a neutral or pastel shade,” she says, following a similar line of thought as Reber. This also corresponds with what fashion insiders have opted for, as seen in the London and Copenhagen Fashion Week street style snaps we’ve included for inspiration.
Credit: Photo by Christian Vierig/Getty Images)
When it comes to choosing jeans, Reber left us with a few key pointers. After all, skinny styles are still sitting at the back of our wardrobes, waiting for the day that they become cool again. “I only really want to see a dress over something washed-out, wide leg and worn low and loose,” Reber explains. So white, grey and light-wash options are all key contenders, alongside a darker, inky denim if you’re looking for a more daring design.
As well as looking rather chic, the key point of this trend is that it extends the lifespan of our wardrobes. “Layering these typically summery dresses over jeans is also an easy way of making them work in the colder months,” says Barlow. And experimenting with new ways to wear some of our favourite fashion finds no matter the weather is certainly a cause we can get behind.
So next time you’re looking to make a slight style statement, get hold of your jeans and your favourite evening dress and try to combine the two. You may find it gives the best of both worlds: comfy and chic.
Images: Courtesy of Getty
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