Fashion: Is the dress-over pants look really back?

Q: Is the dress-over-pants look really back?

The dress-over-pants look was a trend that appeared in the 1990s, but has been off the radar in the decades since. That may be about to change, with more and more iterations of the look going down the runways of several recent spring/summer 2015 and pre-fall 2015 fashion shows.

Designer brands such as Proenza Schouler, Hermes, J.W. Anderson, Chanel, Stella McCartney, Loewe, Kenzo, The Row and Dior are just some of the labels who have recently offered a fresh take on this look.

A: key concept that has modernised the dress-over-pants look is that it is more about layering long pieces together rather than tossing a random dress over a pair of jeans.

If you take a look at these outfits from Chanel (photo 1), Stella McCartney (photo 2) and Loewe's (photo 3) spring/summer runway shows, they are actually a long jacket over pants, a dress over a long skirt and a dress over pants. But the proportions and effects are similar.

The single colour and loose or straight cut elevate the outfit into a coherent, sophisticated look. It gives off a slightly androgynous feel too. Overall, it becomes less about a dress over pants and more of a unified look divided into a few pieces.

Taking things up a layering notch, Dior presented a jacket over skirt over pants in its pre-fall show (photo 4). In this instance, the look is tied together more by silhouette rather than colour. It is fitted but not body-conscious, echoed by the smart, slightly wide-legged trousers.

Simplicity is really the key to this modern, long-over-long look. Stay away from crazy prints or fussy details that would push the look into zany territory. The silhouette should be simple as well, so avoid looks that are too tight or overly voluminous.

Many youngsters would not have been old enough to try the trend the first time around. But they are fortunate that they can enjoy this sleek update on the look.

This article was first published on Jan 30, 2015.
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