Ladies, flaunt your dresses over pants
The sheer simplicity and adaptability of the dresses over pants trend has made it very viable. SAPNA SARFARE discovers more of this casually stylish style
You love trend as much as the next person. Your day starts with Vogue and ends with Cosmopolitan. But few match your interest. One of the latest with potential is dresses over pants. Simple yet trendy, all you need are some tips to wear it without looking like a tent.
Sleek trend
Designer Reynu Taandon describes it as intimidating yet easy to pull off trend of the season. “Just embrace layers, play with textures, and pay extra mind to color palettes and prints. When the weather isn’t quite warm enough or a dress is too short to be office appropriate, layering it over a pair of pants is a chic alternative.” However everything must have similar aesthetic.
Delhi-based designer Rhythm Goyal finds dresses more comfy and skin-friendly to beat the Delhi heat. Flowy and sassier than pants, she finds them making you feel nice about yourself. Designer Aastha Wadhwa, Founder, AAWA, reveals that while layering never goes wrong, in this case, it has hit bulls eye. “One has caught my eye – wearing slip dresses along with formal bell bottom pants or velvet pants which looked really classy and sleek to me.” She thinks this look has a sleek Carrie Bradshaw appeal to it.
Designers Amit and Richard of brand Amrich feel this trend has been a staple in India. “The primary difference is the name we use to refer to it – the salwar kameez. The cultural appropriation of this style by the west has suddenly brought it a lot of attention and acceptance. This concept of layering is quite a rage today and extremely practical as it allows increasing the longevity of the wearability of the dress.”
Celebs popularising it
Of course, celebs make trends so much appealing. Rhythm commends fellow designer Masaba Gupta for doing a great job with her dot dresses. “Celebs like Kriti Sanon, Deepika Padukone and Mira Rajput are carrying dresses through their airport look.” Airport looks are avidly followed by one and all. Reynu has seen Alia Bhatt wear a white maxi dress over faded blue jeans during a movie screening. “She pulled the casual yet chic look very well.” Aastha has favourites like Emma Watson, Kendal Jenner and Sara Jessica Parker. Her favourite is Rita Ora in a white Stella McCartney dress and paired it with white wide leg trousers to a BBC talk show. Amit recalls a showing called PARIS-BOMBAY – the preautumn/winter 2012-13 collection by Chanel.
Suggest ways
We prefer to wear trends we see in every fashion bible. Aastha likes the fact that this trend suits any time of the day. “For a day look, wear a cool cotton Aline dress with probably ripped jeans and shoes. For a night look, go for a satin slip dress with a velvet formal pants and heels. For a formal look, you can go for a body-con dress along with bell bottoms.”
For office, Reynu wants you to downplay trendiness with tucked-in oxford shirt and similarly-colored layers. “Paired with sleek, classic pumps and a ponytail the whole look feels intentional and unfussy. For a date, wear an off-the-shoulder dress which is cut with a high slit that reaches the waist and high-low hem, allowing it to show off the slim trousers worn underneath. The matching fabric gives the whole outfit a really sophisticated and fashion-forward feel, but you could achieve the same effect by layering one color you already have in your closet, like navy, white or black.”
Rhythm suggests, “You can carry a dress with a cape or a formal blazer maybe to a formal or corporate meeting or party. Carry a dress with a formal belt to a party or a funky belt to lounge or a lunch date with your girls.” She even recommends making the dress look sassier with a statement neckpiece.
Added pointers
There is a vital need to accessorize to make it stand out. Richard warns of avoiding going overboard. “If the garments are simpler, the accessories could be more of a statement by means of a pop of colour or form in the case of jewellery and vice versa.” Reynu thinks just chunk necklace with off-the-shoulder dress is magic. Pair them with pumps and a sling bag.
Aastha suggests going minimal and classy with petite jewelry like sleek chains and bracelets. “For the formal look, envelope clutches will play the trick. Mostly go for strappy heels or stilettos and I feel pumps are a big no for this look.”
Or go with the suggestions provided by Rhythm. “Wear sneakers with a maxi or maybe a knee/short length dress. You can carry a bag pack to a day out with friends.”
Give a finishing touch
Finishing touch will be like good icing on a cake. Aastha suggests keeping away from shabby look. “Go for the right length of the dress and then accordingly decide the bottoms.” As per Reynu, one can start with skinny pants and then move to black cropped pants or your favorite denim leggings. “Heels will help you feel less frumpy. Managing the added bulk of unfamiliar layers is easier when your legs look their longest and your feet feel a little sexier. Don’t be afraid to get a little crazy and mix things up.”
Volume is a key suggestion by Amit and Richard. “Tapered or skinny pants always look better with shorter dresses and sleek or voluminous dresses. The flared trouser look under a dress is better when the dress is more structured and form fitting.”