This season marks the return of a Y2K fashion favorite—the ‘dress over pants’ look, re-emerging as a major trend. This nostalgic style, once a staple on early 2000s Disney Channel stars and in Miley Cyrus’ red carpet debut, has been revamped for the summer of 2024, making its presence felt in both streetwear and high fashion circles.
Kylie Jenner was among the first celebrities to re-introduce this trend, turning heads at Paris Fashion Week in a striking Ferragamo outfit that paired a red and white striped dress with flowing trousers. This look was also a highlight of Ferragamo’s Spring/Summer 2024 collection, which showcased similar ensembles in shades of green, white, and black, and included a sheer white shirt dress layered over black trousers, adding a contemporary twist to the retro trend.
The versatility of the ‘dress over pants’ style was further displayed at the Academy Awards dinner hosted by Louis Vuitton, where Zendaya wowed the crowd with a metallic V-neck dress over black pants. Jennifer Lawrence also embraced the trend, showcasing her adaptability with both casual and formal interpretations. At the premiere of “Everyone Except You” in London, Lawrence chose an asymmetrical dress paired with straight pants from The Row, and in New York, she opted for a sophisticated combination of navy pants from La Ligne with a long, semi-transparent top.
Historically, this fashion statement has roots in the mid-19th century when activists like Amelia Jenks Bloomer and Elizabeth Cady Stanton challenged societal norms by wearing long dresses over wide, Turkish-style trousers—an alternative to the restrictive skirts and corsets of the Victorian era. Despite facing ridicule and criticism, these women set a precedent for challenging traditional gender-specific attire.
In recent seasons, designers have continued to innovate this look. Nanushka presented a sand-colored jumpsuit combined with trousers and a gray pencil skirt for FW22, while Chloé experimented with leather skirts over straight pants. Givenchy introduced an intriguing mix of trousers with high boots, and Peter Do expanded the trend into menswear with pleated skirts.
For SS24, Collina Strada made a bold statement with voluminous designs and vibrant colors, Calcaterra added a bohemian flair with long fringes, and Proenza Schouler played with transparencies and embroidery. This revival not only honors the trend’s rich history but also adapts it to fit the contemporary landscape, proving once again that in fashion, everything old can be new again.
