A new regular franchise from the ELLE UK fashion editors that asks: how well do the season's biggest trends really work in the wild? This week, we explore the different ways to style skirts over trousers.
It’s winter. It’s chilly. But those events just keep on coming. Though there are some who feel that once this season hits they can ‘really start dressing’, for many of us more layers simply equal more problems – and it can be tricky to put together a look that feels cute, chic, comfortable and warm at the same time. But one of the greatest workarounds you might be under-utilising? A skirt-and-trousers combo.
Once maligned as a tacky Y2K relic best left to the cast of High School Musical, skirts over trousers have finally re-entered the fashion chat and been given modern-day cool girl appeal thanks to brands like Bottega Veneta, Fendi, Courrèges, The Row, Alaïa and Chopova Lowena – all of whom have sent the divisive style down their recent runways.
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For me, the skirt-over-trousers look has a more personal element, too. Growing up in Walthamstow, my strongest memories of the combo aren't from Disney, but from a friend wearing a shalwar kameez, as well as on trips back to my homeland of Sudan, where loose trousers peeked out from under a breezy jalabiya. These looks always carried a certain mystique, and the fact that they were worn by both women and men meant they seemed to transcend gender divides. Then, sometime in the 2010s, the style started to re-emerge in the West as a challenge to sexuality and gender norms, serving only to confirm its insouciant androgyny.
Fast-forward to 2024, and we're finally past wearing the skirt-over-trousers look simply to prove a point. Freed up to focus on more interesting things that the identity of the person wearing the style, fashion insiders are enjoying experimenting with silhouette, new forms, the contrast of layers, colours, patterns and more.
When it comes to styling skirts over trousers, can send such different signals with material alone: double denim might add a Noughties flavour, or cargos ground the look in the Insta-catnip of now. The combinations are truly endless, opening up so many styling possibilities that will ensure the look feels forever fresh. To prove it, I took my mirror outside to play with the divisive trend and prove just how wearable – and cool – skirts over trousers can be IRL.
7 Ways To Style Skirts Over Trousers
Jeans and a nice dress
There's no need to get too literal about the skirt, because putting trousers on under your dress is the simplest way to jump into the trend. I love the clash of a flowery, ruffled pastel dress against industrial looking baggy jeans with an oil slick sheen, both from Acne, and matching the tone of the cool tin-silver of the jeans with the grey design on the dress helps bring it together. In general, a dress and trousers can often get that tricky chill-but-hot balance of your look right, so it’s a great outfit for a day of lots of events with different formality levels.
Acne Studios 2023 Mid-Rise Wide-Leg Jeans
A bold skirt to elevate a simple look
It couldn't possibly be a guide to styling skirts over trousers without Chopova Lowena. The brand's instantly recognisable skirts played a huge part in getting this combination trending again. These colourful pieces look amazing when you lean in with even more colour or pattern on the trousers, or with a tight or button-up shirt, but here I used it to elevate an otherwise simple white tee and oversize jeans look to show you don’t have to overthink it too much. When a skirt's this good, let it do all the talking.
Chopova Lowena Bobbie Mini Skirt
Carhartt Simple Pant
Miu Miu Cotton Jersey T-Shirt
Puma Speedcat OG Sneakers
A sheer saviour
Sometimes you want to wear a sheer dress but you don’t want to feel totally naked. Adding a trouser can help make it immediately more modest, while still adding to the power of the look, rather than taking away from it. I styled sheer pink Courrèges trousers under this Jean Paul Gaultier dress sourced from Depop, for my own modern twist on the shalwar kameez that's easily replicated.
Layer your tops
Don’t stop at the bottom half, layer on! This two-in-one Kiko Kostadinov top made it easy, but you can pair two pieces that have different length sleeves or neck cuts. With this Loewe blue denim fishtail skirt, baggy blue jeans and black pointed Coperni boots, it creates a kind of Junya Watanabe silhouette that I love. Plus, paring it back by using simple colours like muted and calming greys, blacks and blues helps to bring out all the details, like the texture and zips on the top, or the way the jeans crumple. The simple hoop earrings and a headband add a feminine touch while maintaining the overall minimalist feel.
Kiko Kostadinov Circle Jersey Top
AGOLDE Low Curve Mid-Rise Barrel-Leg Jeans
COS Square-Toe Leather Ankle Boots
Ensure your office siren is SFW
An office siren is still about her business. She’s gunning for a promotion and keeps it work appropriate. But that doesn’t mean your favourite super-short skirts or cleavage-showing tops are a total no-no. While on their own, this crisp, cutesy SRVC shirt and mini-skirt probably wouldn't get past the front door of the office, with some pinstripe trousers and a boxy blazer (here from Peachy Den and archive Comme des Garçons) you can just about get away with it.
Peachy Den Lennox Ink Wide Leg Tailored Trousers
SRVC Utility Mini Skirt
The more, the merrier
Who says you have to stop at one skirt? Layering these two Peachy Den styles adds so much extra frou-frou fun and the mix of colours helps the look come together with the matching Peachy Den top and Blumarine ruffled cardigan. Plus, here I've gone short with the trousers courtesy of a pair of lacy Guess mini leggings. You could also style this with a capri for the same effect – the silhouette combinations are infinite.
Peachy Den The Kylie Skort
Peachy Den Kylie Tomato Cowl-Neck Top
Peachy Den The Deba Ruffle Skort
Go ready-made
Make like the street style set by turning to brands like Alaïa, Ganni, Paloma Wool and Mango who have made the trend all the easier with their own ready-made skirt-over-trouser sets. No need to fuss over proportions and layering: simply add your chosen top – be it a classic white tee, co-ordinating jacket or oversize knit – and you're ready to go. Shop the best ones below:
Paloma Wool Archive Skirt Trousers
Alaïa High-Rise Jersey Skirt Pants
Alaïa High-Rise Straight-Leg Layered Jeans
Ganni Grey Suiting Skirt Flared Trousers
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