A Simple Way to Layer in Late Summer (and Beyond)

We’re still right in the middle of summer. Everyone I work with in continental Europe has their out of offices on until September. I’m still living in breezy shirts, getting through my SPF (alternating between this and this for face, and I have a new found love for this for body) at an alarming rate, and googling how to eat watermelon without getting bloated (eating it at room temperature seems to be the key!).

But. The heat of summer has made way for some days that feel a little breezy. My duvet has begun to get a look-in (only with the coolest organic cotton, though). I’ve worn a jacket on occasion, and layers (however light) are starting to feel necessary.

Enter, one of my favourite outfit combinations: a dress over trousers.

We often talk about transitional dressing — that bit in between seasons — and this is one of those summer/autumn hybrids that always works well. But it doesn’t stop there: this combination works for winter, too, when you want to wear a dress but maybe aren’t a fan of tights (guilty).

But for now, ankles are covered, keeping the edge off, without the need to pack away summer dresses. And practicality aside, pairing a dress with trousers allows you to play with shapes and silhouettes, especially when styling loose clothing. Just take a look at how designers paired the two at the recent shows at Copenhagen Fashion Week…

• Choose a dress with a bit of looseness. This way you have space for the trousers underneath, rather than worrying about the waistband bunching up

• Think about the size of the dress vs. the size of the trousers. If the dress is very loose, it can work well over loose trousers. If it’s on the slimmer side, a slimmer pair of trousers would work best

• Dresses or long tunics with slits at the side help, as they won’t bunch up around the trousers. This one is a good example (ANGHARAD15 for 15% off)

• The length of the dress matters. A shorter dress will show more of the trousers, while a longer dress will show just a bit of ankle underneath

• Likewise, trouser length matters. If you want the trousers to show, think about whether you’ll actually be able to see them underneath the dress (i.e. if they’re cropped, will you be able to see the trousers under a long dress?)

• Contrasting colours in the dress and trousers make more of a statement, while the same/similar colours will create more of a subtle look

I recently got this dress from Soeur*. It’s a dark brown organza with a standing collar, and an opening with a button fastening at the back. It would make a beautiful piece for autumn/winter weddings or occasions, but when I’m not going somewhere quite as fancy, I pair it with black trousers. In a slinky cupro, this pair feels “special” enough to wear with the delicate dress, and they’re slim enough that they don’t add any bulk.

I bought this Ganni dress in summer 2015 — I remember the date, because it was my first trip to Copenhagen for Fashion Week, and it was a real find in the outlet store, Ganni Postmodern. I’m so glad I’ve held onto it. It’s a staple every summer, and this year, the slightly loose and stretchy fabric has made it a saviour for my growing bump. But when I want to add something to it (and cover my ankles), on a pair of trousers comes — and like the outfit above, it’s a relatively slim-fitting pair that don’t add any bulk around the waist, which would cause the dress to bunch.

You can’t see in this image, but this dress has a deep scooped back (not great for bras, but hey, we’ve got NOOD for that) and makes for a great piece on its own (here’s a light blue dress with a similar shape and detailing). But on the occasions that don’t call for a mini dress? I love pairing it with these black twisted seam trousers. I find adding the trousers makes it more wearable day-to-day and, again, helps on those slightly cooler days.

This was a look from last winter — proof that a dress over trousers isn’t just for that summer-autumn period. This dress is quite long on me, so the inclusion of trousers isn’t totally obvious, especially as the colour is very similar. But it helped with the temperature (like I said, not a tights woman), and it added a tiny bit more shape that I felt was missing. Sometimes, those subtle tweaks can make all the difference.

This is another dress I’ve worn a lot this summer. It’s 100% linen in a deep russet colour, and it’s very easy to just chuck on and go. But, particularly in the evenings, I could do with another layer, and this dress is roomy enough that there’s space to slot a pair of slim black trousers on underneath. That extra bit of shape it brings to the outfit is a bonus.

This dress is a dress/kimono style from By Malene Birger from a couple of years ago. Pre-bump, I wore it tied all the way around, so it was more of a dress. It doesn’t quite wrap around fully in the same way it used to, but I am enjoying having more of an opening at the front and wearing trousers with it instead. The chocolate brown of the trousers adds a nice contrast to the natural linen, but you could wear it with similar colours for more of a tonal look instead.

I haven’t personally tried these, but for a similar style, there’s this, this and this on Etsy, and they all get good reviews.

Any items marked with * have been gifted by brands. All thoughts, picks and reviews are my own.

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