Back in the early noughties, mini skirts slung at the hip on top of cropped leggings; camisoles loomed over low-rise jeans and summer dresses worn with skinny jeans were all the rage. Think Ashley Tisdale and Miley Cyrus in a mishmash of garments at their Disney premieres. Many of us have cringed or raised eyebrows at it all before, but considering the post-pandemic wave of Y2K nostalgia, the high-octane maximalism of the millennium is befitting.
As seen on the autumn/winter 2022 and spring/summer 2023 runways, brands are giving the notorious skirt-over-pants ensemble a facelift. From Peter Do to Chopova Lowena, designers have cracked the code to elevating Y2K styling: wide-leg trousers under tailored skirts in all sorts of lengths, shapes and fabrications.
Off the runway and on the streets, celebrities such as Bella Hadid, Alexa Demie and Jaden Smith have also sported the trend. Be it vintage prep styles or formal suiting, the skirt-over-pants combination has proven to be versatile. Not to mention, layering a skirt over a pair of pants also serves as a way to bundle up for the transitional season using pieces that are already in your wardrobe.
Below, Vogue rounds up the best of the skirt-over-pants trend as worn by celebrities and shop the look.
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Skirt over jeans: Bella Hadid
For a geek-chic ensemble, opt for bell-bottom jeans and skirts with earthy tones as seen on Bella Hadid. Tie the look together with vintage accessories and retro eyewear. Alternatively, try your hand at experimenting with bright hues, ruffles and prints by taking inspiration from fashion stylists Diletta Bonaiuti and Declan Chan.
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Skirt over jeans: Diletta Bonaiuti
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Skirt over jeans: Marta Sanchez Castaneda and Elbio Bonsaglio
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Skirt over jeans: Donglin
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Skirt over jeans: Declan Chan
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Isabel Marant acid-wash straight-leg jeans, $770
Available at Net-A-Porter.
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Monochromatic suiting: Alexa Demie
If you’re keen on adding a twist to suits, pleated skirts are the best way to add an extra layer of dimension. Change up formal sartorial codes like Euphoria star Alexa Demie and Instagram influencer Mary Leest by reaching for wide-leg pants and skirts with asymmetrical cuts that allow for dramatic movement. Straight-cut trousers as seen on singer Pol Granch are another way to create distinct silhouettes.
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Monochromatic suiting: Mary Leest
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Monochromatic suiting: Leena Al Ghouti
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Monochromatic suiting: Macarena Achaga
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Monochromatic suiting: Pol Granch
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Monochromatic suiting: Noor Elkhaldi
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Monochromatic suiting: Pedro F. Fajardo
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Jonathan Simkhai satin wide-leg pants, $946
Available at Net-A-Porter.
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Forte Forte elasticated waist trousers, $482
Available at Net-A-Porter.
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Patterns and pleats: Jaden Smith
Pleated skirts are everywhere in the spring/summer 2023 collections by Thom Browne and Robert Wun, so it’s no wonder why celebrities like Tracee Ellis Ross and Jaden Smith have been trying out the layering trend. Not to mention its capacity to elongate legs, a skirt-over-pants outfit gives more room for colour blocking and pattern mixing. Those with an adventurous style can take sartorial cues from fashion influencer Adewunmi Erhabor, who boldly sports a broad colour palette.
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Patterns and pleats: Adewunmi Erhabor
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Patterns and pleats: Aidan Zamiri
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Patterns and pleats: Tracee Ellis Ross
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Patterns and pleats: Ayo Edebiri
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Patterns and pleats: Hina Sabatine
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Patterns and pleats: Chi Virgo
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MM6 Maison Margiela pixelated pleated skirt, $665
Available at Farfetch.
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Christoper John Rogers neon pleated skirt, $747
Available at Net-A-Porter.
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Pleats Please Issey Miyake cropped trousers, $751
Available at Farfetch.
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AZ Factory x Thebe Magugu pleated skirt, $445
Available at Net-A-Porter.
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Acne Studios ribbed-knit flared pants, $329
Available at Net-A-Porter.
