Today, the fashion world never stops changing. There are many fashion trends we would never think would have made a comeback, but they are here to prove us wrong. Wearing dresses over jeans was a popular trend in the mid-2000’s–most commonly between 2002-2005–but is it coming back?
What many might not know is that this trend dates back further than the 2000’s. In the mid-19th century, this outfit choice was considered scandalous. Many women in America, and parts of Europe, wore the dress-pants combo during a movement called the Dress Reform Movement, aka the Rational Dress Movement. Their goal was to extricate women from clothing that harmed their health and restricted their freedom.
Athena Tomsic, a sophomore media arts major from Coraopolis, is my first interviewee.
What is your opinion on dresses over jeans?
I think that it’s cute because it is something you don’t see every day. Y’know, it’s like a style that not many people talk about anymore.
What made you start wearing dresses over jeans?
Well, I saw inspiration online for the kind of style. People [wore] it in like the 90’s and early 2000’s, and I think it is a really cool way of kind of mix-matching clothes and kind of expressing yourself in a way that’s not considered normal.
A lot of people think there is a specific way you should wear a dress over jeans. What do you think is the most important thing to remember when wearing this combo?
I think you can’t have too crazy of, like, a pair of denim jeans. And also, the dress can’t be, like, long–that, like, completely covers the jeans. It has to be a kind of a good length where it is right on your waist, so it doesn’t look like you are trying to match things up that don’t really go or aren’t cohesive.
I also had the chance to talk with Joselyn Moore, a sophomore writing and publishing major from Beaver Falls.
What is your opinion on dresses over jeans?
I actually like it. Like, if I am being honest, I like the way it looks.
What made you start wearing dresses over jeans?
I got bored out of my mind one day actually, and so I decided, hmm, let’s try new, different outfit styles because I do this every day. And that’s when I came up with that.
A lot of people think there is a specific way you should wear a dress over jeans. What do you think is the most important thing to remember when wearing this combo?
To have a dress and jeans, me personally, I think you should just wear whatever you want with it.
This trend has definitely changed throughout the years. People wear dresses or very long shirts that look like dresses. Sometimes they also wear pants instead of jeans. There is really no wrong way to style this fashion, so don’t let anything stop you. If you are struggling, here are a few tips:
Tips:
- Pay attention to length: The dresses should ideally be shorter than the jeans. Most often the dress is above the knees, although longer is allowed, too.
- Watch the Volume: You don’t want a voluminous dress for a skinny look. The key is to only do one area. Either a top with volume or a bottom.
- Don’t be afraid to test: it may take trial and error to find the perfect combo, but you will eventually find it. If you only like it when you are standing still, leave it. Don’t commit to a so-so or maybe outfit.
- Add a belt: Adding a belt helps add structure and shape to your outfit. You don’t need to, but it always helps. You can add the belt to the jeans, or even over the dress at the waist.
- Be creative: There aren’t technically any rules for when styling and layering. Have fun with the patterns and designs!
