I Never Thought I’d Wear a Dress Over Jeans—Until I Found This Perfect Combination

This fall, in a twist I didn’t see coming, I’m finally embracing the trend of wearing a dress over jeans.

I’ve written a lot about jeans over the years, from the best fit and style (wide-leg) to what shoe trends go best with them (ballet flats, sandals). But even though I’m fond of eye-catching shoes with denim, I want the pants themselves to remain quite simple and understated. I know what I like, and I like it minimalist.

In the fall I love combining my favorite wide-leg jeans with a classic sweater. Maybe I’ll add an oversized blazer or a trench coat. On my feet, I might wear sneakers, boat shoes, or loafers. What I never thought I’d do? Add a dress to the look. For a minimalist like myself, wearing a dress over jeans always seemed a bit excessive and outside the bounds of my personal style.

However, thanks to Copenhagen Fashion Week and some key street style looks seen there, I’m seeing this styling trick in a whole new light. It turns out the key to changing my mind was a romantic lace dress with a sweater and jeans.

I first discovered the combination of jeans, a simple sweater, and lace on Swedish stylist Hanna MW’s Instagram. She combined dark gray, almost black wide-leg denim pants with a light gray sweater in a boxy silhouette and with a round neckline. Underneath? A white lace dress with an asymmetrical hem that clearly peeked out from under the sweater. A little bit of the white lace could also be seen at the top of the neckline. The stylist paired it with a simple handbag, classic sunglasses, and trendy red thong sandals.

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It’s a subtly ingenious look, because (1) the lace breaks up the monochrome look in gray and (2) the romantic and playful vibes make jeans and sweaters look less plain. Nevertheless, the styling remains casual and carefree. In other words, it’s exactly the vibe I strive to find in a fall look.

It seems everyone at Copenhagen Fashion Week agreed, because they started showing up in the combo—a lace dress or skirt, pants, and a sweater or jacket—too. I find this styling trick works best when a monochromatic color scheme is broken up by the lace dress or skirt, and when the lace hem isn’t completely straight. Asymmetrical hemlines or subtle waves add a lightness to the look that keeps the jeans from looking heavy despite the extra layer.

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