How To Layer a Slip Dress Over Pants

slip dress wide leg pants layering - style apotheca

Silk Slip Dress: Wilfred | Pants: Wilfred | Slides: Zara | Sunnies: Ray Ban

For the past few seasons, we've seen the 90's re-emerge through layering dainty camisole dresses and tanks over turtlenecks, t-shirts and sweaters. I still haven't committed to this trend, despite loving it on others. So instead of layering this dress over a top, I layered it over some bottoms for a chic and modern look.

These are my tips for layering delicate slip dresses over trousers so you can keep styling your favourites in any season.

1. LOOSEN UP

I chose to go with wide-legged trousers to avoid this looking like a casual or athleisure look. Instead of layering your slip dress with the predictable black leggings or tights, try going for a wider cut style of pant and see how the look instantly changes. Adding pants with wider cuts or flowy, breathable fabrics ensures the look maintains movement and just elevates the whole idea by adding interest and unpredictability. Camisole or slip dresses are pieces that have become such classics because of their ease and simplicity. So if you choose to layer your dress over some trousers, why not add more interest to such a simple look with with bottoms that move and flow to elevate it to the next level? Oversized + oversized silhouettes can work surprisingly well together, creating an intentional yet effortless look that moves with you.

2. MOSTLY MONOCHROME

With a look like this, keep your pieces tonal within the same shade or colour family. This keeps everything clean, luxurious and adds some mysterious glam factor to an otherwise simple outfit. Matching your tones or colour family is really no longer a faux pas. In fact, it went straight from no-no to YASSSS queen, especially this Fall. I feel my best when I'm in an "#all[black-white-navy]everything" outfit. It instantly feels chic, put-together and like I tried (note: if I'm going all one colour, especially all black, I probably didn't - I just know it looks great, so it's a default go-to). Try it, and see how instantly glam you feel.

3. KEEP IT SIMPLE

As mentioned in Step 1, try layering your next mini or midi cami dress over some flowy, wide-legged trousers next time you're looking to style a slip. You can really go with any length of dress when you are layering, but keep the trousers minimal. Avoid distractions or bells and whistles like large belts, buttons, oversized pleats or other embellishments. Keep things streamlined so there is nothing distracting, lumpy or bunchy going on underneath your dress. If you keep the core of the look simple, it gives you room to be more dramatic with your accessories, make-up or shoes. I would definitely wear this look again with some strappy heels, a sleek bun and a fierce red lip for a date night. I would also pair this look with some straight cut blue jeans for a more daytime look. The running theme with how you layer is to keep it simple - if something is too much, chances are you will not feel comfortable and the clothes will start wearing you instead of the other way around.

There are no rules to fashion or layering, but keep these tips in mind next time it's a little too cold to go bare-legged but you still want to rock that slip.

Christina @styleapotheca