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    1. Style

    Alexa Chung just proved this divisive noughties trend is back and here to stay

    Would you wear it?

    Zoe Anastasiou's avatar
    By Zoe Anastasiou
    Published 21 April 2023 In News

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    Alexa Chung wearing a dress over jeans
    (Image credit: Getty)
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    As far as personal style goes, Alexa Chung has always been a celebrity with plenty of individuality. The TV presenter turned fashion designer has never shied from putting her own spin on a trend or leading the way in creating fun, new outfit formulas. 

    Last night, Chung attended a dinner for perfume brand Frédéric Malle and as to be expected arrived in an outfit that was wholly unique. For the occasion, Chung chose to don a floor-length black gown and black pointed-toe ballet flats. 

    Though, while this may seem like a run-of-the-mill look for a press dinner, don't be fooled—Chung had a sartorial surprise up her sleeve. The star had styled a pair of straight-leg blue jeans underneath her transparent gown. 

    Alexa Chung wearing a dress over jeans

    (Image credit: Getty)

    Taking to Instagram to show off the look, Alexa wrote "I missed dresses over jeans. Sorry if you didn’t." 

    A post shared by Alexa Chung (@alexachung)

    A photo posted by on

    As an outfit formula, dresses over jeans have been steadily making a return to the spotlight in recent months. In fact, Katie Holmes sparked quite a lot of debate last December when she arrived at the iHeart Radio Jingle Ball wearing a strapless mini dress over a pair of wide-leg denim. 

    Katie Holmes on the red carpet 2022

    (Image credit: Getty)

    The look originally gained prominence in the early noughties when jeans-and-a-nice-top was the outfit du jour. From red carpets to film premieres, celebrities took the style one step further by replacing tops with dresses and soon created an entire movement around it. 

    From Ashley Tisdale to Micha Barton, the It-girls of the early 2000s were certainly very fond of the outfit formula. 

    Marie Claire Newsletter

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    Mischa Barton on the red carpet in 2004

    (Image credit: Getty)

    While Alexa and Katie's choice to revive the style might feel a little left of field, this is actually a look we have seen returning to the catwalk, as well. Molly Goddard displayed dresses over jeans as a part of her Spring/Summer 2023 collection, while brands including Burberry, Cecile Bahnsen and Collina Strada have also styled dresses over trousers on the runway recently. 

    Molly Goddard Spring/Summer 2023 runway

    (Image credit: Getty)

    Now that the look has garnered the tick of approval from Alexa Chung, would you welcome this trend back into your wardrobe? If yes, keep scrolling to shop dresses and jeans now. 

    Shop dress and jeans outfit combinations: 

    Aligne Golpar sleeveless woven midi dress

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    Arket Jade Cropped Slim Stretch Jeans - best high street jeans

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    Molly Goddard Dorianna printed high-rise straight-leg jeans

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    £590 AT NET-A-PORTER

    Mollg Goddard Loretta gathered tulle midi dress

    Mollg Goddard Loretta gathered tulle midi dress
    £680 AT NET-A-PORTER

    Zoe Anastasiou
    Zoe Anastasiou
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    Fashion Editor

    Zoe Anastasiou is a Fashion Editor with over eight years of experience working across digital publications in New York, London and Australia. She has contributed to publications including Harper’s BAZAAR and ELLE Australia, and was the Fashion and Social Media Editor at Who What Wear UK before joining Marie Claire. 

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