From Street Style to Red Carpet: Rita Ora Masters the Dress-Over-Pants Trend

Think dress-over-pants is a new-day fashion hack? Think again. This daring silhouette has been stirring red-carpet conversations for well over a decade.

Back in September 2012, Emma Watson startled fashion insiders at the Perks of Being a Wallflower premiere, donning a gown layered over trousers in what we’d now call a bold statement. She revisited the look in 2014 at the Golden Globe Awards, this time pairing a backless Dior dress with sleek cigarette pants for a chic, unexpected silhouette.

Around the same era, in mid-2015, Kendall Jenner experimented with the trend, combining wide-leg trousers with a dress-like top, proving the right tailoring could make the look polished rather than rebellious.

And then came Rita Ora in September 2015: spotted outside Radio 1 studios in London, she styled a white strapless dress over matching Stella McCartney trousers with minimal accessories—proving once again that, when done right, the dress-over-pants formula can feel both inspired and effortless.

Monochromatic and effortless: Rita Ora steps out in a strapless dress layered over matching trousers by Stella McCartney

At 5 feet 5 ½ inches (166.4 cm) and wearing a US women’s size 8 shoe, Rita Ora knows how to use proportions to her advantage.

For this outing, the then–24-year-old singer and X Factor UK judge chose a head-to-toe Stella McCartney look, pairing the label’s crisp white “Dakota” trousers with a matching strapless dress. She finished the monochrome ensemble with minimalist white sandals and long statement earrings.

Effortlessly chic, Rita Ora makes a statement in a full Stella McCartney look, styling a strapless white dress over matching trousers

From red carpet reinventions to modern street-style takes, the dress-over-pants silhouette continues to inspire bold fashion choices across decades. Below, we spotlight some of the most iconic celebrity moments that prove this daring trend is here to stay.

Few would expect pants this voluminous to pair seamlessly with a strapless dress, yet Rita Ora proved the silhouette can be striking rather than sloppy.

The crisp monochrome palette kept the look sharp, while her decision to forgo heavy accessories allowed the proportions to shine. Polished burgundy lips and a sleek, unfussy hairstyle provided the perfect finishing touches.

Rita Ora’s bold burgundy lips and simple hairdo worked wonders, providing a sultry finishing touch as she left the Radio 1 studios in London on September 3, 2015 (Credit: Will Alexander / WENN)

What do you think? Is this a look you’d like to try? Rita’s pants have now sold out online:

The Stella McCartney “Dakota” trousers, shown here as part of a complete off-the-shoulder ensemble

From daring red-carpet ensembles to off-duty sneaker moments, Rita Ora has consistently kept fashion watchers on their toes. To close, let’s look back at some of her standout style highlights beyond this throwback:

More Iconic Rita Ora Shoe & Fashion Moments