I Hate Minidresses, but This Styling Trick Changed My Mind

This might sound controversial, but I hate minidresses. I know, gasp! At 5'4", I'm on the cusp of petite, which would make minidresses an ideal silhouette for me, but I just can't get into them. I adore abbreviated silhouettes on other women, but there's something about that level of leginess for myself that I never quite feel comfortable in whether it's a long-sleeved, wrap, or flouncy-hem silhouette. My comfort zone lies in midi and maxi territory, but despite being someone who happily subscribes to a uniform of sorts, I want to break my stride and revisit short dresses this Summer.

One styling hack I've grown very fond of is layering a dress over pants, most often a skinny or straight-leg jean. I adopted the look from some of my favorite street style stars several seasons back, but I usually stick to longer lengths in terms of the dresses I choose to layer. As I've been prepping my Summer wardrobe and exploring new transitional outfits to wear throughout Spring before sweltering days outnumber the comfortably warm, I can't help but feel drawn to cute minidresses that I feel like I can't wear (yes, I realize that sounds crazy), particularly printed and striped dresses from the POPSUGAR collection at Kohl's. So here I am, facing my fashion fears, ready and willing to take on the minidress in a way that feels comfortable and fashion-forward: styled over pants.

When taking this fashion-girl look for a spin, it's important to know what styles of minidresses work best, and that typically is a wrap dress that can be tied strategically to show off your jeans or worn open like a duster coast with the ties cinched in the back, a button-down silhouette that can be buttoned halfway so as to create movement for your legs and reveal the top of your jeans, or a shorter A-line dress that floats over your jeans without looking bulky (similar to a tunic, which my coworker Nikita so beautifully demonstrates in the photo above).

As for your jeans, you want to make sure you choose a style that's fitted through the hips and thighs, but they can certainly be cropped or straight if you're not a fan of superskinny silhouettes (I always prefer a slim straight leg on myself).

To finish the look, I love a pointed-toe mule, '90s-inspired strappy sandal, or comfortable block heel to lengthen your line (Nikita is wearing my most-loved faux-croc mules from Attico) and layered jewelry for a personal touch, whether it's sleek hoops, pendant necklaces, stackable rings, or all three.

Whether you are minidress resistant like me or feel like you don't know how to style a short dress in a way that feels elevated, this fashion-forward styling trick is definitely worth trying this Spring and Summer. And as a way to try this trendier outfit without spending too much, I've curated an edit of my favorite minidresses and jeans from the POPSUGAR collection at Kohl's — aka each piece is $60 or less. No excuses; give the look a try.