Dresses over trousers is not a pairing for the risk-adverse. Having said that, choose the right dress, the right trousers and you'll have found an option for summer-evening dressing that, miraculously, doesn't involve a dress. (This, by the way, follows on from the daytime alternative we've already covered: a tunic over trousers.) The colour palette's moodiness gave the fabrics—the pairing of lace and lustrous satin—even more edge. SELF-PORTRAIT Sequined-Trimmed Satin and Lace Mini Dress £380 at Net-a-porter For an unexpected dinner look layer over a pair of black cigarette pants.