The 'skant' is fashion’s smartest in-between piece right now

The biggest shift in fashion right now isn’t hemlines; it’s silhouette. After seasons of either razor-sharp minimalism or full-blown drama, the mood has settled somewhere more nuanced. And the skant has emerged as one of the most compelling ways to explore it.

At face value, it’s a hybrid: trousers with an overskirt. But the appeal isn’t novelty. It’s proportion. The way a second layer changes how an outfit moves, how it holds, how it reads from a distance. It softens tailoring, sharpens fluidity, and adds just enough tension to make even the simplest look feel just a tad more intentional.

What makes the skant particularly relevant right now (especially amidst a heatwave that demands ease) is how naturally it lends itself to lighter fabrication. Cotton that holds its line without feeling rigid, sheer layers that catch the air as you walk, and lace that adds texture, not weight. It’s summer layering at best, but stripped of excess. Nothing feels heavy, nothing feels forced. 

Designers have been circling this idea for a few seasons, but now it feels fully resolved. At Prada, the focus has been on clean precision. Miu Miu takes a lighter approach, playing with micro-hemlines over relaxed pants, tapping into that off-duty, slightly undone energy it does so well. Then there’s Loewe, with fluid layers, unexpected lengths, silhouettes that feel sculptural but never heavy. And at Bottega Veneta, we saw elongated lines, subtle layering, and pieces that move with a kind of understated confidence. Different aesthetics, same underlying idea: the power of an added layer to completely shift how an outfit is read.  

Off the runway, it’s already found its footing. Kendall Jenner wore a sheer olive overskirt over tailored black trousers in Paris (so minimal chic!). Jennifer Lawrence took it in a more relaxed direction, pairing a breezy version with a distressed tee and delicate heels, letting the silhouette do the heavy lifting. And Kaia Gerber, as always, kept it straightforward, using the skant to add dimension to otherwise classic basics.

That’s really where its strength lies. The skant doesn’t ask for much. It builds the outfit for you. The layering is already there, the proportions already balanced. You throw on a tank, maybe an oversized shirt, and it lands exactly where it should. Effortless, but not accidental. There’s also something to be said about how it moves. In lighter fabrics, especially, the overskirt adds a kind of rhythm to the outfit, a sense of depth that a single layer can’t quite achieve. It’s subtle, but it changes everything.  And in a moment where style feels increasingly personal rather than performative, that kind of detail matters. The skant isn’t loud. It doesn’t rely on nostalgia or shock value. It’s not trying to go viral. It just works. 

All images: Getty

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