This Unexpected Fashion Combo Will Become Your Best Spring Style Hack

At some point of our lives—whether during the rebellious teen years, wild college days, or the confusing late twenties—we’ve all relied on that awkward “commute layer”. The point was quite straightforward: the desire to look hot and show some skin clashed with the perpetually inconvenient weather. The result? Sparkly minidresses, cutout tops, and barely-there miniskirts hidden under oversized jackets, sporty hoodies, and casual sweatshirts that were only meant to get you from point A to point B without freezing or getting soaked. Once at the function, those layers were tossed into a corner, never to be seen, acknowledged, or discussed by anyone (that is, of course, until hours later when you had to rally all your closest friends to help you find it before leaving the venue).

But what if we told you that the once-awkward commute layer is now the key item in your outfit? Correct—the “wrong” layer has suddenly become the right move. If you still have your doubts, just a quick glance at the Spring/Summer 2025 runways will have you fully on board with this waterproof trend. And while the spotlight for the season is certainly on parkas, rain coats, windbreakers, and anoraks (or however you choose to label them), the true magic lies in pairing these utilitarian pieces with your sparkiest, boldest, and most dazzling party ensembles. Blending the most functional and dysfunctional items in your closet, this shocking trend is all about the unexpected juxtaposition.

How to Style Party Dresses With Rain Coats, Parkas, and Windbreakers

Whether this trend traces its roots in the gorpcore, utilitarianism, blokecore, or even the fisherman aesthetics that have dominated the industry on-and-off through the recent seasons, one thing is certain: the fashion forecast is calling for heavy rain(coats). And while we’ve seen various takes on high-low styling over the years—Lorde’s 2017 VMA performance you’ll always be famous—the game of contrast has never felt more striking than it did on the Spring/Summer 2025 shows. In vibrant banana yellows, timeless olive greens, or electrifying cobalt blues, parkas took the runways by storm alongside mirrored gowns, bedazzled minidresses, and feathered trains.

Odd couples that just look so good together include Rabanne’s black parka and bedazzled asymmetrical mini combo, and Prada’s Re-Nylon rain jacket paired with a sequin, mirror, and crystal–encrusted tulle cocktail dress. Ditto Burberry’s metallic paillette–fringed jersey number, worn with a no-nonsense cotton parka sprouting faux plumage from its hood, or The Attico's feather-embroidered georgette maxi, peeking out from underneath a retro horizontal-stripe windbreaker. For a knowing wink to the old rulebook, try Coperni’s tailored field jacket that tapers towards the waist in a gently inverted triangle—worn with some Disney Princess–worthy frou-frou, of course.

The Unexpected Fashion Combo Trending for Spring

At the end of the day, is there anyone who doesn’t find “Creative Black Tie” to be the most confusing of dress codes, demanding a seemingly impossible balance between flair and formality? Now, thanks to gala circuit frocks worn with the sort of performance outerwear that’s usually reserved for more rugged pursuits, the Spring 2025 runways have this wardrobe quandary sorted. Party dresses with rain coats, parkas, or some other functional jacket? It's an enthusiastic yes.