Once the preserve of 80s Sloane Rangers, notably Princess Diana, retro-inspired polka dots are once again topping the fashion charts this summer. The trend has been embraced by a host of celebrities, including Kate Moss, who paired her dots with lace in February, and Aimee Lou Wood, who turned heads in sexy spotted ensembles earlier this year. Even Meryl Streep got in on the action, wearing a reversible dotty duster coat while promoting the sequel to The Devil Wears Prada last month.
Celebrity Influence and Concert Culture
At Taylor Swift's concerts, fans donned cowboy boots; at Harry Styles' gigs, feathers were the accessory of choice. But for Olivia Dean's sold-out The Art of Loving UK arena tour, devotees have been flocking in an unofficial dress code of polka dots, cementing the print's place in contemporary pop culture.
Catwalk to High Street
On the catwalk at fashion week earlier this year, Belgian brand Dries Van Noten showcased kaftans speckled with graphic pink and green dots. Khaite presented black silk skirts emblazoned with tennis-ball-sized dots, while in New York, Tory Burch showed dainty micro iterations the size of peas. High-street shoppers are equally dotty about the trend: searches for 'Polka Dot dresses' have surged 460% at M&S this week, and its £28 elasticated wide-leg spotty trousers have sold out over 100 times. Mango now features a dedicated section for the print online, offering dappled swimwear, sandals, blouses, and jeans.
Still not convinced? Etsy's latest trend report reveals that searches for polka phone cases skyrocketed by 835% in the first quarter of this year. To put it simply, it's time to dig out your dots!
- Bag
- Sandals
- Earrings
- Blouse
- Dress
