Top Trend: Polka Dots

Having a hard time connecting the dots? This week we are telling you everything you need to know about polka dots and why you should reconnect with this youthful print. Indeed, there is a good chance you wore the dotted pattern as a child when your parents were the ones making your wardrobe decisions. But let’s wave goodbye to those fond memories of sporting a Minnie Mouse-style fluffy dress (thanks mom!) and get ready to welcome into your adult life the highly graphic look via your summer rotation.

Spring-Summer 2017 shows challenged our perception of the retro-chic pattern as the iconic polka dots appeared in very contemporary and bold ways. Starting with the brand Jacquemus. The young French designer Simon Porte Jacquemus gave the trend some serious graphic vitality with contemporary shapes and a huge color block red belt, that contrasted smartly with the black and white outfit.

Anteprima                                                   Moschino                                           Dolce & Gabbana

A nice way to ease yourself into wearing the hypnotic pattern would be to follow in Anteprima’s sartorial footsteps. The Italian house enriched a minimal and wearable dress with small polka dots getting bigger and bigger as they reach the extremity of the flowing garment.

For a bolder look, get inspired by Moschino’s hyper retro chic outfits. For example, a beautifully detailed above the knee red dress came tied around the waist with a cute bow and accessorized to perfection with a long white pearl necklace. Now let’s take a minute here to give our respect to all the glamourous pin ups who have famously rocked the dots in the 50’s, from Marylin Monroe’s iconic bikini to Bettie Page’s form fitting dresses.

Dolce & Gabbana, payed another historical tribute to the pattern often used on traditional Flamenco dresses and put together a modern romantic look. After the actual dancers left the catwalk, out came the models, including McKenna Hellam wearing an off the shoulder long polka dots dress, that the designer duo decided to finish off with an ornate gilded crown.

Olivier Theyskens                                         Lemaire                                        Louis Vuitton

Belgian designer Olivier Theyskens contrasted sheer fabrics and strong lines for his dotted design, while the brand Lemaire played with superposition of its spots. Both looks were redolent of femininity and employed dots in a very subtle and definitely modern way. They proved our point that this season, everyone is going to be seeing spots on the city streets and sun drenched vacation destinations.

Finally, we’d like to take you back to the early 2000’s. Remember the collaboration between Louis Vuitton and the dot obsessed Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama? It was a playful and colorful collection, which featured the artist’s signature bold spots. If not, you can always refer to the latest creations at the house. A carefully ripped apart dress that revealed intriguing parts of the body came speckled with psychedelic coin sized dots.

Bottom line is, no graphic pattern says classic better then polka dots. Whether you decide to where them small on your favorite accessories or to go big with an unapologetic total look, we suggest you use and abuse it!