Spotted! Everyone's Dotting Their Dresses With Sweet Polka Dots

For most fashion people, a dress (of any kind) is more than a trend; it's a necessity, whether it's a midi for work, a semi-sheer shift for vacations, or a little white number for off-duty. It's not a stretch to say the right arsenal of one-and-done dresses can serve as the cornerstone of a well-curated wardrobe each season. And one style—or should we say, print—currently captivating our attention? The polka-dot dress.
Vogue's Favorite Polka Dot Dresses:
Polka dot-printed clothing is quite classic—just think back to the brown polka dot dress Julia Roberts wore with little white gloves in Pretty Woman, or the stippled red prom dress from Grease. It's never fully vanished, but we did take note of the print's revival during the spring/summer 2025 shows, when it dotted the collections of Valentino, Carolina Herrera, Moschino, and Rodarte, to name a few. On the streets of Australian Fashion Week, showgoers embraced it in a playful way, mixing and matching spots of all sizes for welcome contrast.
On the market now are reinvigorated colors, silhouettes, and details that challenge what a classic polka dot can be. Think of Bode's bubble-shaped dots, Marina Moscone's draped and twisted interpretation, or even Christopher John Rogers's abstract take. Posse's strappy dress comes in a bright red, great for the beach, while Zara's graphic maxi is fit for a sophisticated summer soirée, where dancing is aplenty. For tried-and-true black and white combinations, look to the high-end brands, like Saint Laurent and Zimmermann. For a more affordable way into the trend, turn to J.Crew, Mango, and Sea. These are more of polka dot dresses to wear this summer, below.
Reformation
Delilah linen halter maxi dress
$278
NORDSTROM
Dolce & Gabbana
polka dot ruched satin sheath dress
$3,395
NORDSTROM

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New York Times

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I attended Britain's poshest sports events. This is what I learned

The train from central London to Ascot is a hotbed of sharp suits, stunning designer dresses and brow sweat. It's 26C (79 Fahrenheit), summer has finally arrived in England, and, for the immaculately dressed people heading for a day at the races in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, that's perfect timing. Advertisement For a start, it gives the above-average ratio of people who have decided to wear sunglasses on the train an excuse to keep them on, despite the carriage being in the shade and, well, inside. Without meaning to stereotype, there are a lot of people who really, really love themselves on this train. To be blunt, it's a high tosser ratio. Much higher than usual. Normally, a train full of people heading to a sporting event, a football match, for example, would involve at least some discussion about the day ahead. Two blokes in this carriage are discussing the relocation of Abercrombie & Fitch. There is some chat about the impending race day. 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Positioned just outside Barons Court underground station, one of its staff is stood outside selling picnic boxes with four classic British cheeses for £15. Or a sparkling apple juice for £3.50. A man in vanilla trousers and a blue shirt marches down the street, having bought a Panama hat. Unbeknownst to him, the label is bouncing off the back. There's no official dress code at Queen's, but most people dress exactly the same anyway, particularly the men. Light trousers, light shirt, Panama hat. Done. Everyone tends to drink the same, too; Pimm's, at £34 a jug or £12 a glass. It's also incredibly well positioned, just a five-minute walk from Barons Court on the London Underground and sat almost invisibly among rows of terraces and marbled houses and apartments. A posh version of Everton's (now former) football ground Goodison Park, basically. 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