The Polka Dot Trend for Spring / Summer 2009
Spots are the New Stripes - from Dresses to Accessories
Jul 2, 2009
Traditionally spring and summer has always been the domain of the nautical stripe. However, the fashion world has gone dotty over polka dots as they represent a kind of cheerful optimism in the current period of financial doom and gloom.
Polka Dots for Summer 2009
Love them or loathe them, spring / summer runways were awash with spotted prints. High-end designers like House of Holland, Dolce & Gabbana, Giles, Sonia Rykiel, Fendi, Dries Van Noten, Marni, Moschino, Marc Jacobs and Balenciaga connected the dots with a less juvenile feel, in monochromes mixed with multi-colors.
Find them large and loud for Summer 2009, a grown-up version of these ‘50s favorites. More sophisticated than their vintage siblings, spots have been given a very Parisian twist. These over-sized prints are set to be a firm favorite for Fall/Winter 2009 as next season's styles go dotty too.
How to Wear Spots
Ring the changes this summer with spots rather then stripes. It is one of the easiest ways to bring your wardrobe up-to-date. However, if you are a bit on the heavy side, wear these extra-large polka dots and you are in dangerous fashion territory. Like wide horizontal stripes and big prints, large spots tend to be fattening. Smaller, uniform polka dots are kinder to fuller figures, but petite figures should avoid busy polka prints like the plague.
You don’t need to be the right-side of 25 to pull-off polka dots. If you want your look to be chic rather than cutesy then simply avoid colorful prints. Go for basic black and white, or black and white on color. Nautical colors of navy, cream and red are also mature and classy.
Keep things in moderation. One polka dot print per outfit. For some casual chic throw a polka dot print top or cardigan over jeans or summer shorts. Alternatively, look super stylish for work with a polka dot silk blouse tucked into a figure flattering tulip-style skirts.
For an extra edge, team your polka dots with clashing floral prints, a la House of Holland, to prevent dots looking to twee. Shoes need to be simple, and chunky rather than feminine, if you want to be on trend. Alternatively wear this spotty print as an accessory itself, such as a scarf, belt or tote bag.
The History of Polka Dots
According to the Oxford English Dictionary (Oxford University Press, June 2009) a “polka dot” is “any of a number of round dots of uniform size repeated so as to form a regular pattern, usually on fabric.”
Whilst polka dots are traditionally associated with fashion in the ‘50s, but their origins are still unclear, although it is often linked to the “Polka” dance, which originated in the 1800s.
These spotty fabrics were once favored by flamenco dancers. One of the first icons of polka dot fashion was Walt Disney’s Minnie Mouse, in her trademark red and white spotted dress and ribbon. Venezuelan born fashion designer, Carolina Herrera used polka dot prints in many of her dresses in the late‘80s and early‘ 90s.
Julia Roberts proved that polka dots could be chic at any age when she wore a brown and cream spotted shift dress in the 1990 romantic comedy, Pretty Woman. Even Britain’s Princess Eugenie (daughter of Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson) hit the spot on June 22, 2009, with a black and white polka dot Issa dress and Tyrolean-style hat; her outfit for day 4 of Ascot.
Polka dots are classic and timeless and have a happy feel. With the modern interpretation of grown-up oversized spots in classic monochromes, any age can wear these cheery, energy-giving prints.
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