Polka dots make a return every summer, alongside similarly classic florals, stripes and gingham. This year, though, they feel ubiquitous. From the sea of polka dots at Olivia Dean concerts to Kate Middleton’s Royal-approval and the unofficial Wimbledon dress code, the whimsical print is dominating both the high street to high end. Resistance is futile: it’s only a matter of time before they find their way into your wardrobe.
Polka dots entered the fashion lexicon way back in the mid-19th century, the name derived from the Czech Bohemian polka dance. Despite being around for some 200 years, there's something about those precise, ordered circles that always manages to feel current. Once, dots were interpreted as a sign of illness; now, the only thing infectious about them is their wearability.
