Polka Dots Are Fall’s Cutest Trend: How to Style It

If Brat summer was all about the return of indie sleaze, “demure fall” is all about twee. Patent leather Mary Janes, Wes Anderson movie marathons, retro-chic A-line dresses, and patterned tights–my demure fall, at least, is all about embodying the 2010s twee hipster vibe and channeling my inner Zooey Deschanel. And how could we forget about the polka dots, the official print of the twee aesthetic? 

We’re calling it now: Polka dots are this fall’s neutral, whether you’re wearing them in a twee way or not. The whimsical print is taking over the season’s trendiest pieces, from off-the-shoulder tops to bubble skirts, and we’re seeing it everywhere from Emily in Paris to our Pinterest feeds. Ahead, read on about the It Girl-approved fashion trend and how to incorporate the pattern into your closet.

The Trend

There might not be an exact formula for spotting the next big fashion trend, but there’s something that comes pretty close: stalking It Girl Devon Lee Carlson’s Instagram. Polka dots are everywhere in her recent outfits, from a polka dot slip dress to a polka-dotted halter top and bubble skirt combo from Blondita that’s been living in my head rent-free. And if you needed extra confirmation that polka dots are A Thing, Sabrina Carpenter just wore the same Blondita top in her music video for “Taste.”

Polka dots are a natural progression from bows, which have been dominating quite literally everything in beauty and fashion for the past two years. Whereas ribbons are the emblem of the coquette girlies, polka dots read as the more refined, demure older sister—think 70% Charlotte York and 30% Carrie Bradshaw. Polka dots strike the perfect balance between mature and cutesy, they’re playful and quirky, yet simple enough to be treated as a neutral.

It’s been a long time coming. After ’60s-inspired fashion of the 2010s, which saw us pairing oversized glasses with polka-dotted peplum tops and mini skirts, we soon outgrew the print’s kitschy allure. Slowly but surely, though, nostalgia for the era is trickling in, albeit in a more modern way. Last fall, Miu Miu did polka dots in a very Miu Miu fashion, sending sheer polka dot pencil skirt sets down the runway, and at the internet-breaking Maison Margiela haute couture show this January, polka dots meshed with holographic fabrics and glazed doll skin. This fall, polka dots are ubiquitous, adorning everything from Aritzia halterneck dresses to YSL silk shirts to Miaou mesh sets.

How to Get the Look

For chic and timeless polka dot inspo, look no further than style icon Charlotte York. In several episodes of Sex and the City, she pairs polka-dotted pieces with neutral basics and slingback heels and contrasting it with pops of color. For a distinctly modern twist on the Charlotte York outfit formula, pair a black-and-white polka-dotted skirt with a basic top, and fold in some color through your accessories.

When all else fails, do polka dots the Miuccia Prada way: with a set. Luckily, there’s a surplus of polka-dotted sets this season, be it the Sabrina Carpenter-approved set from Blondita or a mesh black-on-black polka dot set from Bella Venice. If that feels a little too sweet, try power clashing by mixing dots of two different size or colors, or try black and white dots with black and white stripes.

Of course, for the twee girlies, there is perhaps nothing cuter than a polka dot dress. A timeless A-line dress, paired with a red lip, oversized frames, and patent leather Mary Janes is the quintessential twee uniform that calls to mind Jess Day in New Girl.