How to dress like a grown up with Shane Watson: Change your spots to supersize polka dots

Shane Watson shares advice for embracing this season's polka dots trend
Suggests swapping navy for black and cream as well as opting for bold dot styles
UK-based fashion expert takes inspiration from Sarah Jessica Parker

Published: 00:12 BST, 23 August 2021 | Updated: 00:27 BST, 23 August 2021

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Should you be browsing the Zara website and happen to stumble on its autumn/winter collection video, you may be in for a surprise.

Every outfit on parade is a blizzard of polka dots: each dress, jacket, tie-neck blouse and swooshy pair of trousers is made out of some sort of polka-dot fabric in every size from old penny to pinprick.

No doubt about it, Zara is making a statement: there are plenty of new styles out there we could show you to kick off the season, but, Look! Check out these bold dots! See how modern they suddenly look! Count the ways you can wear them and how different the effect is depending on whether you’re in tailoring or a draped skirt.

Shane Watson shared advice for embracing this season's polka dots trend. Pictured: Sarah Jessica Parker

I have to say, even if you’ve given polka dots a wide berth for decades (and I haven’t worn them since Princess Diana’s day) Zara is on to something.

For a start, these polka dots are bigger in scale — not the polite speckles of cream on navy that still remind me of mums at a school prize day, circa 1981. Also, navy and white are not on the menu — too nautical Sloane Ranger and too what we’re used to.

So we’re pressing the refresh button. The place where polka dots are pitched now is a little bit bold, a little bit avant garde and super chic.

Zara has taken its cue from Prada (tailored black on cream polka-dot trousers); Saint Laurent (a poet-sleeved silk chiffon blouse to layer under a blazer) and all the other designers who majored in monochrome (Valentino) or winter white (Isabel Marant).

A black-on-white or white-on-black polka dot covers all bases. Let’s not forget polka dots are a classic, up there with leopard print and a marine stripe. They’re a safe bet for autumn and you’re edging into new territory at the same time.

The way to go with polka dots now is to think separates. A dress is fine — or a jumpsuit for that matter (both are available in the Zara mix) — but separates allow you to dilute the impact of dots by pairing with plain black or cream. And they give you more options.

Zara’s slightly flared midi skirt, white with giant black polka dots, deliberately mismatched down the front seam (£79.99, zara.com) works for those of us who balk at black-and-white animal print but can see the point of a graphic monochrome pattern.

Shane said spots in different scales worn together are a smart option. Pictured left: Zoe Kravitz, right: Mandy Moore

Worn with a plain black top or a smaller dot blouse (£59.99, zara.com), maybe finished off with a gold-buckled belt, this is fun and chic and would work with kitten heels or boots. (The fashion girls will be teaming their monochrome polka dots with cherry red or white accessories, by the way.)

Spots in different scales worn together are a smart option and you can afford to be bold if you can break the elements down and wear them lots of different ways.

DOTS: THE NEW RULES

Keep dots bold not tiny.
Wear separates in different scale dots.
Swap navy for black and cream.
Wear with plain black or off-white.

Another two-step lesson in scale mismatching is Zara’s high-waisted straight midi skirt, in black-on-red polka dot print, worn with a cuff-sleeved blouse in the same, but slightly bigger, print (both £27.99). It might sound a bit much, but it isn’t: the combination works like a simple, striking dress, only it’s three times more versatile.

Of the lot, I’d personally opt for Zara’s slouchy flowing limited-edition trousers in a medium-sized black polka dot on a chalk background (£89.99). Flowing but tailored in viscose or silk seems to be the sweet spot with polka-dot pieces.

Worn with a puff-sleeved black top or a velvet jacket and block-heel sandals, this has autumn going out written all over it. There’s a matching shirt with a tie you could pair them with (£59.99), but that’s getting into pyjama territory, for me.

Otherwise, I have my eye on a fluid, draped midi skirt in cream with an irregular black spot from Ba&sh (£185, ba-sh.com).

A creamy background is lighter and more original than black and this crepey fabric with ruching will look good in the day with boots and a polo neck, or for evening with a jacket and light lacey top.

Last but not least, one for the easy staples pile is a V-neck blouse with a neck-tie detail, this time black with a small white spot (£59.99, zara.com) which will go with everything. The jury is out on polka-dot tights (maybe not), otherwise pick your spot.