Polka Dots Are the Trend to Embrace Before Summer Ends

Since summer started, trends have come (and gone) at lightning speed. From sardine mania giving way to dolphins to Labubu world domination, it's been a competitive season. Naturally, as your trusted shopping friends, we've spotted another trend making a major comeback: polka dots.

The retro print is far from new. Polka dots first gained popularity in the 1850s, thanks in part to Godey's Lady's Book, a Philadelphia-based women's magazine. In an 1857 issue, the magazine described a muslin scarf printed with polka dots, marking the earliest known mention of the pattern in American media. Before that, there was "dotted-swiss," conceptualized by a Switzerland-based textile company that produced sheer cotton fabric emblazoned with small raised dots. Still, the polka dot was considered the cutting-edge print of its era, with its brilliant display of evenly spaced, perfectly sized dots on such a grand scale.

Fast forward to the present day, and the print has well-proven its ageless relevance. Street style's finest embraced the trend in full force during the menswear spring/summer 2026 Paris season, donning everything from reimagined, black-and-white polka-dot dresses to Louis Vuitton bags covered in rainbow spots. The playful design has also been embraced by the stars, from Sabrina Carpenter's nails and Dua Lipa's bikini to the Jenner sisters' and Hailey Bieber's wardrobe chock full of polka-dot capris, dresses, and co-ord sets. And of course, TikTok has joined in on the fun, with many users emphatically declaring, "It's a polka-dot summer."

Now that we've given you plenty of motivation, shop our curated guide of the chicest fashion, beauty, and home finds to help you discover your long lost polka-dot identity.

Looking for something specific? Browse through our categories for easier shopping: