Thanks to Dior, polka dot shoes are flirty spring trend we're crushing on

Sick to death of polka dots? Unmoved by their whimsy girlishness and Scandi-approved allure? Well, you wouldn't be alone. What emerged in 2025 as a playful, feminine fad quickly spiralled into full-blown micro-trend mania - with the hot spots coming to saturate both the runway and high street with serious gusto.

However, you may have to wait a little while longer until these preppy polkas exit the scene - because according to Jonathan Anderson - they aren’t going anywhere. 

The Irish designer has once again whipped up a sartorial storm, courtesy of his autumn/winter 2026 womenswear collection for Dior. His penchant for kitsch motifs translated beautifully from his Loewe tenure - ceramic lilypad-topped footwear, tutu skirts that culminated in trumpeted foxglove tendrils, silver-trimmed frog coin purses, unorthodox shape play and frothy layers of deconstructed lace coexisted alongside the iconic Bar Jacket silhouette, ornate lamé fabrics and gently-puffed balloon trousers.

Yet, it was another whimsical design that piqued the interest of his loyal fashion following - polka dot pumps. Embossed with a petite brand logo along the arch and finished with soft scalloping cut from black ribbon trimmings, the slip-ons magnified the 18th century, Rococo-style undercurrent of the collection - which was fittingly hosted in Paris’ Jardin de Tuileries.

© Imaxtree

And thus, Anderson’s speckled homage to the maison’s French history blew up. Naturally, as is the way in this chaotic industry, fellow brands took note of the shoe’s popularity, debuting their own iterations for mainstream consumers to indulge in. 

This widespread affinity for polka dots is nothing new. Princess Diana’s iconic 1988 Ascot attire paid testament to the longevity of polka dots, a moment recreated later by the Princess of Wales in Alessandra Rich. It-girls including Dua Lipa, Hailey Bieber and Kendall Jenner have all dabbled too.

Courtesy of Julia Roberts’ tawny frock in Pretty Woman, Marilyn Monroe’s Travilla number in The Seven Year Itch and Sophia Loren in That Kind of Woman, the print became an onscreen staple - coming to represent Hollywood's golden girls in all their glory.

© Imaxtree

© Imaxtree

But polka dot shoes remain relatively new territory - bar the odd appearance. For autumn/winter 2023, Marni showcased a black heel punctuated with white spots. Likewise, for spring/summer 2025, Jacquemus funnelled larger-than-life polka dot prints down the runway, point-toe kitten heels very much included. 

While Mr Anderson wasn’t the first to revel in the confetti charm of polka dots, the visionary was the first to highlight their timeless appeal. In a culture obsessed with the next big trend, polka dots prove that true style never fades - it simply reinvents itself. We just needed a lil Dior-induced kick to get the party started.

Best polka dot heels to shop now:

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