MONDAY 5 AUGUST 2019Spot the difference
One item has dominated British fasion this summer: that polka-dot
dress from Zara. It’s not the shape, fit or versatility which sets it apart,
says Olivia Petter, but the pattern
The style has been in and out of vogue over its long history (Rex/Getty)
An item of clothing doesn’t usually go viral. But when a polka dot maxi dress from Zara becomes so
popular that it spawns its own Instagram handle and acquires a definitive nickname (“the dress”), it’s on par
with cat memes and tweets about Trump.
This humble “printed dress”, as it’s called on the retailer’s website, costs just £39.99 and has been spotted
in myriad settings, from dance floors and beer gardens to lecture halls and wedding receptions.
One quick look at the dress’s dedicated Instagram account, @hot4thespot, and it’s clear that this is a dress
loved by women of all ages. Its design suits any body shape, climate and circumstance – one person wore it