I caught up my friend recently.  She was looking ever graceful in a gorgeous polka dot blouse.  It reminded me of the one the actress Jennifer Connelly wore recently and brought to my attention that this print has come of age and found its way back into vogue again.

Pictured here at a publicity event in Paris, Jennifer Connelly’s Miu Miu polka dot blouse is worn with a simple cut, black Balenciaga skirt. This combination is super elegant. To get this look on a mid range budget, try Comme des Garcons , otherwise J by Jasper Conran is a great option for under €40.

What used to be associated with itsy bitsy bikinis and Minny Mouse – the polka dot was spotted (no play on words intended) on the 2009 Michael Kors Spring runway, where he captured the cocktail dress perfectly. 

How to wear polka dots

Catwalks aside, the polka dot look is easy to master so long as you limit your outfit to one polka dot piece at a time.

This timeless cocktail dress by Michael Kors (Sailback cocktail dress, €2041) would be perfect for a day out at the races, or any summer time event that calls for a touch of class.

For a daytime outfit, there are plenty of polka dot dresses in store, from New Look (who have a neat navy and white tea dress) to Lipsy, Urban Outfitters and Mango.

If you think that this print is too much for you as a wardrobe staple, there are plenty of polka dot accessories out there from hair bands to handbags.

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Firstly, what a cute dress! Thanks for sending in the pic. The dress in itself is your statement piece so I’d advise keeping the rest of your outfit pretty neutral.

Wear red or burgandy shoes and you risk looking like Mrs Claus. Wear white and the outfit will look too summery, although you certainly shouldn’t rule out this dress for summer. Red and white epitomise a 50’s, retro look and this dress would look fab with a pair of espadrille sandals or a pair of wedges (both excellent if you want some height) or gladiator sandals if you prefer flats. If you’d like to go for a more casual summer look, wear with canvas shoes like model Agnes Deyn did last summer with a red and white polka dot dress.

The fact that the pattern is a tiny polka dot reiterates the fact that you should tone down accessories, and by toning down, I mean the use of colour. As this is such a chic and classic print, it’s all the more reason to keep the chic in the rest of your outfit! No black or metallic’s needed here, dear reader.

But back to the Christmas party –

If you want to jazz up the dress and arrive at the party in style, go for a fake fur “gilet”/ vest in a neutral colour – Penneys do some lovely ones with sleeves. When I wear mine, everyone ends up stroking it; it’s so nice and will add the glamorous factor needed to wow your colleagues at the Christmas party!

Nude Shoes

If you’re after a sharp, sophisticated look, the best fit shoe wise would be nude shoes. To be specific; patent, peep toe shoes in a nude colour (also referred to as camel or beige). Nude is great for elongating your leg ( in winter, wear with sheer tights), as an otherwise coloured shoe in metallic or black would “break up” your leg too much, thus shortening your legs.

See how Eva Longoria wore nude shoes in our “Trend we like: Nude” article – the emphasis is kept on her dress and her legs appear longer.

Despite the fact that nude is seriously on trend for this year and next, it will always be one of those basic, staple colours that you can WEAR WITH ANYTHING (even jeans), so there’s no need to worry about these shoes going out of fashion. So, when all the mistletoe has withered, you’ll still have a sexy pair of shoes for the next party, the office, or friend’s wedding.

Christian Louboutin is the king for your nude patent peep toes; in fact Dannii Minogue has worn her camel Loubs consistently on X Factor this year (€585 online at mytheresa.com or €585+ at Brown Thomas). If your budget doesn’t stretch this far, Miss Selfridge (pictured) has come up trumps on the high street, with their nude pumps (£40, €45 approx). (update 1st April 2o1o – sold out).

One final tip on the shoes front: Peep toes and rounded shoes are great for apple, hourglass and pear body shapes. Pointy shoes are better for column shapes (same shape up and down), and taller, mannish figures.

If you don’t like the sound of classic patent pumps with a 4.5” stiletto heel, you could choose a pair of studded sandals, which also come in beige. Balmain’s ones rocked the catwalk this season, while the boutiques and the high street are offering them too. Again, I like the ones from Miss Selfridge (£65, €73 approx), but as usual, there’s plenty of studded sandals out there to choose from including from Penneys.

Where to Buy Nude Shoes (updated on 1 April 2010)

Aldo Withey £60,

Zara €34.99

Nine West at Kurtgeiger.com, €65

Nude wedges are available at Gina at Brown Thomas (€510 )

Partee nude patent wedges €135 at Cocobelle and also at Reiss.

Nude shoes, Nando Muzzi at Cocobelle (Royal Hibernian Way, Dublin 2) €335. They also stock the most amazing Steve Madden peep toe ankle boots called Huntley (€220) and Tricked t-bar nude shoes (€165).

LK Bennett have peep toe, closed toe court shoes and nude sling back courts, various prices.

Just check which shade suits you best. Some are on the browner side of things, really a taupe, some are cream and some a rose beige. If you’re very pale go for a rose (pinky) beige or grey beige and the darker skinned you are, you can pull off the darker “taupe” shades of nude.

Related articles

Ask the Stylist: Jeggings

Trend We Like: Nude

Pattern We Like: Polka Dot