Polka Dots Are Trending Hard for 2025—Here's Where to Shop
The comeback of polka dots is long overdue, in my opinion—and the 2025 version of the print has gotten a fresh makeover. The dots can be asymmetrical, oversized or micro, and colors are totally on the table, although black and white is a classic for a reason. Oh, and they don't just belong on retro styles, either. If you haven't seen wedding guest dresses, going-out tops, and midi skirts covered in polka dots cropping up already, you're about to start noticing them everywhere. Curious? I put together a curated list of some of the chicest polka dot dresses, accessories, and more, below.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Axios
2 days ago
- Axios
AI slop is ruining all of our favorite places to scroll
An AI-generated video of rabbits jumping on a trampoline that went viral this week — and was widely believed to be real — proved even cute animal vids aren't safe from convincing slop machines. Why it matters: All the fake AI-generated content online is sapping the joy of casual scrolling. It's not just animal vids. Hobbyists say genAI is ruining gardening forums, knitting communities and the entire DIY aesthetic on Pinterest. AI-generated images lack the imperfections that make these community connections relatable. Vogue ran an ad featuring an AI model in its August print issue and readers called the ads hollow and accused them of stealing jobs from models and photographers. Fake influencers have been slipping into our feeds for a few years now, but they're getting harder to spot now that image generators have mastered fingers — though they still struggle with knees. Driving the news: The latest viral video in question features outdoor night camera footage of the bounding bunnies, which was quickly debunked. The tell-tale signs: lack of continuity, defying physics, and a glitchy video timer. Young people online expressing their fear that falling for the bunnies made them feel old quickly became a trend. Between the lines: AI-generated oddities are showing up in our feeds more often because they're lucrative for creators. The weirder it is, the more time we spend looking at it, signaling the algorithm that we want to see more like it. If we watch content over and over again or stop scrolling to see if an image or video shows the signs of being AI-generated, that's more fuel for the algorithm. Engagement — especially confusion-driven engagement — is valuable. Catch up quick: Images and videos generated with OpenAI, Google and Meta's sophisticated free or cheap AI tools are swamping the internet and fooling even the savviest scrollers. This particular brand of synthetic content is called AI slop because it oozes into and potentially suffocates human-made media. Others argue it's more nuanced. Slop isn't new either, Ben Kusin, founder of AI studio Kartel, told Axios. He points to shows like America's Funniest Home Videos as evidence that what some call "slop" has existed long before generative AI. "AI has democratized the ability for people to make that at scale," Kusin said. "It's going to create a net negative effect," Kusin argued. It's a deluge that's no longer manageable, he said. Zoom out: We appear to be adapting and growing more comfortable with AI-generated content overall. What to watch: Platforms themselves must stop incentivizing the slop, Kusin explained.
Newsweek
4 days ago
- Newsweek
Bride Recreates Dress of Her Dreams for Under $700—Stuns Viewers: 'Amazing'
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A bride has revealed how she recreated her dream Monique Lhuillier-inspired wedding gown—originally worth thousands—for a fraction of the price. Grace Hoffman (@hellokittyceo), 27, from Pennsylvania, began searching for her perfect dress after getting engaged in 2022. Like many brides-to-be, she turned to Pinterest for inspiration. That's where she discovered the image that would shape her entire bridal vision. "I found this image I immediately fell in love! I researched it further and found that it was a Monique Lhuillier dress from the '90s," she told Newsweek. Although she never located the original dress in-store or tried it on, Hoffman explained that her budget of $1,000 to $2,000 meant that the designer vintage piece—often priced above $3,000—was likely out of reach. She noted: "I actually never found the dress in store, and never tried it on!... I already knew that the dress would be way out of my budget, and likely not in my size." A split image showing the Monique Lhuillier wedding dress inspiration and Grace Hoffman in her bridal gown. A split image showing the Monique Lhuillier wedding dress inspiration and Grace Hoffman in her bridal gown. @hellokittyceo/@hellokittyceo The gown she had fallen for was a quintessential '90s wedding dress with a full tulle skirt, a fitted bodice, and a drop waist silhouette. Hoffman shared that she had been saving wedding inspiration since her engagement and found herself repeatedly drawn to the timeless elegance of '80s and '90s bridal fashion. The Monique Lhuillier design embodied all those elements. Hoffman's quest included a visit to Happy Isles in New York City, where she hoped to have a "Say Yes to the Dress" moment with her bridesmaids and mom. Though she didn't find the one, the appointment proved helpful. "From that experience I confirmed that I did want a dress with a full, ball gown skirt," she said, adding that she also realized how extensive dress alterations could be, especially if the gown wasn't her size. She continued her search online, exploring platforms like Stillwhite, Nearly Newlywed, Etsy, eBay, Poshmark, and Depop. "I actually favorited the dress on Etsy a while before I eventually came back around to it," she explained. Initially, Hoffman passed on the dress because it was made of synthetic materials rather than the silk and tulle she'd hoped for. But on second glance, she saw its potential. The silhouette closely resembled the Monique Lhuillier gown, and at just $204.27 including shipping and taxes, it felt like a risk worth taking. "I was definitely super nervous awaiting the dress in the mail," Hoffman said. But her worries quickly faded. "Once I did [try it on] I knew I had made the right decision—it fit me perfectly and I felt like it really channeled everything I loved about the ML dress, but with even more unique touches like the little ceramic rosettes on the bows." To complete her vision, she brought the dress to a tailor, spending $500 to adjust the neckline from straight-across to a scoop shape and adding delicate straps. She opted to keep the original organza skirt and made minor repairs herself, even sourcing matching rosettes from Etsy. Hoffman tied the knot on May 24, 2025, at Pocahontas State Park outside Richmond, Virginia. "I felt amazing in the gown," she said. "I really pulled off my dream of having a very princess-y, classic, flattering dress just like I'd imagined!" The look was topped off with a pair of Sandy Liang heels, which she splurged on to complete her bridal ensemble. TikTok users were quick to shower her with praise after she posted about her DIY gown journey. "I LOVE it, even more than the original pic!!" said one user. "It's one of the most beautiful dresses I've ever seen," added another. "Girl it looks incredible!! Dare I say even better than the original," wrote Elsie Marina. For brides on a budget, Hoffman's top tip is to go second-hand—not just for the dress, but for accessories and décor too. "The biggest thing to keep in mind, though, when shopping for a second-hand dress is the cost of alterations," she advised. Though the couple went over budget in some areas, Hoffman said planning the wedding themselves helped them save in others. "Overall we had such a perfect day, and I wouldn't have changed a thing!" Do you have any amazing thrifting finds that you want to share? We want to see the best ones! Send them in to life@ and they could appear on our site.
Vogue
6 days ago
- Vogue
When She's Not Andy Sachs, Anne Hathaway Opts for This One-And-Done Denim Staple
We've been hit with all the action—and even more striking fashions—with The Devil Wears Prada 2 filming in full throes. Anne Hathaway as Andy Sachs in Phoebe Philo, Meryl Streep as Miranda Priestley in Dries Van Noten, Stanley Tucci in monochromatic suiting. Just to yesterday, we got our first glimpse of Emily Blunt as the now high-flying ad exec Emily in sharply tailored Dior. But when Anne Hathaway isn't playing Andy Sachs, she's taking her off-duty moments to return to her easy, breezy summer style. The actor and Vogue cover star was photographed leaving The Devil Wears Prada 2 set in a distinctly Anne outfit. She wore a relaxed white denim jumpsuit, rolled up to the ankle and wrists, with a low waist and popped collar. She also wore some black angular sunglasses and a pair of brown thong sandals with gold embellishment, and carried a capacious brown suede tote bag on her shoulder. Her long brown hair was tied in a summery side braid. In everyday life when she's not stomping the halls of Runway, Hathaway opts for a failsafe outfit formula that often includes basic tanks, classic loafers or dad sandals (but Chanel), and denim staples, like a light wash midi skirt or, if elevating that, a pair of cut-out Area jeans to stylishly beat the New York heat. When she's summering elsewhere, she takes sun protection seriously with UPF clothing sets. Christopher Peterson / Photo: Backgrid Costume designer Molly Rogers (of And Just Like That…) takes the reins from the iconic original CD Patricia Field to clothe a coiffed, colorful, and label-agnostic 2025 version of Andy Sachs. As photos snapped from filming so far show, Hathaway has been dressed in a preppy Ralph Lauren suede blazer with a practical but trendy eyelet-studded Valentino bag (IRL, Anne is an ambassador), in a boardroom-ready Jean Paul Gaultier pinstripe suit, a multicolor mosaic tiled Gabriela Hearst summer dress, and monochromatic whites feat. a covetable Phoebe Philo train top and Prada heels. Are paparazzi photos ruining movie magic? Maybe. Is at least one of your looks going on your fall Pinterest board? Most definitely.
