Gwyneth Paltrow And Daughter Apple Wear Matching Dresses And Prove That Polka Dots Are For Every Age

We hardly need tell you that Gwyneth Paltrow has great genes (duh). But in case you were in need of proof, this weekend the Goop-founder posted a picture to Instagram of herself, her mother Blythe Danner and her daughter Apple Martin. Exuding that lit-from-within, Californian radiance, the trio looked so glossily, glowingly gorgeous that you might have felt you got a dose of Vitamin D just looking at them.

But while we can’t promise you a shortcut to those A-list genetics (and nor would we necessarily advise you to start inserting jade eggs into your vagina in an attempt to mimic it, although each to their own), there does seem to be another Paltrow hack to looking great: polka dots.

In the shot, which garnered adoring comments from Naomi Campbell, Reese Witherspoon and Tory Burch, Paltrow and her daughter both wear spotted pieces from Goop’s G Label – Gwyneth in the Devin cropped top and matching high-waisted midi skirt; Apple in the Zera strapless cotton maxi dress (Danner makes a case for the peppy power of bold shades in a fuchsia tunic). Spotted prints, it seems, have cross-generational appeal.

GP is not the only one who loves polka dots. They have a perennial fan in Kate Middleton. This summer alone she’s been spotted (sorry) in an elegant black and white shirt dress by Emilia Wickstead, an embroidered white shirt dress from Suzannah and a sky blue Altuzarra tea dress peppered with black and white spots for a Zoom call. Earlier this year there were jewel-toned versions from Oscar de la Renta and Suzannah for her Dublin tour, and who can forget that navy dress with white collar by Alessandra Rich she’s worn several times?

Spots have appeal across the style spectrum. There’s also been Emily Ratajkowski in a polka dot mask with a dotty and animal print romper (who said you had to choose?). Kendall and Kylie love polka dot bikinis (itsy, bitsy, naturally). Holly Willoughby’s gone for a navy and white Tory Burch shirt; Kate Moss for a dotty leather skirt; Mindy Kaling for a mustard and white Mara Hoffman midi dress.

So what’s the appeal? Well, bold prints come into their own in summer, but for those who have an aversion to the tweeness of florals and gingham, polka dots can feel like a gutsier, graphic alternative, not to mention transporting you straight to the Amalfi Coast – just add an oversized straw hat. You can go as big and bold (think, deliberately cartoonish. Think, Minnie Mouse) or as sweet and subtle as you want. They’re classic but, crucially, not overdone so avoid feeling faddy. And they won’t feel too ‘summer’ when autumn inches around.

Go for a classic colour combo (white spots on a black or navy background is always a win) and they’ll also slip into your existing wardrobe with ease. Try a dotty blouse with denim, or if you’re feeling emboldened then take your cue from Zoe Kravitz. For High Fidelity promo shots, she wore a flippy polka dot skirt with a floral Hawaiian shirt – which sounds vertigo-inducing but looks amazing.

The other benefit? Go for a particularly pow polka dot and they’ll also look great on Zoom. It’s time to live your own dot-girl summer.