It’s official: spring has arrived — and with it comes the opportunity to pack up our puffer coats, fold away knitted layers and (hopefully) reinstate our sunglasses. As the evenings get longer, it’s also time to dust off spring staples, ready for the influx of events that are likely to fill our calendars over the next couple of months.
Now, more than ever, we need our clothes to be just as functional as they are stylish. With lighter, warmer evenings on the cards, owning items that can serve you just as well in the office as they can for an after-work dinner is essential. And while pastels are always a welcome pop of colour at this time of year, sometimes they can verge on looking a little too soft, especially if you like to make a sartorial statement.
The new neutral
If you do prefer to keep your clothing palette neutral, it can leave you feeling a bit stumped when it comes to refreshing your wardrobe for the better half of the year. Navy and khaki feel too dull for the sunny season but the trending cow-and-leopard-print pieces, dubbed as the ‘new neutrals’, don’t feel quite right, either.
Polka dots, however, tick all the boxes – they’re a chic option that look great paired with contrasting patterns such as stripes, but which also create a statement on their own. They’re fun, without being flashy, and add a depth of interest to outfits that pastels and bold brights lose under the cover of night.
And we think we’ve found the item that showcases them perfectly – one that will effortlessly transport you from day-to-night and stay in your wardrobe for years to come: this polka dot halter neck midi dress from Next.
A great dress is always going to be a spring/summer staple, but it’s the pattern of this style that makes it so serviceable. Sharper than florals but softer than stripes, these polka dots have major springtime appeal, while the monochrome adds an elegant twist that can make even the most basic of outfit combinations feel elevated.
Easy-breezy styling
This dress is also a breeze to style. On days when the British weather is living up to its notoriously unpredictable reputation, throwing on a coat like this denim trench coat (also from Next) will keep you cosy without clashing with your polka dots. Fretting over footwear? While a white tennis shoe would also work well, the dress’ 1950s silhouette lends itself perfectly to a classic black ballet pump – the ideal shoe to help you slip from your desk (or sofa) to your evening plans, seamlessly.
Forever Comfort® black suede round toe ballerina pumps
Forever Comfort® black leather thong sandals
100% recycled black cat-eye sunglasses
From garden parties and birthday dinners, to Sunday walks at the farmers’ market and mid-week evening affairs, we predict this dress will see you through every kind of occasion.
Shop your new SS25 wardrobe in store and at next.co.uk
