Spots and stripes are huge this season – but where have the trends come from and how can you introduce the look into your own wardrobe?

Stripes have underlined fashion trends for a few seasons now, and were omnipresent in this year’s spring/summer collections. Moschino, Prada and Jil Sander were among the top designers to champion the striking look, mixing up horizontal and vertical stripes and clashing colours and prints to offer up a fresh take on classic design detail. Stripes remain a style favourite for autumn/winter, but with yet more twists in the fashion tale: Sonia Rykiel worked with sheer burnt orange fabric and bold black lines to create daytime midi dresses and added a colour-popping green sash to a slinky silver and black stripe dress for evening glamour.

Ashish put its trademark grunge stamp on the trend with holey jumpers and boyish cardigans, pairing mustard with black and brown with cream. And Balmain worked at the other end of the style spectrum to create luxe dresses, mini-skirts and jackets from sparkling gold, silver and emerald blue tactile textiles – the perfect Christmas party wear.

Invest in: Mustard and brown stripes on tops and dresses for a 1960s mod look, or colour clash pieces for stand-out style. And you can’t go wrong with a classic Breton top.

Photo: Marcus Tondo/GoRunway.com

Dotty for spots

But it’s not just stripes that are causing a stir with the fashion press. In August’s issue of Vogue, Tilly Macalister-Smith wrote that “suddenly spot matter is everywhere”, citing Stella McCartney and Marc Jacobs as helping to propel polka dot detailing into fashion focus. Indeed, McCartney’s revealing polka dot tulle paneled black dresses have proved a huge hit with celebrity fans including Liv Tyler, Kate Winslet and Natalia Vodianova, all of whom have helped champion the trend by being photographed in the figure-hugging statement pieces.

The designers behind Marc Jacobs’ retro-inspired autumn/winter collection also went dotty for spots this season, with circles adorning everything from mid-century style pencil skirt suits, sharp shirts and fur trims on women’s coats, to 1980s-style twinkling tulle maxi skirts. Working with a colour palette that encompasses blues, pinks and greens, it’s clear that this look isn’t constrained to monochrome. However, simple black and white polka dot pieces remain among this season’s statement buys.

David Koma was another big name designer to showcase spots on the a/w 11 catwalk, using oversized full circles to create a futuristic, almost reptilian look on body con dresses. And Unique took inspiration from Dalmatians with dotty monochrome detail on dresses, faux fur jackets and trims as well as accessories including women’s shoes, belts, gloves and boxy handbags.

Invest in: Polka dot tights, as seen on the Marc Jacobs runway, are a must have this season and will help inject a slice of fashion fun into any outfit. Look out for polka dots on scarves, socks and bags to add discreet design detail, or go all out for a polka dot party dress.

Lead Image © Vogue Italia, February 2011

The collection also has some basics for everyday – denim wrap shorts ( hand painted binding) , ballet leotards with color netting inserts, hand knitted striped vests, delicate 70′s chiffon blouses with tiny pleating, embroidered cami’s with tiny dots – colored sweaters and cardigans. All to make a brighter more playful collection for spring.”

Photography by Danielle St. Laurent / Furniture & Location ruckercorp