.jpeg%3Fwidth%3D1200%26auto%3Dwebp%26quality%3D75&w=3840&q=100)
Summer dress guide 2025: hot trends for the beach, office and Royal Ascot
M&S called it earlier this year, when it sent out its spring/summer collection without heavy prints. 'It's just stripes this season,' one representative told me. 'Oh — and polka dots. Polka dots will be big this summer.' A statement that has been confirmed before June has even struck, no less. For some, a dotted dress can only be a chilling reminder of 'the Zara dress', a frock that defined the summer six years ago, but for many (and they are an armada led by the Princess of Wales) a cream-to-ivory silk or satin dress with navy or black polka dots will make for the perfect occasion wear frock in the coming months. Kate's favourites are from Alessandra Rich (£1,685, alessandrarich.com) but Me+Em (£595, meandem.com), the more wallet-friendly Nobody's Child (£99, nobodyschild.com) and wedding-appropriate Rixo (£275, rixolondon.com) all do similar versions. Now the Telegraph has blasted their popularity on its front page, however, I'd heed caution before wearing one to Ascot — unless you have no intention of standing out from the crowd.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Edinburgh Live
27 minutes ago
- Edinburgh Live
Rio Ferdinand's life now with luxury move abroad, famous wife and 'health scare'
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Rio Ferdinand has hung up his hat as a pundit on TNT Sports after the Champions League final, closing a chapter of ten years with the broadcaster. Despite being offered a fresh contract months ago, the ex-Manchester United and England star chose not to renew, earlier announcing it was a "difficult" decision to leave. In his farewell note reported by Wales Online, Ferdinand extended his thanks for the chance to talk football over the last decade, tipping his hat to the behind-the-scenes crew essential for their triumphs. "I want to acknowledge the tremendous support from the team behind the scenes whose hard work often goes unseen but has been essential to our success. To everyone at TNT Sports, we have a brilliant end to the season to look forward to on Saturday and for now all focus will be on what I think could go down as one of the great European finals," Ferdinand remarked. READ MORE - David Tennant's wife reacts to Billie Piper's Doctor Who 'bombshell' READ MORE - The Aldi 33p 'shot' that could help 'obliterate' bad cholesterol from your body He added, "The network continues to thrive with more rights than ever. I know I look forward to following its progress and the exciting future that lies ahead." Ferdinand also took a moment to thank his family and New Era, his management firm, for their steadfast support as he travelled across Europe to follow top-tier players and matches, reports the Manchester Evening News. The 46 year old's decision comes after months of speculation about his potential departure from the broadcaster at the end of the season, with rumours hinting at a move abroad with his wife, Kate. Initial whispers suggested that Ferdinand, who has played for United, West Ham, Leeds, and QPR, might be eyeing opportunities in the United States ahead of the 2026 World Cup. However, later reports indicated that he and his wife, a former The Only Way is Essex star, were contemplating a move to Dubai, where they first crossed paths through mutual friends nearly ten years ago. Earlier this year, it was reported that the couple had started looking into properties and schools in Dubai, having decided that the time was right for them and their family to make the move. Ferdinand and his wife share two children, and Kate also plays the role of stepmother to his three children from his previous marriage to Rebecca Ellison, who sadly passed away from cancer in 2015. While Ferdinand has not publicly announced his next career move, it is thought that a potential relocation to the United Arab Emirates would involve regular travel between the UAE and the UK to meet work commitments. Kate is the founder of the online platform Blended. This news follows a health scare that forced him to miss out on covering key European football matches. Ferdinand was poised to cover Arsenal's Champions League match against PSG and lend his expert insights for United's Europa League semi-final with Athletic Bilbao but was instead hospitalised due to a crippling virus. Speaking candidly on 'Rio Ferdinand Presents', he recounted the harrowing experience that left him in fear for his life, battling severe migraines, vertigo, and extreme vomiting. "I had a mad virus," shared Ferdinand. "I thought lights were out at some point, I thought it was gonna happen. I thought I was minutes away from lights out, seriously." In narrating the terrible incident, he explained, "I was in my house, I was in my bed like this [pained expression] and I couldn't even open my eyes. Then, the headache I had... I don't get migraines or nothing else so I don't know what they're like. I thought my head was in a vice and my eyes were going to pop out. "Then, I was being sick, projectile vomiting in the toilet, I got back to bed and I was having vertigo," he added, "I was holding onto the sheets, I didn't know where I was. It was crazy." The situation took an alarming turn as medical professionals considered a brain scan, following Ferdinand's earlier offer of an ambulance to expedite his journey to the hospital. "I had to go to hospital and the doctor even said to me, 'Do you want an ambulance?' So that's when I knew," he disclosed. "He went, 'We're going to get your brain scanned'. I thought it was a virus or a flu or something so when he mentioned brain scan and the ambulance, the panic was nuts. "I went to hospital and I was in there for a few days. I couldn't even enjoy the hospital food. The soup and the ice cream normally does wonders."
Edinburgh Live
an hour ago
- Edinburgh Live
Kate Middleton's brutally honest response when told she's lucky to have Prince William
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info The romance between Prince William and his wife Kate, while unfolding under the intense glare of royal life, shares many similarities with love stories across the UK. The couple first crossed paths as students at the University of St Andrews, where a budding friendship blossomed into a deeper connection. Post-university life in London saw Kate and William navigate a lengthy courtship, punctuated by a brief split, before they committed to a future together. In his youth, Prince William was considered one of the country's most sought-after bachelors, an era the media coined 'Willsmania'. Despite the frenzy over her high-profile partner, Kate remained grounded. When a friend suggested she was fortunate to be with the prince, Kate's self-assured retort was telling. READ MORE - Meghan Markle's honest one-word response when asked about meeting Kate Middleton READ MORE - Award-winning East Lothian Italian restaurant hits the market in search of new owners "He's lucky to have me," she confidently declared, as reported by Claudia Joseph, author of 'Kate Middleton: Princess in Waiting'. With just five words, Kate asserted her stance, a sentiment evidently shared by Prince William himself. After enduring an exceptionally tough year, which saw the future Queen undergoing cancer treatment and retreating from her public duties to concentrate on her recovery and well-being, Prince William shared a touching tribute to his wife on social media for her 43rd birthday earlier this year, reports the Mirror. "To the most incredible wife and mother. The strength you've shown over the last year has been remarkable," read William's heartfelt message. "George, Charlotte, Louis and I are so proud of you. Happy Birthday, Catherine. We love you. W." On Valentine's Day, the couple delivered yet another tender social media post – reportedly their first-ever public recognition of the romantic holiday. They uploaded a photo capturing them cozily seated on a picnic rug in a wooded setting; with William planting a kiss on Kate's cheek as she smiles radiantly, clasping his hands. Not typically known for PDAs, the Duke and Duchess revealed an unexpected side this Valentine's Day. Accompanied by a heart emoji, the sentimental post stresses their dedication to nurturing their relationship after a challenging spell – which also involved Prince Charles, William's father, battling cancer. Catherine's announcement of her completed cancer treatment was coupled with a poignant statement, expressing that the ordeal had given her a newfound perspective on life. "The last nine months have been incredibly tough for us as a family. Life as you know it can change in an instant and we have had to find a way to navigate the stormy waters and road unknown. "The cancer journey is complex, scary and unpredictable for everyone, especially those closest to you. "With humility, it also brings you face to face with your own vulnerabilities in a way you have never considered before, and with that, a new perspective on everything. "This time has above all reminded William and me to reflect and be grateful for the simple yet important things in life, which so many of us often take for granted. Of simply loving and being loved."
Edinburgh Live
an hour ago
- Edinburgh Live
Meghan Markle's honest one-word response when asked about meeting Kate Middleton
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Meeting the in-laws can be nerve-wracking, and for Meghan Markle, that meant getting to know Royal relatives when her romance with Harry bloomed. The Duchess of Sussex shared her initial thoughts on Kate after a private dinner hosted by Kate and her then soon-to-be husband. Harry first noticed Meghan on Instagram in 2016, leading to that fateful dinner at Soho House in London. Their relationship quickly progressed with more dates and a week spent in the great outdoors together. Following their engagement in 2017, they sat down with BBC's Mishal Hussein to reminisce about Meghan's introductory encounter with Kate. During the conversation, Harry enthused, "It was exciting I mean I've - you know I'd been seeing her for a period of time when I literally didn't tell anybody at all." He added, "And then William was longing to meet her and so was Catherine, so you know, being our neighbours, we managed to get that in a couple of - well quite a few times now and Catherine has been absolutely..." To which Meghan succinctly interjected: "Wonderful.", reports the Mirror. Meghan fondly remembered how the Royal Family had extended a warm welcome to her, and she also harked back to the memorable occasion when she met the late Queen for the first time. Meghan reflected on her admiration for the Queen, saying: "I think, you know, to be able to meet her through his lens, not just with his honour and respect for her as the monarch, but the love that he has for her as his grandmother, all of those layers have been so important for me so that when I met her I had such a deep understanding and of course incredible respect for being able to have that time with her. And we've had a really - she's - she's an incredible woman." Initially, there were expectations that Meghan and Kate might form a close bond due to their similar experiences of marrying into the Royal Family. However, it appears that their differing personalities prevented a strong connection, and Meghan later described experiencing a 'jarring' moment upon first encountering Kate. In the second episode of the six-part Netflix series 'Harry and Meghan', Meghan recounted her first meeting with William and Kate: "When Will and Kate came over, and I met her for the first time, they came over for dinner, I remember I was in ripped jeans and I was barefoot. I was a hugger. I've always been a hugger, I didn't realise that that is really jarring for a lot of Brits." She went on to express her surprise at the persistence of formality within Royal life: "I guess I started to understand very quickly that the formality on the outside carried through on the inside. There is a forward-facing way of being, and then you close the door and go 'You can relax now', but that formality carries over on both sides. And that was surprising to me." In his revealing memoir 'Spare', Prince Harry delves into the complex dynamics between his wife, Meghan, and his sister-in-law, Kate. He shares anecdotes of the early stages of tension, including a dispute over bridesmaid dresses before his wedding that reportedly left Meghan in tears and a moment where Kate "grimaced" at the borrowing of her lip gloss. Additionally, Harry recounts an instance when Kate demanded an apology from Meghan after being accused of having "baby brain" in the aftermath of Prince Louis's birth. Harry also describes a particular dinner where he sensed a potential mismatch between Meghan and Kate. In 'Spare', he notes how Meghan prepared the meal and the conversation flowed smoothly, covering topics like Wimbledon and 'Suits'. He observes: "The only possibly discordant note I could think of was the marked difference in how the two women dressed, which both of them seemed to notice. Meg: ripped jeans, barefoot. Kate: done up to the nines. No big deal, I thought."
