Polka dots on a swimsuit are one of those combinations that should feel dated and somehow never do. There is something about the pattern that reads as confident and playful in equal measure, neither trying too hard nor playing it safe. We think that is exactly what you want from a swimsuit. The scale of the dot matters enormously. Tiny dots feel retro and precise. Larger spots feel bolder and more modern. Both work, but they create very different looks and it is worth being deliberate about which you are going for. We have been pulling together our favourite polka dot swimsuits across one pieces and bikinis because this print deserves a proper edit rather than whatever the algorithm serves up. The ones that photograph well at the pool but also hold their shape after an actual swim. The ones where the lining is decent and the straps are properly adjustable. Polka dots have been earning their place on swimwear since the nineteen fifties and every summer reminds us exactly why. A good spot never goes out of season.