Jubilee Black Polka Dot Maxi Dress

Polka dots on black are the oldest good idea in a wardrobe, and the Jubilee Maxi Dress runs them all the way to the floor — playful print, serious length.

The pairing works because each half restrains the other. Black keeps the dots from tipping into cute; the dots keep the black from reading austere. Stretch that balance across a full maxi silhouette and the result is a dress with rhythm — the pattern repeats down the entire length, giving the eye a line to follow as the fabric moves.

A black-and-dot maxi covers a remarkable spread of invitations. Red lips and black flats make it retro for daytime; a heel and gold hoops make it cocktail-ready by night. It also happens to be the rare printed dress that photographs as well in black and white as in colour — a small thing, until the pictures come back.