I *Hate* Polka Dots, but Jennifer Lawrence's Oscars Dress Might've Just Changed My Mind

There are few things I’m close-minded about when it comes to fashion. Like my colleague Abby Hepworth, fashion editor at PureWow, I too am hesitant about the return of low-rise jeans and sheer materials, but I’d be lying if I said I haven’t worn the trends myself. There’s one print in particular, however, that I vehemently despise: polka dots. So when Jennifer Lawrence stepped out in a—you guessed it—head-to-toe Christian Dior Haute Couture polka dot dress at the 2024 Oscars, I gasped. Could it be? Did J-Law just prove me wrong?

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The 33-year-old actress and presenter for tonight’s 96th Annual Academy Awards donned a custom piece from Dior’s spring 2024 haute couture collection. The striking strapless sheath is impeccably tailored, cinching in at the small of her waist and cascading into a voluminous skirt. Lawrence told Vogue, “When I first saw the dress on the runway I fell in love. Polka dots are classic and chic.” Per their reporting, the gown, which is made from silk moiré, took 1,500 hours to create, and its laborious design doesn’t go unnoticed for this fashion editor.

In fact, I’m willing to deem it my favorite look of the night. Polka dots, to me, have always been a fashion faux pas. The bold and loud experiential print has felt outdated, gaudy and nearly impossible to pull off without the print overpowering. Yet, there’s something so timeless and elegant about the polka dots in Jenniffer Lawrence’s gown. Perhaps, it’s because she let the print do all of the talking, choosing a sweeping old Hollywood glamour hairstyle and minimal accessories with her Swarovski Created Diamonds Galaxy tennis bracelet and necklace and Manolo Blahnik PIRUA mules. Couple that with the matching wistful wrap, and we’ve got ourselves an unforgettable Oscars moment I’ll be talking about for years to come.

I never thought I’d say this, but I think I’m obsessed with polka dots—at least the way J-Law wears them.

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