All it takes is just one day of melting temperatures here in the Northeast and I get delirious with dreams of summer and, of course, delicious summer footwear. Let’s get to it, shall we?

I am of the opinion that if you want to mellow a fellow’s heart thoroughly and properly, polka dots on your dainty footwear re the way to go. They’re playful, they’re retro-chic, they’re usually attached to a summer-y material such as canvas, they’re irresistible. Luckily for us, the current designer offering has polka-dots-aplenty, for basically every taste and budget. Let’s review:

Bettye Muller ‘Linley’ pump. Not only does it have polka dots in an appropriate density and elegant color-combo, but it’s a peep-toe d’Orsay with knotted bow on the vamp. And yes, these are all good things! A bit pricey, yes ($374 at Nordstrom) but performing the double feature of being eye-catching and classy at the same time.

Chinese Laundry ‘Landys’ flat. These juicy slingbacks come in a variety of colors (blue, green, and black), but my favorite is this sunny version, which sells for a very reasonable $60.

Sam Edelman ‘Nadia’ espadrille wedge. Now, that’s what I call a polka-dot with an attitude! Sweet, yes, but also sassy, flirtatious, ready to go out and party. Love them! They’re just a buck shy of $100 at Nordstrom.

These Sam Edelman ‘Indigo’ wedges take retro a step above, with their peep-toe, bow-on-vamp, and small-and-smaller polka dot print combo. I can’t imagine putting these on and not being happy! They’re the same price, same place as the above.

And finally, these Joie ‘Rapture’ flats give a modern twist to the polka-dot print with this slightly irregular pattern. Brilliant simplicity! They’re $195 at Nordstrom.