Today, I’m putting the spotlight on polka dots. Did you notice polka dots are everywhere this spring? But if you know me, you know I like to know things and where they originated, so I investigated where this trend started.
Long before I read John T. Molloy’s 1975 bestseller, Dress for Success, there was the women’s magazine, Godey’s Lady’s Book, dictating how readers could elevate their style.
Godey’s Lady’s Book, also known as Godey’s Magazine and Lady’s Book, published in Philadelphia from 1830 to 1878. It was the most circulated magazine the time before the Civil War. The editor, Louis A. Godey for 48 years. Anyway, according to Godey’s, polka dots were first mentioned in 1857, when the fashion magazine described the print as “scarf of muslin, for light summer wear, as being surrounded by a scalloped edge, embroidered in rows of round polka dots.”
Before polka dots were considered polka dots, the print was called dotted swiss. A textile company in St. Gallen, Switzerland coined the term in the 1850s. But the difference between the two comes down to the fabric. Dotted Swiss is a sheer cotton fabric adorned with small raised dots. Polka-dots more on the cutting edge and more accessible to reproduce during that time became more popular.
Spotlight on Timeline Of Dots:
1926: Miss America wears polka dot bathing suit
1928: Disney introduces Minnie Mouse wearing (her now) signature polka dot dress
1940: Frank Sinatra sang the song “Polka Dots, And Moonbeams“
1942: World War II propaganda featured Rosie the Riveter wearing a polka dot bandana
1947: Christian Dior introduced the New Look with a polka dot collection
1960: Japanese artist, Yayoi Kusama came to public attention with nude models painted with brightly colored polka dots
1960: Brian Hyland sings “Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini“ with orchestra conducted by John Dixon
1962: DC Comics created the dot’s own superhero/villain, Mr. Polka Dot
The 1980s: Carolina Herrara premieres a polka dot collection
1990: Julia Roberts stars in the movie Pretty Woman, wearing a brown polka dot outfit
1993: Kate Spade introduces aline product using polka dot as friendly, classic and playful for clothing and home goods.
Marc Jacobs said once there is never a wrong time to wear a polka dot and I’m inclined to agree. What are your thoughts on polka dots? Let me know below in the comments.
As always, thanks for reading. Have a fabulous week.
