{that polka dot charm}

I adore polka dots. They never fail to bring a smile to my face.  This is particularly true when they cover a beautiful silk dress or a demure wool skirt. There is something delightful about a playful pattern on a deadly serious fabric. Those classic disks take the edge off of any outfit, giving a piece of clothing a level of cheerfulness not otherwise achievable. They are tiny hoops of joy.  According to the Hairpin, 1926’s Miss America wore polka dots for the swimsuit competition and thrust the U.S. into a fashion love affair with the little spheres. For years they were a signifier of femininity and now, as women try to sustain meager levels of gender equality in society, the polka dot has fallen out of favor with some who think of it as retro or old fashioned. For lots of people, polka dots are a reminder of a time when women were much more repressed and they hesitate to don the pattern. Psychic Universe tells us that not only are polka dots charming, they are also protective acting as tiny evil eyes of protection when worn.

They can be seen on the elaborate costumes of flamenco dancers.  Minnie Mouse wears polka dots. Rosie the Riveter had polka dots on the red kerchief around her head reminding us that though she was engaged in masculine factory work, she was still a lady. Eleanor Roosevelt, the powerful intellect, and champion of social justice liked elegant polka dotted dresses. The glorious Marilyn Monroe and the hilarious Lucille Ball both wore them. Dior famously employed the pattern in the 1950 and Mary Quant worked with them again in the 1960s. Bob Dylan,  Carolina Herrera,  Prince, Cyndi Lauper, and Katy Perry, have artfully worn polka dots. Think of Zoe Deschanel and every vintage or retro girl trying to look like a pinup or glamor girl from another time.  The comic panel close-ups of  Roy Lichtenstein, the installation art of Yayoi Kusama, and the dot matrix of Damien Hirst all showcase this graphic pattern.

So, how did the polka dot get its name? I was unable to find a true connection between the dance called the polka, which became extremely popular in the 1800s, and the pattern of little circles, but there seems to be a loose connection. According to the Word Detective, the term polka dot first appeared in the mid-1800s. Polka is also the Polish word for Polish woman. The word dot comes from the Old English synonym for speck: dott.  

The polka dot is not the trashy animal print, nor is it the solid business suit stripe. Though it can cross over into the worlds of burlesque dancers and businessmen.  It is an invitation to joy, but it can also be an instruction in order. I was just pondering this pattern and I thought I’d compile my thoughts. 

I am going to conclude this dotty overview with a quote from Yayoi Kusama, “Polka dots can't stay alone. When we obliterate nature and our bodies with polka dots, we become part of the unity of our environments.”