From movie stars to royalty, the playful polka dot has featured as a fashion statement for as long as most of us can remember.
Polka dot fabric as we know it today, first appeared in 1857 in Godey’s Lady’s Book, a Philadelphia-based women’s magazine of the time. Fast forward to the 20th century. The world was shocked in 1926 when Miss America Norma Smallwood, wore a polka dot-esque swimsuit – we had only just discovered ankles for goodness sake! Disney’s Minnie Mouse quickly followed the trend in 1928.
Songs have been written about it! In the 40’s came Frank Sinatra with ‘Polka Dots and Moonbeams’. In the 60’s, the cheeky ‘Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini’ charted, featuring Brian Hyland (seems like a winning pub quiz answer), only to be re-hashed by Timmy Mallett and Bombalurina in the 90’s (100 bonus points for Bombalurina).
In case you thought the polka dot was so last century – our love of vintage fashion has brought it right back on trend….well it never really went away!
“Polka dots are like checks: they bring charm, elegance, ease and are always in fashion,” wrote Christian Dior in his Little Dictionary of Fashion. He celebrated the polka dot in the 40’s launching his haute couture collection on the Paris catwalk and thereafter, what self-respecting fashionista hasn’t embraced its feminine charms.
Admittedly, the 40’s and 50’s were the dotty boom eras, turning playful into glamorous – and boy were they glamorous! Hollywood greats – Audrey Hepburn, Marylin Munroe, Jane Russell, Elizabeth Taylor to name a few wowed us with polka perfection. And who didn’t fall in love with Julia Roberts casting her spell on Richard Gere at the races in Pretty Woman in the 90’s? Boring brown?….not boring in a polka dot!
If full-on polka dots aren’t your thing, max it up with accessories – in a less is more kind of way.
Playful, feminine, elegant, glamourous – the polka dot has it all and more…. I love those cheeky little spots of mischief and couldn’t see a time when they don’t have a place in my wardrobe and my heart.
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