Polka dot

The polka dot is a pattern consisting of an array of large filled circles of the same size.^[1]

Polka dots are commonly seen on children's clothing, toys, furniture, ceramics, and Central European folk art, but they appear in a wide array of contexts. The pattern rarely appears in formal contexts and is generally confined to more playful attire such as bathing suits and lingerie.

Etymology

The term likely originated because of the popularity of the polka dance around the same time the pattern became fashionable, just as many other products and fashions of the era also adopted the "polka" name.^[1]

History

The invention of dotted patterns is believed to have happened in the Middle Ages, but because of a lack of fabric machines and modern medicine, the pattern of irregularly spaced dots made people think of the rashes caused by diseases like leprosy, syphilis, smallpox, bubonic plague, and measles.^[2] Hence, the pattern was associated with plague and uncleanliness.^[3] The modern version of polka dots is believed to have become widespread during the Industrial Revolution (c. 1760) and the invention of the first sewing machine (in 1790), when perfectly round and evenly spaced dots could be created because of mechanized weaving.^[4]

However, starting in middle of the 19th century, the pattern started to spread among the lower classes of society at that time, who were looking for more interesting colors and patterns but could not afford the silks of the upper classes. It was also at this time, the name “polka dots" is believed to be connected to an Eastern European dance called the polka, though the reasons behind this association are varied and mostly discredited. Before the name “polka dots” was ingrained, the dotted fabric went by various monikers, including dotted-Swiss (which possibly alludes to the holes in Swiss cheese), the Spanish name lunares, the French term quinconce, and the German word thalertupfen.^[5]

Polka dots gained popularity in the United States around the time of the Roaring Twenties, when Norma Smallwood, Miss America of 1926, wore a polka dot swimsuit, influencing the general public about the latest fad of that time. ^[6]

Usage

One of the earliest media that showcase the popularity of polka dots is the depiction of Minnie Mouse. The character started wearing an iconic red dress with white polka dots in the 1928 title card animations of the short film Plane Crazy. ^[7]

Later in 1962, DC Comics introduced Polka-Dot Man with irregularly-sized and differently coloured dots. Polka-Dot Man made his first theatrical debut in the film The Suicide Squad directed by James Gunn. He was played by actor David Dastmalchian.

Since 1975, a red-on-white polka-dotted jersey has been awarded to the leader in the mountain classification of the annual Tour de France cycling race.^[8]

Some people associate polka dots with Venezuelan fashion designer Carolina Herrera, who used polka dots on most of her dresses during the late 1980s and early 1990s, as well as on the boxes of perfume Carolina Herrera, Herrera For Men, Aquaflore and Flore.^[9]

Much of the Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama's work features a polka dot motif,^[10]^[11] and the cryptocurrency Polkadot takes its name after the design.^[12]

The polka dot also appears in popular music. "Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini" is a novelty song telling the story of a shy girl in a very revealing bathing suit who stays immersed in the ocean water to hide from view. It was written by Paul Vance and Lee Pockriss and first released in June 1960 by Brian Hyland. Before that, however, "Polka Dots and Moonbeams" was a popular song with music by Jimmy Van Heusen and lyrics by Johnny Burke, published in 1940. It was Frank Sinatra's first hit, recorded with the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra. The song is one of the top 100 most-frequently recorded jazz standards^[13] with arrangements by Gil Evans and others and notable recordings by Lester Young, Sarah Vaughn and many others.

The 1943 Twentieth Century Fox Technicolor musical film The Gang's All Here, directed by Busby Berkeley, featured a large production number "The Polka-Dot Polka".^[14] The song was written by Harry Warren and Leo Robin, referencing the 19th century polka dot craze in the lyrics, and sung by Alice Faye with the Busby Berkeley dancers.^[15]

Gallery

Frédéric Bazille's 1867 painting Family Reunion, containing two women in blue polka dot dresses
Norma Smallwood (winner of 1926 Miss America) popularized polka dots design in this publicity handsout
Title card of Plane Crazy animation which introduces Minnie Mouse wearing polka dots dress
Smiling woman wearing white dress with black polka dots
Woman wearing the 60's polka-dots fashion dress
Polka dots shoes
Polish Bolesławiec ceramics
German ceramics
An oval plate with multiple polka dots colours

References

^ ^a ^b "polka", Oxford English Dictionary, On account of the popularity of the dance, polka was prefixed as a trade name to articles of all kinds (cf. quot. 1898 in 1); e.g. the polka curtain-band (for looping up curtains), polka-gauze, polka hat; {polka-dot}, a pattern consisting of dots of uniform size and arrangement; also fig., attrib. or as adj., and as v. trans.; hence polka-dotted adj.
^ Colleen Welsch (December 17, 2021). "The Fascinating Origins of Polka Dots". The Old Timey. Retrieved 2024-05-29.
^ "The secret history of spots, stripes and other everyday patterns". Quartz. 2015-11-25. Retrieved 2024-05-29.
^ "A History of Polka Dots, in Case You're Wondering How They Came to Be". Cosmopolitan. 2020-06-19. Retrieved 2024-05-29.
^ Maisey, Sarah (2022-04-01). "A history of polka dots: the pattern's enduring fashion appeal". The National. Retrieved 2024-05-29.
^ "The fascinating history of polka dots - Where do polka dots come from?". Retro Setup. Retrieved 2024-05-29.
^ Kelleher, Katy (2018-04-03). "The History of the Polka Dot, from Minnie Mouse to Yayoi Kusama". Artsy. Retrieved 2024-05-29.
^ "Polka Dot Jersey". www.letour.fr. Retrieved 3 March 2021.
^ "Embroidered Polka Dots Lace Top". www.joycard.gr. Archived from the original on 16 November 2016. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
^ Lylynguyen. ""Queen of Polka dots" holds exhibit in Vietnam". VX Art News. Archived from the original on 23 October 2013. Retrieved 13 May 2014.
^ Nachmann, Ron (3 January 2012). "Of obliteration and polka dots: films on the vividly obsessive art of Yayoi Kusama". Dangerous Minds. Retrieved 13 May 2014.
^ "Polka-dot Japanese Culture - Polka Dot Musroom Bars". 2013-08-06. Retrieved 2019-01-21.
^ "Jazz Standards Songs and Instrumentals (Polka Dots and Moonbeams)". www.jazzstandards.com. Retrieved 2018-01-23.
^ Gregory May (2008-10-17), The Polka-Dot Polka, archived from the original on 2021-12-12, retrieved 2018-10-24
^ The Gang's All Here, retrieved 2017-09-25