{{Short description|Pattern consisting of an array of large filled circles of same size}} {{for-multi|the town|Polkadot, North Carolina|the cryptocurrency|Polkadot (cryptocurrency)}} right|thumb|Red polka dots on a yellow background [[file:2021 SLT Weert podium Alison Jackson polkadot jersey.jpg|right|thumb|Alison Jackson wears a Queen of the Mountains polkadot cycling jersey]]
The '''polka dot''', also written '''polkadot''', and also called '''spot printed'''<!-- https://turnbullandasser.co.uk/products/burgundy-and-white-small-spot-printed-silk-tie --> and '''spot print'''<ref name="bonmarche/031420">{{cite web |title=Spot Print Button Front Jumpsuit |url=https://www.bonmarche.co.uk/dresses/spot-print-button-front-jumpsuit-031420.html |website=Bonmarché |access-date=9 May 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250509185615/https://www.bonmarche.co.uk/dresses/spot-print-button-front-jumpsuit-031420.html |archive-date=9 May 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web | title=Buy Habitat Spot Print Grey Bedding Set - Single {{!}} Duvet cover sets {{!}} Argos | url=https://www.argos.co.uk/product/9311350 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210420081910/https://www.argos.co.uk/product/9311350 | archive-date=2021-04-20 | access-date=2025-08-25}}</ref><ref name="thefabricroom">{{cite web |title=Spot Prints |url=https://www.thefabricroom.co.uk/prints-and-specials/spot-prints.html |website=The Fabric Room |access-date=9 May 2025}}</ref><ref>:commons:File:How a British Woman Dresses in Wartime- Utility Clothing in Britain, 1943 D14784.jpg</ref> in the United Kingdom and ''pois'' in France, is a pattern consisting of an array of large filled circles of the same size,<ref name=oxf/> with varying scale, distance, and foreground-background ratio (big/small dots).
Polka dots are commonly seen on children's clothing, toys, furniture, ceramics, and Central European folk art, but they appear in a wide context. 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.<ref name=oxf>{{citation|work=Oxford English Dictionary|title=polka |quote=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.}}</ref>
== 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.<ref name=oldtimey>{{cite web |url=https://theoldtimey.com/the-fascinating-origins-of-polka-dots/ |title=The Fascinating Origins of Polka Dots |author=Colleen Welsch |date=December 17, 2021 |publisher=The Old Timey |access-date=2024-05-29}}</ref> Hence, the pattern was associated with plague and uncleanliness.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-11-25 |title=The secret history of spots, stripes and other everyday patterns |url=https://qz.com/557690/the-secret-history-of-spots-stripes-and-other-everyday-patterns |access-date=2024-05-29 |website=Quartz |language=en}}</ref> 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.<ref name="cosmopolitan/a32839249" >{{Cite web |date=2020-06-19 |title=A History of Polka Dots, in Case You're Wondering How They Came to Be |url=https://www.cosmopolitan.com/style-beauty/fashion/a32839249/polka-dot-history/ |access-date=2024-05-29 |website=Cosmopolitan |language=en-US}}</ref>
<blockquote>In the 19th century, European immigrants brought the Polka dance to the United States, where it exploded in popularity between 1840 and 1890. Polka clubs formed in towns across America, and their members—especially women—began wearing dotted garments as a form of identification. The color of the dots even indicated club affiliation. This was the beginning of the polka dot as a social signature, dancing its way from ballroom floors into everyday wardrobes.<ref name="runwaymagazines/polka-dot-fashion">{{cite web |last1=Duplaix |first1=Guillaumette |title=The Journey of the Polka Dot in Fashion |url=https://runwaymagazines.com/the-journey-of-the-polka-dot-in-fashion/ |website=Runway Magazine |date=23 March 2025}}</ref></blockquote>
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''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Maisey |first=Sarah |date=2022-04-01 |title=A history of polka dots: the pattern's enduring fashion appeal |url=https://www.thenationalnews.com/lifestyle/fashion/2022/04/01/a-history-of-polka-dots-the-patterns-enduring-fashion-appeal/ |access-date=2024-05-29 |website=The National |language=en}}</ref>
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.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The fascinating history of polka dots - Where do polka dots come from? |url=https://www.retrosetup.com/history-of-polka-dots/ |access-date=2024-05-29 |website=Retro Setup |language=en}}</ref>
== Usage ==
One of the earliest media that showcase the popularity of polka dots is the depiction of Minnie Mouse, the dots were left out in films because they were difficult to animate, but her spotted skirt was drawn in still images.<ref name="cosmopolitan/a32839249" /> The character started wearing an iconic red dress with white polka dots in the 1928 title card animations of the short film ''Plane Crazy''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kelleher |first=Katy |date=2018-04-03 |title=The History of the Polka Dot, from Minnie Mouse to Yayoi Kusama |url=https://www.artsy.net/article/artsy-editorial-history-polka-dot-minnie-mouse-yayoi-kusama |access-date=2024-05-29 |website=Artsy |language=en}}</ref>
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.<ref>{{cite web|title=Polka Dot Jersey|url=https://www.letour.fr/en/the-jerseys-tour-de-france/the-polka-dot-jersey|website=www.letour.fr|access-date=3 March 2021}}</ref>
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.<ref>{{cite web|title=Embroidered Polka Dots Lace Top|url=https://www.joycard.gr/product/embroidered-polka-dots-lace-top/|website=www.joycard.gr|access-date=15 November 2016|archive-date=16 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161116020049/https://www.joycard.gr/product/embroidered-polka-dots-lace-top/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
Much of the Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama's work features a polka dot motif.<ref>{{cite web|last=Lylynguyen|title="Queen of Polka dots" holds exhibit in Vietnam|url=http://vxartnews.com/2013/05/queen-of-polka-dots-holds-exhibit-in-vietnam/|publisher=VX Art News|access-date=13 May 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131023061336/http://vxartnews.com/2013/05/queen-of-polka-dots-holds-exhibit-in-vietnam/|archive-date=23 October 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Nachmann|first=Ron|title=Of obliteration and polka dots: films on the vividly obsessive art of Yayoi Kusama|date=3 January 2012 |url=http://dangerousminds.net/comments/obliteration_polka_dots_films_kusama|publisher=Dangerous Minds|access-date=13 May 2014}}</ref>
The cryptocurrency Polkadot embraces dot designs from logo to mascot TOD the dot.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Polkatod |url=https://polkatod.lol/ |access-date=2025-06-05 |website=polkatod.lol |language=en}}</ref>
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<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.jazzstandards.com/compositions-0/polkadotsandmoonbeams.htm|title=Jazz Standards Songs and Instrumentals (Polka Dots and Moonbeams)|website=www.jazzstandards.com|access-date=2018-01-23}}</ref> 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".<ref>{{Citation|last=Gregory May|title=The Polka-Dot Polka|date=2008-10-17|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G62rN_mFfFw |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/G62rN_mFfFw| archive-date=2021-12-12 |url-status=live|access-date=2018-10-24}}{{cbignore}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Citation|title=The Gang's All Here|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0035916/|access-date=2017-09-25}}</ref>
== Gallery == <gallery> File:Frédéric Bazille 001.jpg|Frédéric Bazille's 1867 painting ''Family Reunion'', containing two women in blue polka dot dresses File:Publicity handout of Norma Smallwood, of Tulsa, Oklahoma, winner of Miss America in 1926, posing in a Polka Dots bathing suit.png|Norma Smallwood (winner of 1926 Miss America) popularized polka dots design in this publicity handsout<ref>{{Cite web | title=9 Norma Smallwood Stock Photos, High-Res Pictures, and Images - Getty Images | url=https://www.gettyimages.com/photos/norma-smallwood | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250509192229/https://www.gettyimages.com/photos/norma-smallwood | access-date=2025-08-25 | archive-date=2025-05-09}}</ref> File:1 - Plane Crazy.jpg|Title card of Plane Crazy animation which introduces Minnie Mouse wearing polka dots dress. File:18374820 2 600x600.jpg|Smiling woman wearing white dress with black polka dots File:Rood met wit gestipte katoenen sandalettes met dikke plateauzool en hoge blokhak, objectnr 69409-1-2.JPG|Polka dots shoes File:Handgefertigte Keramik.JPG|Polish Bolesławiec ceramics File:Eierbecher Waechtersbach 1930s.jpg|German ceramics File:Plate, oval (AM 1990.17-1).jpg|A plate patterned with multicoloured polka dots File:A Ghanaian lady 5.jpg|Woman in red dress with white polka dots </gallery>
== See also == {{wiktionary}} {{Commons category|Polka dots}}
* Ben-Day dots * Hypoestes phyllostachya * Pardopsis punctatissima * ''Polka Dot Door'' * Polka-dot paint * Stripe pattern
== References ==
{{reflist}}
== Further reading ==
* Peacock, John (2007). ''Fashion Since 1900: The Complete Sourcebook''. Thames & Hudson. {{ISBN|0-500-51345-7}} * Stewart, Jude (2010). [http://www.slate.com/id/2266177/ "Seeing Spots: From lepers to paranoia, the twisted history of the polka dot"] ''Slate'' * Welters, Linda and Cunningham, Patricia A. (eds.) (2005). ''Twentieth-century American Fashion''. Berg. {{ISBN|1-84520-072-1}}
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Category:Dot patterns Category:Polka Category:Minnie Mouse