Although predominately featured on television during the 1950's, one of polka dot dresses' first cinematic debuts was in 1928 when Disney Cartoons illustrators fashioned Minnie Mouse in a black and white dotted skirt for her role in “Steamboat Willie.”
Even "The It Girl" of the 1920's was often seen wearing a polka dot dress, scarf, or swimsuit.
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| Clara Bow "The It Girl" in 1920's Polka Dots |
Polka Dots on Fifties TV
Although these spotted dresses were photographed primarily in black and white, they rapidly gained fifties' fashion popularity and gained particular favor with television costume designers. Lucy's and Ethel's wardrobes included many of these cheerfully printed fashions in shirtwaist styles.
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I Love Lucy
Leonard McCoomb 1959
Google Life |
Prior to technological advances in printing methods, many early fabrics were splattered with blotches or irregularly shaped spots. A series of minute raised dots on a transparent organza or tulle fabric is referred to as Dotted-Swiss. Neither are considered true polka dots.
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| 1951 Ad for Fashion Frocks, Inc. Polka Dots |
Origins
Common theory is that the dot's name derived from the Central European "polka" music and dance craze which swept the world in the mid-1800s. The term polka became a marketing sensation with most of the polka labeled furor fading before the end of the 19th century.
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| Travel Poster 1919 Featuring Flamenco Dancer in Polka Dots |
However, the fabric titled so by Godey's Lady Book continues to be called polka dots.It may only be coincidental that some polka dancers wear dotted costumes.
However, the traditional flamenco dancers' costume does include polka dots and ruffles.
Polka Dots in Couture
While the proliferation of modern day polka dots is most frequently attributed to Christian Dior and his 1947
Dior New Look line, they were spotlighted in photographs, catalogs, and magazine advertisements as early as the mid 1800s.
Among Dior's designs introduced in his 1948 Envol line is this petrol blue polka dot two-piece dress recently acquired by the Fashion History Museum of Cambridge, Ontario. You may read about the accession of this museum worthy garment from
Past Perfect Vintage here.
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Anne Gunning in Balmain organza polka dot gown
Philippe Pottier Photograph 1952
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Heeding the fifties consumer's polka dot love cry, designers
Balmain,
Lanvin,
Fath, and
Balenciaga began to offer polka dots in evening wear and couture suits.
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Norman Norell Courtesy Whitaker Auctions
via SmugMug |
The very meticulous American Fashion Design
Norman Norell insisted his designs have woven rather than merely printed polka dots fabric. He also politely instructed his seamstresses to change the color of thread to match the polka dots when hemming the garment.
As the polka dot fever continued to spread, the fun and happy spots surfaced not only on 1950's dresses but on sportswear, accessories, and children's clothing.
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1959 Houndstooth Dress by Jonathan Logan
Polka Dot Dress by Modern Juniors
Print Dress by Jonathan Logan |
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| Mother/Daughter Polka Dot Rain Coats 1951 |
Continued Popularity
The mania has extended into the 21st century with vintage and retro polka dot dresses, swimsuits, and footwear popular sellers in thrift, second hand, and online vintage shops everywhere.
Polka dots continue to hold a place in fashion history that is unrivaled by any other design or fad.
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