Polka dot: Difference between revisions

Polka dots are commonly seen on [[children's clothing]], [[toy]]s, [[furniture]], [[ceramics]], and [[Central Europe|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]].

The invention of dotted patterns is believed to have startedhappened in the [[Middle Ages]], but duebecause toof 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 areis believed to have become widespread during the [[Industrial Revolution|industrial revolution]] (c. 1760) and the invention of the first [[sewing machine]] around(in the 1750s1790), wherewhen perfectly round and evenly spaced dots were able tocould be created duebecause toof mechanized weaving.<ref>{{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>

However, starting in middle of the 1800s19th century, itthe waspattern startingstarted to get spread out withamong the [[Social class|lower classes]] of society at that time, who were looking for more “interesting”interesting colors and patterns but could not afford the silks of the upper classes. It was also at this time, the name 'polka“polka dots" areis believed to be connected to aan [[Eastern EuropeanEurope]]an dance called the [[polka]], though the reasons behind this association are varied and mostly discredited. Before the name polka“polka dotsdots” arewas ingrained, the dotted fabric had gonewent by various monikers, including dotted-Swiss (which possibly alludes to the holes in [[Swiss cheese (North America)|Swiss cheese]]), the Spanish name [[wiktionary:lunares|''lunares'']], the French term ''[[wiktionary:quinconce|quinconce]]'', and thalertupfen inthe 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>

However, the polkaPolka dots really takegained offpopularity in the United States around the time of the [[Roaring Twenties|roaring 20's]], era due towhen [[Norma Smallwood]], winner of 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>

One of the earliest media that showcase the popularity of polka dots is the depiction of [[Minnie Mouse]]. The character started towearing wearan iconic red dress with white Polkapolka Dotsdots 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>

Since 1975, a red-on-white polka-dotted jersey has been awarded to the leader in the [[Mountains classification in the Tour de France|mountain stagesclassification]] of the annual [[Tour de France]] cycling tournamentrace.<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>