Polka Dots!

When I think of Polka dots, the earliest memory I have is of Minnie Mouse in the 1920’s. But when we trace back to the origin of this pattern, it was first used in the clothing of flamenco dancers and performers in Britain in the early nineteenth century.

Be it the 1920’s with Coco Chanel endorsing the pattern, the late 1940’s where Dior’s revolutionary ‘New Look’ included spotted hourglass dresses in its romantic extravagance, the 1950’s with Marilyn Monroe and Elizabeth Taylor making it the ‘It’ thing, or the dotted accessories of the 1980’s, Polka dots inevitably return to the fashion scene. And it looks like they’re here to stay. More recently, Carolina Herrera is a name our generation associates with Polka dots, with the beautiful bridal gowns and the perfume boxes. Yves Saint Laurent has also used this pattern in their designs time and again over the years.

An ad featuring a Dior New Look dress, 1953

Cute, Colourful, Fun, Uncomplicated, Joyful – Polka dots describe the little child we all have hidden inside our complicated adult personalities. No matter how old you get, put on a polka dotted dress, and the girlishness and youthfulness will jump out of you. 

Adorn that charming spotted vintage scarf and head out for a day of shopping with the girls, or a bright Sunday picnic with your man; just to make sure you keep the fun alive. Team up your dull kitchen time with you in a stylish polka dot blouse, and cooking will definitely be more appealing!For the men, wear a classic dotted tie or bowtie, and carry it with that old fashioned grace of Winston Churchill.

Marilyn Monroe in a polka dot bikini, 1952

Personally, my idea of wearing Polka dots would be to keep it minimal. If it’s just the hairband, or the ballerinas, it will stand out and talk for itself and your idea of revisiting old trends in your everyday wardrobe. Wear too much of it, and you will look like you have come straight from a retro movie set. 

But one thing is for sure, that the pretty polka dot frock never goes out of style. And this was confirmed when the First Lady of the United States, Michelle Obama, herself sported a black and white polka dot frock with a red empire waist belt and yellow kitten heels, for an interview on ‘The Today Show’ in 2011!

Model: Dhvani Bakshi,

Photo by: Pranay Jaitly

The Look -
Polka dots scarf: Vintage store, London
Shirt & Inner slip: Mango
Jeans: Levis
Boots: H & M
Earrings & Bracelet: Lifestyle
Ring: Designed by Pranay Jaitly
 

Model: Harshita Shetty

Photo by: Nitin Raj

The Look -

Sweater Top: Papiniano Flea Market, Milan

Polka dotted Skirt: Zara

Bracelet: Street shop, Milan

Skull Ring: Handmade in Sienna 

Self – modeled

Photo by: Aneesha Khatar

The Look -

Hairband: Papiniano Flea Market, Milan

Top: Marks & Spencer

So make sure you have your dotted selection in your wardrobe, and don’t be afraid to make it a part of your personal statement. After all, as Brian Hyland said (in a very different context though),

“She was afraid that somebody would see
One, two, three, four, tell the people what she wore

It was an itsy, bitsy, teenie, weenie, yellow polka-dot bikini
That she wore for the first time today”.