Julia Roberts as Vivian Ward in ‘Pretty Woman’
(Rex)But it was in the 1920s when the polka dot as we know it came into its own, making its way onto a swimsuit
worn by Miss America, Norma Smallwood, in 1926. And, of course, Disney’s leading lady: Minnie Mouse,
whose red polka dot dress and matching bow remain a staple in children’s fancy dress boxes.
Since then, the pattern has been in and out of fashion for decades, notes Emily Gordon-Smith, director of
consumer product at trends intelligence company Stylus. In the 1940s, it came in understated sombre
shades before becoming oversized and playful in the 1950s and being reimagined in garish multicolour
versions during the 1980s.
There have been several significant cultural milestones that have helped immortalise the print over the
years too, notes Padute. In 1940, for example, Frank Sinatra’s ballad “Polka Dots and Moonbeams”
propelled the pattern into a period of popularity.
The print soon reached the upper echelons of fashion in 1954, when Dior’s couture collection featured an
elegant, structured black dress with white dots. And who could forget Brian Hyland’s 1960 hit “Itsy Bitsy
Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini”? The joyous jingle convinced every woman around she should be
wearing polka dots.
Another notable polka dot popular culture entry came in 1990 via Julia Roberts’ character, Vivian Ward, in
the hit romantic comedy Pretty Woman. In the film’s race day scene, when Vivian attends the polo, the
former sex worker caps her style trajectory with a brown silk polka dot dress complete with a boater hat and
matching patterned ribbon.