Polka Dot Talk

The polka dot pattern has a history that dates back to the mid-1800s. It originated in Western Europe and quickly spread to America, becoming a decorative fashion trend in the late 19th century. However, the irregularly spaced dots in the pattern were initially associated with diseases like leprosy, syphilis, and smallpox.

According to BluFashion: The rise of the polka dot as patterned clothing initially spread with the lower classes, who were looking for more “interesting” colors and patterns but could not afford the silks of the upper classes. In 1865, we saw an early photograph of a woman holding a broom and wearing polka dots matched with stripes. It was in this period where the polka dot pattern really took flight, and its name originates from the Eastern European dance called the polka, though the reasons behind this association are varied and mostly discredited