Are Polka Dots Here to Stay?

A trend analysis and look into the most memorable speckled fashion moments:

Written By : Annalisa Frumento

The famous ‘polka dot’ pattern used in so many fashion pieces in the twenty-first century actually dates all the way back to medieval times. The ‘speckled look’ wasn’t very welcome, though, due to the plague, which gave its patients a similar appearance…

In the 1950s, the polka dot in fashion started to really take off, in a good way this time! In 1955, Marilyn Monroe, a pioneer of fashion both now and then, stunned in “The 7 Year Itch” when she made her entrance to meet Tom Ewell’s character in a white, timeless, halter dress adorned with blue polka dots. This dress, albeit not the most famous of the film, was a standout in the movie, and for Monroe’s personal plethora of majorly influential looks in film, which also translated outside of the screen. Since the start of the trend, the pattern has been famously adorned by fashion moguls in different decades, Princess Diana in the 80s, and notably in recent years, Bella Hadid and Kaia Gerber are heading the trend.

The pattern has since been associated with luxury and timeless, but does the overwhelming spike in polka dot textiles due to them being on-trend take away from the classicness of the look?

Let’s break that down. There have been many microtrends in recent years that have stemmed from time-period-specific notable wear. For example, the rise in Y2K fashion in 2020, and the 60s floral patterns making a giant comeback, most of the time on a pair of fun flares. Polka dots may ‘coming back’ be at a seemingly high rate, but this could be for many reasons. One being that they are simply popular, and for good reason. They are a staple, and just because the TikTok shop produces thousands, does not mean they are going to the microtrend graveyard, like Gucci slides and the shoelace belt. 

An example that proves my theory is bows. It is widely known just how big bows got to be. Whether in hair, on bags, or clothing, the cute look was synonymous with the rise of pop star Gracie Abrams, who frequently utilizes a hair bow, and TikTok, which is usually the biggest trend powerhouse. The bow trend was easily blown out of proportion though. Yet manufacturers managed to find a solid middle ground, and we are now seeing tasteful moments in fashion that incorporate bows. I have a feeling that polka dot clothing will follow suit here. They are a timeless classic, and even when the hype dies down, they will still be tastefully utilized in the fashion cycle.

Whether they are on a Sandy Liang blouse or a cute tank from Brandy Melville, there will always be room in fashion and trends for polka dots. Kaia Gerber was just seen at the Venice Film Festival wearing a white polka dot top with New Beau Lewis Pullman! It is safe to say we love polka dots; they are most definitely here to stay.