Mallory Ensing
To polka dot or polka not? Polka dots have remained a stylish and relevant print for centuries, but many social media users have recently labeled the classic print as another micro-trend.
Polka dots were a staple of my early 2000s closet, covering anything from ruffled skirts to simple T-shirts. Eventually, the print lost its charm to the greater population, slowly drifting out of the trend cycle. I hadn’t been drawn to the print again until this winter, after seeing countless TikToks of my favorite influencers wearing polka dot pieces from trending brands like Susmies. The print I had yet to wear since I was six became a resurged obsession.
Soon, my entire ‘For You Page’ was filled with videos of polka dot outfits, from full ensembles to small polka dot accessories. This exposure led me to buy some new polka dot pieces, and I was certainly not alone in that pursuit. I am an employee at the retail store Anthropologie, where all of our polka dot pieces began selling at a rapid rate with this resurrection of the print.
As polka dot popularity has surged, so have doubts of the print’s relevance. Some TikTok users have taken to the app to criticize the group flocking towards wearing the print. Many are concerned with overconsumption and attachment to trends that leave the fashion cycle quickly. While these sustainability concerns are valid, to consider polka dots another micro-trend undermines the waves of relevance the print has had across centuries.
According to Cosmopolitan, polka dots were first invented during the industrial revolution, as sewing machines could create evenly spaced dots. The pattern became popular in the 1800s and this popularity only increased in the years beyond. From Minnie Mouse, to Lucille ball to Marilyn Monroe, countless iconic media figures have worn polka dot looks that are still relevant today.
Despite the ups and downs of polka dots’ popularity, to denote the print as a micro-trend is false. A print with such history and simplicity is timeless, even if it is in a currently trendy period. While the sales of polka dots are currently high, those purchases will continue to fall in and out of the trend cycle in the future. So to answer the question: to polka dot or polka not? Absolutely polka dot and do not ever get rid of your pieces in this enduring pattern.