![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/PEDMU5XRDBHEBID544PYCEPZ2M.jpg?smart=true&auth=532194147792f56bde1dbd5275c5b49b2c9565e86811cf3126ec44ffd58046e0&width=400&height=225)
Monica Bellucci on the runway for Dolce & Gabbana, spring/summer 2019. Photo: Dolce & Gabbana
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/XILHDY4ADNGAFGTMW2H63M2YRA.jpg?smart=true&auth=cee28db50a09196be69d4409a440baa81a9a0652a715ca81c7845f5fe69b9067&width=400&height=225)
Pierre Balmain haute couture 1987. Photo: Balmain
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An illustration of a lady circa 1890. Photo: Instagram
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/CL6EGR73EZBO5FTIPHTNQDTLDU.jpg?smart=true&auth=d3d9fea4f02daa400bf1c4839f86cf0317ca646e9e0d7cbfde1cef2b81d53c76&width=400&height=225)
Moschino spring/summer 2019. Photo: Moschino
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/GA7VKWPXBRBHLARLGZTPJXUM6A.jpg?smart=true&auth=35758f98270a952a9a1af69d5f2c5726bc1f0f10f35c55058608787cbdd51edb&width=400&height=225)
Versace spring/summer 1993. Photo: Versace
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/SXMXNEU6LBB45PIHALVK7KNBBY.jpg?smart=true&auth=abf890a17e959f5ba9bf6d97c47db6295914ae28b9d762b6f88115904c79a5f6&width=400&height=225)
Vivienne Westwood autumn/winter 2016. Photo: Westwood
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/XMTT7SASH5BXBL3AZ7KGUBLAWM.jpg?smart=true&auth=86434af48ce9bb17e8d056469c021be97a2ab39b726fa9e46b0eb5bc2e99fb24&width=400&height=225)
Gucci spring/summer 2020. Photo: Gucci
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/LX6KQGFK3FGNNG26JFS5ZVCL6M.jpg?smart=true&auth=2d4f072359b0c2f2f27165f56937543d234cc27319cba0561810b6d6c07f7783&width=400&height=225)
Marni resort 2016. Photo: Marni
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3UU2VPFOJJFRRJ4KAJE66LLDUY.jpg?smart=true&auth=4ccba1f5b5df10831d6386bdf8b731fb1c88550d984aecb738c224c033a89c4b&width=400&height=225)
Brigette Bardot in the 1960s. Photo: Brigette Bardot
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/BLH3D3YK5NEJXAXFIX7ZZLVW5Y.jpg?smart=true&auth=e88dac376184369a40c40470c567a3fc77b00b7bca5939e98cb02024a7c7c17e&width=400&height=225)
Christian Dior Couture autumn/winter 2013.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/NVKHOFEPCZBQBNVVILBRJQBTWU.jpg?smart=true&auth=1b60a5e7bb57204167ae906b811a3853ce28d462e8d6c46214b6f69f933c138e&width=400&height=225)
Minnie Mouse first wore polka dots in 1935. Photo: Disney
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/S6WKSHOBLFEC5BBMMAU426WVP4.jpg?smart=true&auth=72c1d6c40cf89f80fb8b97fc7e9c373bd5bdfe87a8feab560cf64add9630c97c&width=400&height=225)
Balenciaga spring/summer 2020. Photo: Balenciaga
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/LT6PLZ7K5BE6BGTIMV4BORSCNM.jpg?smart=true&auth=1e52d0539db69c99507aa2e2cab2183036135fe6a0dc6b5e270d457f686f999d&width=400&height=225)
Marilyn Monroe in the 1950s. Photo: Instagram
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/32WSIYHHSRDYLEDY6RJ7Q4KKLQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=afcc4e2ed229aa635a6b4742a97983c4e57e05899f4a2e3e8bd5a77b081cc30e&width=400&height=225)
Actress Julia Roberts in the 1990 film 'Pretty Woman'. Photo: Touchstone Pictures
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/CMNESUTYWRCOXADOZ4PBY7ONAE.jpg?smart=true&auth=489e9a7da0d15f19817f990b2780c5d692895b70e6b66117bad29caf10024cc3&width=400&height=225)
Andreas Kronthaler for Vivienne Westwood, autumn/winter 2017. Photo: Vivienne Westwood
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/WMHRVRDFFNA6HP6HBFAY2NWX6Q.jpg?smart=true&auth=f54ee10ff878b80e4e2c74d01096c7a2d15231d792faf6a7f692fb01a999a370&width=400&height=225)
Christian Dior by Gianfranco Ferre haute couture, 1990. Photo: Dior
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Sarah Jessica Parker in 2013. Photo: Unsplash
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/4P2TSWFH6NGSFN7Z55REC5PBNU.jpg?smart=true&auth=8a199996e97a65cc05c87abada0fb351494273eb3089d551339db2f9a013836a&width=400&height=225)
Altuzarra spring/summer 2020. Photo: Altuzarra
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/PN7OFJJ7DNEG7G3WMPG6WH56T4.jpg?smart=true&auth=952400706b3ba75ed9aa3e245ad3f7c1319d0127bf5facb73e86be4b0119adab&width=400&height=225)
Balmain spring/summer 2020. Photo: Balmain
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/WA7UOQ6BHNHZXPS4O4XTQV5RCA.jpg?smart=true&auth=f1b66cc617faa3aab75d8ea0c2b1b3d3f3eb87c673c157f8848ebacfc04a9126&width=400&height=225)
Celine spring/summer 2019. Photo: Celine
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/PEDMU5XRDBHEBID544PYCEPZ2M.jpg?smart=true&auth=532194147792f56bde1dbd5275c5b49b2c9565e86811cf3126ec44ffd58046e0&width=400&height=225)
Monica Bellucci on the runway for Dolce & Gabbana, spring/summer 2019. Photo: Dolce & Gabbana
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/XILHDY4ADNGAFGTMW2H63M2YRA.jpg?smart=true&auth=cee28db50a09196be69d4409a440baa81a9a0652a715ca81c7845f5fe69b9067&width=400&height=225)
Pierre Balmain haute couture 1987. Photo: Balmain
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/PNYYGXUGYBG7XJKBY4MVDSO5R4.jpg?smart=true&auth=3720a42feaf69d05399d19ebca159f75baa8076cc631cd2431df048a8d7bc366&width=400&height=225)
An illustration of a lady circa 1890. Photo: Instagram
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/CL6EGR73EZBO5FTIPHTNQDTLDU.jpg?smart=true&auth=d3d9fea4f02daa400bf1c4839f86cf0317ca646e9e0d7cbfde1cef2b81d53c76&width=400&height=225)
Moschino spring/summer 2019. Photo: Moschino
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/GA7VKWPXBRBHLARLGZTPJXUM6A.jpg?smart=true&auth=35758f98270a952a9a1af69d5f2c5726bc1f0f10f35c55058608787cbdd51edb&width=400&height=225)
Versace spring/summer 1993. Photo: Versace
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/SXMXNEU6LBB45PIHALVK7KNBBY.jpg?smart=true&auth=abf890a17e959f5ba9bf6d97c47db6295914ae28b9d762b6f88115904c79a5f6&width=400&height=225)
Vivienne Westwood autumn/winter 2016. Photo: Westwood
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/XMTT7SASH5BXBL3AZ7KGUBLAWM.jpg?smart=true&auth=86434af48ce9bb17e8d056469c021be97a2ab39b726fa9e46b0eb5bc2e99fb24&width=400&height=225)
Gucci spring/summer 2020. Photo: Gucci
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/LX6KQGFK3FGNNG26JFS5ZVCL6M.jpg?smart=true&auth=2d4f072359b0c2f2f27165f56937543d234cc27319cba0561810b6d6c07f7783&width=400&height=225)
Marni resort 2016. Photo: Marni
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3UU2VPFOJJFRRJ4KAJE66LLDUY.jpg?smart=true&auth=4ccba1f5b5df10831d6386bdf8b731fb1c88550d984aecb738c224c033a89c4b&width=400&height=225)
Brigette Bardot in the 1960s. Photo: Brigette Bardot
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/BLH3D3YK5NEJXAXFIX7ZZLVW5Y.jpg?smart=true&auth=e88dac376184369a40c40470c567a3fc77b00b7bca5939e98cb02024a7c7c17e&width=400&height=225)
Christian Dior Couture autumn/winter 2013.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/NVKHOFEPCZBQBNVVILBRJQBTWU.jpg?smart=true&auth=1b60a5e7bb57204167ae906b811a3853ce28d462e8d6c46214b6f69f933c138e&width=400&height=225)
Minnie Mouse first wore polka dots in 1935. Photo: Disney
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/S6WKSHOBLFEC5BBMMAU426WVP4.jpg?smart=true&auth=72c1d6c40cf89f80fb8b97fc7e9c373bd5bdfe87a8feab560cf64add9630c97c&width=400&height=225)
Balenciaga spring/summer 2020. Photo: Balenciaga
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/LT6PLZ7K5BE6BGTIMV4BORSCNM.jpg?smart=true&auth=1e52d0539db69c99507aa2e2cab2183036135fe6a0dc6b5e270d457f686f999d&width=400&height=225)
Marilyn Monroe in the 1950s. Photo: Instagram
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/32WSIYHHSRDYLEDY6RJ7Q4KKLQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=afcc4e2ed229aa635a6b4742a97983c4e57e05899f4a2e3e8bd5a77b081cc30e&width=400&height=225)
Actress Julia Roberts in the 1990 film 'Pretty Woman'. Photo: Touchstone Pictures
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/CMNESUTYWRCOXADOZ4PBY7ONAE.jpg?smart=true&auth=489e9a7da0d15f19817f990b2780c5d692895b70e6b66117bad29caf10024cc3&width=400&height=225)
Andreas Kronthaler for Vivienne Westwood, autumn/winter 2017. Photo: Vivienne Westwood
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/WMHRVRDFFNA6HP6HBFAY2NWX6Q.jpg?smart=true&auth=f54ee10ff878b80e4e2c74d01096c7a2d15231d792faf6a7f692fb01a999a370&width=400&height=225)
Christian Dior by Gianfranco Ferre haute couture, 1990. Photo: Dior
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Sarah Jessica Parker in 2013. Photo: Unsplash
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/4P2TSWFH6NGSFN7Z55REC5PBNU.jpg?smart=true&auth=8a199996e97a65cc05c87abada0fb351494273eb3089d551339db2f9a013836a&width=400&height=225)
Altuzarra spring/summer 2020. Photo: Altuzarra
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/PN7OFJJ7DNEG7G3WMPG6WH56T4.jpg?smart=true&auth=952400706b3ba75ed9aa3e245ad3f7c1319d0127bf5facb73e86be4b0119adab&width=400&height=225)
Balmain spring/summer 2020. Photo: Balmain
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Celine spring/summer 2019. Photo: Celine
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/PEDMU5XRDBHEBID544PYCEPZ2M.jpg?smart=true&auth=532194147792f56bde1dbd5275c5b49b2c9565e86811cf3126ec44ffd58046e0&width=400&height=225)
Monica Bellucci on the runway for Dolce & Gabbana, spring/summer 2019. Photo: Dolce & Gabbana
A history of polka dots: the pattern's enduring fashion appeal
A potted history of the spotty fabric with a dotted appeal
Sarah Maisey
01 April, 2022
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