Polka dot Polka dot Polka dot is a pattern consisting of an array of large filled circles of the same size. Polka dots are most commonly seen on children's clothing, toys, and furniture, but they appear in a wide array of contexts. The pattern rarely appears in formal contexts, however, and is generally confined to more playful attire such as bathing suits and lingerie. Occasionally, white-on-black small dots appear on more formal clothing. It is likely that the term originated in popularity of polka dance at the time the pattern became fashionable, just as many other products and fashions of the era
Polonaise (clothing) one with the gathered-up skirt. "Peterson's Magazine" also described a 'Polonaise basque' as being gathered fully on the hips and forming a deep tunic in the back. "Godey's Magazine" for August 1871 identifies the term "polonaise" with two separate garments, a bodice and an overskirt: The second paragraph quoted describes a specific style of dressing "à la polonaise" which was popularly known as "Dolly Varden" after the heroine of Dickens' historical novel "" (set in 1780). By the end of the 1870s and into the 1880s, the term 'polonaise' also described an overdress which resembled a long coat worn over