Sunday, April 26, 2009

Polka Dots and Pearls


I'm getting ready for church. Oh what to wear on this bright, sunny, and threatening-to-hit 90 degrees third Sunday of Easter? I peer into my closet and briefly consider a flowered pencil skirt. It gets rejected immediately when I see dots flashing before my eyes.

Those dots would be polka dots. It's a no contest, no brainer. I'm going to wear black capri pants with white polka dots, black patent leather flats, and pearls.

You know how I feel about flip flops? I feel all that and more about polka dots. Polka dots look like laughter tossed against fabric; always playful even when symmetrical. They remind me of pop beads; button candy on paper.

Both button candy and pop beads were popular during the 1950s before everything became a life-threatening allergen and kids weren't allowed to choke a bit to learn a lesson. (And, didn't we Boomers turn out okay? Never mind.)

Polka dots have danced in and out of style since around 1840, although most people remember polka dots from the 1950s and again during the 1980s. In 1988, my Don't Mess dress was red with white polka dots. My kinder, gentler version was in Navy blue.

I buy clothing with polka dots whenever that fabric is in vogue and will wear polka dots even if fashion dictates otherwise. And, so what? Love polka dots. For church, I accessorize with pearl jewelry. Not only do pearls look great with polka dots, but they're appropriately reverential if you think them through to Matthew 13:45-46. Amen.