black and white polka dots, maxi dress, hot pink, winter outfit, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge

The Fab 40’s are All Dotty About Polka Dots

December 30, 2019 / 34 Comments
black and white polka dots, maxi dress, hot pink, winter outfit, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge
black and white polka dots, maxi dress, hot pink, winter outfit, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge
black and white polka dots, maxi dress, hot pink, winter outfit, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge

Oh, sweet polka dots. Who doesn’t love them? According to Marc Jacobs, “There is never a wrong time for a polka dot.” And there is really no better time to combine all the polka dots for this month’s Fab 40’s theme as we bid farewell to our dear friend Jennie of A Pocketful of Polka Dots. Jennie will soon be celebrating a very big birthday which will take her from the Fabulous 40’s straight into the Phenomenal 50’s and as a result, this is her last month participating with us.

So to honor our amazingly stylish, wonderfully kind, super creative, and overall beautiful friend, we have asked Jennie to pick the themes for the last two months. While last month’s theme was pattern mixing, I chose to throw some polka dots into the mix for that one because I know they are Jennie’s favorite. I was not at all surprised that Jennie picked polka dots as the final theme for the year and her final Fab 40’s post. So I didn’t hold back and I went all dotty, all over, head to toe, in a combination of black and white dots.

black and white polka dots, maxi dress, hot pink, winter outfit, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge
black and white polka dots, maxi dress, hot pink, winter outfit, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge
black and white polka dots, maxi dress, hot pink, winter outfit, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge
black and white polka dots, maxi dress, hot pink, winter outfit, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge

A Brief History of Polka Dots

The polka dot is a classic pattern in the history of fashion making its first appearance in a lifestyle magazine in 1857. Since that time, the polka dot has emerged as a staple in textile prints for both women’s and men’s fashions. Polka dots experienced a resurgence in 1926, when Miss America Norma Smallwood was pictured donning a polka dot swim suit. Two years later, Disney would introduce Minnie Mouse looking effortlessly whimsical in a red polka dot dress with matching bow.

Throughout the 1930’s polka dots were seen everywhere (sort of like leopard print today) from swim suits and dresses to ribbons and bows and other accessories to home decor items especially kitchenware. Polka dot dresses hit an all time high in popularity in the 1950’s when Christian Dior featured a structured black dress covered in white dots as part of his 1954 couture collection.

Twiggy helped transition the polka dot to a mod style in the 1960’s and then the pattern became a popular print in the psychedelic and bohemian fashions of the 1970’s. The 1980’s saw the polka dot as a standard print for business attire showing up on blouses and suits and even men’s neckties. When the rockabilly trend took off in the 1990’s, the polka dot was right there at the forefront. (You can read more about polka dots in The Polka Dot Pattern in the History of Fashion.)

black and white polka dots, maxi dress, hot pink, winter outfit, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge
black and white polka dots, maxi dress, hot pink, winter outfit, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge
black and white polka dots, maxi dress, hot pink, winter outfit, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge
black and white polka dots, maxi dress, hot pink, winter outfit, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge

Polka dots have always had a place in my wardrobe, probably without much thought about it at all. Over the years, I have worn polka dots on my dresses, pants, blouses and sweaters. I have socks and tights and underwear that are decorated in dots. I have coats and scarves and swim suits and skirts. From tiny micro dots to large bold spectacles of these round decorations, any polka dot will do. Just like Jennie, I don’t think there is a polka dot that I don’t love.

For some reason, which I cannot pinpoint, there is something super special about black and white polka dots. Perhaps it is the stark contrast between the two extremes. A fully saturated black placed against the absence of all color in white has the power to create a yin and yang effect in such a way as to make you smile inadvertently and unconsciously.

black and white polka dots, maxi dress, hot pink, winter outfit, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge
black and white polka dots, maxi dress, hot pink, winter outfit, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge
black and white polka dots, maxi dress, hot pink, winter outfit, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge
black and white polka dots, maxi dress, hot pink, winter outfit, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge
black and white polka dots, maxi dress, hot pink, winter outfit, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge

They can be whimsical and bold, dainty and pure. They can be organized with the perfect spacing like a scientific experiment proving the universe is sound. Or they can be thrown about in a haphazard way in a consummate collision of variegated spots. No matter which way they appear, polka dots are here to stay.

black and white polka dots, maxi dress, hot pink, winter outfit, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge
black and white polka dots, maxi dress, hot pink, winter outfit, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge
black and white polka dots, maxi dress, hot pink, winter outfit, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge

Won’t you go check out the other ladies of the Fab 40’s and see how they have styled this timeless print.

The Fab 40’s is a group of six fashion bloggers from around the globe. Each month we choose a different theme and invite a guest blogger who is also in their 40’s to join us. This group’s goal is to take on style trends and show how we each interpret and incorporate them into our own lives. With six widely varied views, you are certain to find something that speaks to you each month and encourages you to continue to have fun with fashion after the age of 40.

First is Jennie of A Pocketful of Polka Dots wearing a brilliant combination of tiny dots in black and white proving how sophisticated dots can be in business wear and sharing her undying love for all things dotty. Even though Jennie will be leaving the Fab 40’s, she will continue sharing her amazing style with us on her blog for a long time to come. Jennie, it has been so wonderful getting to know you and nurturing a wonderful blogging friendship. We will miss you, for sure, here at the Fab 40’s, but we will not become strangers. My heart seems to be in North Carolina anyway so I am sure I will be making frequent visits and lunch dates will definitely be in order!

Jennie of A Pocketful of Polka Dots

Outfit Details: Tuxedo Jacket-NY&Co. /  Top-Loft / Pants-Old Navy / Tights-c/o Berkshire / Shoes-Alfani / Earrings-Gift / Necklace-Charming Charlie

Jennie invited Anna of The Glam Adventure to be our guest blogger this month. Anna has very creatively combined a vintage inspired taupe polka dress with a modern and edgy black motorcycle jacket, thigh high stockings, and black boots. A combination that I would definitely wear any day. Anna, we are so happy to have you join us this month!

Anna of The Glam Adventure

Outfit Details: Dress-Dorothy Perkins / Faux leather jacket-Next / Black suede shoes-Debenhams (old) / Earrings-a gift from my friend

And now Daenel of Living Outside the Stacks in the cutest yellow polka dot dress evoking a solid earworm in my head about itsy bitsy teeny weeny yellow polka dot bikinis. This outfit combination of mustard and gray with denim and clogs is so very quaint, wonderfully unpredictable, and perfectly suited for inside and outside the stacks.

Daenel of Living Outside the Stacks

Next is Dee of Dee Sayz completely rocking the pajama trend in head to toe polka dots. Dee is so Hollywood glam in this stunning dotted robe and matching trousers. This dramatic combination in black and white may be an outfit combination that I will forever aspire to create myself. Well done, my friend, especially for a woman who doesn’t wear prints.

Dee of Dee Sayz

Outfit Details: Pajama & Robe-M&S / Black Turtleneck-Zara / Scarf-Local Store in Thimpu, Bhutan / Neckpiece-Accessorize /  Bag-Local Market, Delhi / Ankle Boots-Aldo

Sheela of Sheela Writes is up next with her bold and fiery combination of black and white polka dots and blush pinks with a coating of fur. Always pay attention to the tiny little details in Sheela’s outfits…from the killer heels to the delicate piping on her cardigan, she is a vision of vogue and a trend setter extraordinaire.

Sheela of Sheela Writes

Outfit Details: Lilac Inner Polka Dot Blouse-Agaci / Mauve Varsity Cardigan-Armani Red / Reversible B&W Polka Dot Cardigan-TJ Maxx / Blush Coat-Forever 21 / Harem Capri Pants-Herban Devi on Etsy / Booties-GX by Gwen Stefani 

Suzy of Suzy Turner Books & Style is a woman after my polka dot and mixed pattern loving heart in this beautiful combination of stripes and dots in black and white and red. I am getting all sorts of vintage vibes and visions of an era much more innocent than the world in which I live. And I absolutely adore it!

Suzy of Suzy Turner Books & Style

Outfit Details: Skirt-H&M / Sweater-Roman / Black pumps-Calla Shoes Polka dot handbag, necklace & ring-Gifts from mother-in-law

And now my polka dotty outfit in black and white with splashes of hot pink.

black and white polka dots, maxi dress, hot pink, winter outfit, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge
Shelbee of Shelbee on the Edge

Outfit Details: Coat, Scarf, Hat, and Earrings-Target (All Old) / Dress-New Chic (Old) / Top- Old Navy (Old) / Gloves-Anne Klein (Old) / Combat Boots-Gift from Husband

“A polka-dot has the form of the sun, which is a symbol of the energy of the whole world and our living life, and also the form of the moon, which is calm. Round, soft, colourful, senseless and unknowing. Polka-dots can’t stay alone; like the communicative life of people, two or three polka-dots become movement…Polka-dots are a way to infinity.”

Yayoi Kusama

What are your thoughts about polka dots? Do you love them or hate them (as if that’s an actual thing)?

Keeping it on the edge,

Shelbee

Linking up with these Fabulous Link Parties.

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I am a midlife woman, wife, and stay-at-home mother of 2 boys and 2 cats. I have a passion for helping other women feel fabulous in the midst of this crazy, beautiful life.

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