![dots and stripes, polka dots, velvet blazer, fashion over 40, polka dots, Fab 40's, Shelbee on the Edge](https://i0.wp.com/shelbeeontheedge.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/02112100040.jpg?w=1140&ssl=1)
The Fab 40’s in Polka Dots
![dots and stripes, polka dots, velvet blazer, fashion over 40, polka dots, Fab 40's, Shelbee on the Edge](https://i0.wp.com/shelbeeontheedge.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/02112100045-1200x1190.jpg?resize=960%2C952)
![dots and stripes, polka dots, velvet blazer, fashion over 40, polka dots, Fab 40's, Shelbee on the Edge](https://i0.wp.com/shelbeeontheedge.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/02112100029.jpg?w=960)
![dots and stripes, polka dots, velvet blazer, fashion over 40, polka dots, Fab 40's, Shelbee on the Edge](https://i0.wp.com/shelbeeontheedge.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/02112100038.jpg?w=960)
![dots and stripes, polka dots, velvet blazer, fashion over 40, polka dots, Fab 40's, Shelbee on the Edge](https://i0.wp.com/shelbeeontheedge.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/02112100025.jpg?w=960)
Sweet, darling, fanciful, fun polka dots. While there are not very many prints and patterns that I don’t love, polka dots have a special place in my heart because they bring a sense of cheerful nostalgia and childlike whimsy to my style game. And I will forever remain a child at heart. This crazy world may try to corrupt and pollute my innocent soul, but I will continue holding on with a very tight grip to my youthful frivolity. Nothing exudes the gaiety of youth quite like some bold polka dots and spirited pattern mixing.
When Daenel announced this month’s Fab 40’s theme was polka dots, I knew immediately I wanted to do some sort of pattern mixing with dots. We shared a similar dotty theme a while back where I created my outfit with four different wardrobe pieces in black and white polka dot prints including the scarf I am wearing in this post. I was all covered in dots and I loved it!
For this month’s polka dot prompt, I decided to combine these new striped shorts with all black and a polka dot scarf. The combination of stripes and polka dots is an easy one for print mixing beginners and I think the pairing creates a liveliness in one’s appearance that is much needed in these dark times. I definitely felt an increase in my level of cheerfulness and an extra bounce in my step that came from this combination of joyful prints and bold color palette. What we wear on our bodies absolutely effects our moods. For me, incorporating prints and colors that make my heart sing is a great mood booster for a dreary winter’s day in the midst of an extraordinarily long season of bitter cold and snow.
![dots and stripes, polka dots, velvet blazer, fashion over 40, polka dots, Fab 40's, Shelbee on the Edge](https://i0.wp.com/shelbeeontheedge.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/02112100010.jpg?w=960)
![dots and stripes, polka dots, velvet blazer, fashion over 40, polka dots, Fab 40's, Shelbee on the Edge](https://i0.wp.com/shelbeeontheedge.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/02112100003.jpg?w=960)
![dots and stripes, polka dots, velvet blazer, fashion over 40, polka dots, Fab 40's, Shelbee on the Edge](https://i0.wp.com/shelbeeontheedge.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/02112100007.jpg?w=960)
![dots and stripes, polka dots, velvet blazer, fashion over 40, polka dots, Fab 40's, Shelbee on the Edge](https://i0.wp.com/shelbeeontheedge.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/02112100014.jpg?w=960)
![dots and stripes, polka dots, velvet blazer, fashion over 40, polka dots, Fab 40's, Shelbee on the Edge](https://i0.wp.com/shelbeeontheedge.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/02112100001.jpg?w=960)
![dots and stripes, polka dots, velvet blazer, fashion over 40, polka dots, Fab 40's, Shelbee on the Edge](https://i0.wp.com/shelbeeontheedge.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/02112100018.jpg?w=960)
As much as I love this fun little outfit to boost my energy and my mood, I think if I had painted my face white I would very much resemble a mime! But that’s kind of fun, too. Who doesn’t love a good mime? Haha. I know, I know, lots of people find mimes kind of creepy. Not me. They make me laugh!
While mimes make me laugh, polka dots make me smile. So let’s talk a bit more about polka dots and some fascinating dotty facts.
*Note: I have not checked the accuracy of my sources, but since I am just talking about polka dots I don’t think I have to be all that concerned if I share some bits that may not be entirely accurate.
Did you know that in Medieval Europe, polka dot prints were viewed as very unpleasant representations of disease and impurity? During this time period, wearing polka dotted clothing was very taboo. There was no technology for creating symmetry in polka dot prints, so the prints of that time featured asymmetrical and unevenly spaced dots of different shapes and sizes. The randomness of the dots on apparel resembled the rashes that were caused by severe illnesses rampant during the later Middle Ages like smallpox, leprosy, and the Bubonic plague. This negative association with dotted prints carried through into the Renaissance period. Stripes were also viewed in a negative light as they were considered a pattern that only outcasts wore. So I guess if I had worn this outfit 500 years ago, I would be a very taboo outcast!
During that same time period, non-western cultures used dots as a sign of male virility but they also had magical connotations as well. Dotted prints played a hugely important role in many African art and costume traditions. There is much more variety in sizes and colors of polka dots in these traditions. For example, tiny densely packed dots convey the idea that an object or person donning the dots has magical powers. The denser the dotty pattern, the more magic that was held within that object or person.
![dots and stripes, polka dots, velvet blazer, fashion over 40, polka dots, Fab 40's, Shelbee on the Edge](https://i0.wp.com/shelbeeontheedge.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/02112100074.jpg?w=960)
![dots and stripes, polka dots, velvet blazer, fashion over 40, polka dots, Fab 40's, Shelbee on the Edge](https://i0.wp.com/shelbeeontheedge.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/02112100065.jpg?w=960)
![dots and stripes, polka dots, velvet blazer, fashion over 40, polka dots, Fab 40's, Shelbee on the Edge](https://i0.wp.com/shelbeeontheedge.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/02112100077-1087x1200.jpg?resize=960%2C1060)
![dots and stripes, polka dots, velvet blazer, fashion over 40, polka dots, Fab 40's, Shelbee on the Edge](https://i0.wp.com/shelbeeontheedge.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/02112100070.jpg?w=960)
But polka dots were not called polka dots until the mid-19th century when the Polka dance craze swept throughout Europe. Although the relationship between the dance and the dots in unclear, it is believed that the pattern evokes the same cheerful vibe of the dance and so the two things, dance and dots, became forever connected in the modern world.
Once polka dot mania took off in the mid-19th century, it has never really died in the world of fashion and has become a classic and timeless print with a very rich history. If you interested in reading more about polka dot history, here are the articles that I have read in writing this post.
- The Fascinating Origins of Polka Dots
- The Polka Dot Pattern in History of Fashion
- A History of Polka Dots, in Case You’ve Ever Wanted to Know More About Them
- Polka dot-Wikipedia
![dots and stripes, polka dots, velvet blazer, fashion over 40, polka dots, Fab 40's, Shelbee on the Edge](https://i0.wp.com/shelbeeontheedge.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/02112100090-1200x1114.jpg?resize=960%2C891)
![dots and stripes, polka dots, velvet blazer, fashion over 40, polka dots, Fab 40's, Shelbee on the Edge](https://i0.wp.com/shelbeeontheedge.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/02112100110-1162x1200.jpg?resize=960%2C991)
![dots and stripes, polka dots, velvet blazer, fashion over 40, polka dots, Fab 40's, Shelbee on the Edge](https://i0.wp.com/shelbeeontheedge.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/02112100099.jpg?w=960)
![dots and stripes, polka dots, velvet blazer, fashion over 40, polka dots, Fab 40's, Shelbee on the Edge](https://i0.wp.com/shelbeeontheedge.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/02112100101.jpg?w=960)
![dots and stripes, polka dots, velvet blazer, fashion over 40, polka dots, Fab 40's, Shelbee on the Edge](https://i0.wp.com/shelbeeontheedge.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/02112100107.jpg?w=960)
And now let’s have a look at my fabulous friends in their polka dots. Be sure to click on their photos or links to go read additional details about their dotty outfits.
The Fab 40’s is a group of four fashion bloggers from around the globe. Each month we choose a different theme with the goal of taking on style trends and showing how we each interpret and incorporate them into our own lives. With four 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.
Ada of Elegance and Mommyhood
As much as I do love the whimsy of a traditional round polka dot, how much sweeter it is when the dots are in the shape of hearts like Ada’s adorable little swing dress in black and white.
![Elegance and Mommyhood](https://i0.wp.com/shelbeeontheedge.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/IMG-44b155e9a4c2aceda7bf09a0d79f58e6-V_Original-1200x900.jpg?resize=960%2C720)
Daenel of Living Outside the Stacks
I am loving Daenel’s easy boho vibe in this beautiful top and comfortable denim. Can you spot her adorable polka dotted earrings and dotty coffee mugs?
![Living Outside the Stacks](https://i0.wp.com/shelbeeontheedge.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/DAT_6676.jpg?w=960)
Suzy of The Grey Brunette
Suzy did some amazing pattern mixing with her dotty look combining two dotted prints and some zebra. I really love her mustard colored trainers peeking out from her wide legged trousers, too. Such a cool street style vibe going on!
![The Grey Brunette](https://i0.wp.com/shelbeeontheedge.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Fab40s-Polka-Dots-Suzy-4-798x1200.jpg?resize=798%2C1200)
And me…
![dots and stripes, polka dots, velvet blazer, fashion over 40, polka dots, Fab 40's, Shelbee on the Edge](https://i0.wp.com/shelbeeontheedge.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/02112100040.jpg?w=960)
Before I sign off today, I want to take a moment to extend an invitation to any bloggers in their 40’s who are interested in joining this group either on a permanent basis or as a guest blogger appearing only occasionally with us. If you wish to become a permanent member of the Fab 40’s group, you do have to commit to posting once a month with us on the final Monday of each month. The only other stipulation is that you must be in your 40’s. If you are interested, please feel free to let us know either in the comments or through email! We would love to expand this group by adding a few more members for some additional style diversity.
Keeping it on the edge,
Shelbee
Linking up with these Fabulous Link Parties.
Shop my look…
Outfit Details: (All old things from my closet except the shorts which are new) / Blazer-Thrifted / Blouse-Burlington Coat Factory / Bralette and Shorts-Torrid / Tights-c/o Sheertex / Shoes and Gloves-Target / Beret-TJ Maxx / Coat, Earrings, Brooch, and Scarf-Old
![Style Imitating Art, Paul Revere by John Singleton Copley, black and white outfit, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge](https://i0.wp.com/shelbeeontheedge.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/02182100006.jpg?resize=75%2C75&ssl=1)
![NASA tee, red jeans, houndstooth coat, combat boots, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge](https://i0.wp.com/shelbeeontheedge.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/02132100030.jpg?resize=75%2C75&ssl=1)
38 Comments
Tamar A Strauss-Benjamin
Fun classy look! Those stripes make the outfit!
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Tamar!
xoxo
Shelbee
Jennifer
I love this outfit Shelbee!! Those shorts are my fav!!
Jennifer
Curated By Jennifer
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Jennifer! I loved the bright pink/red stripes on them and I was quickly sold!
xoxo
Shelbee
Suzy
Shelbee, I just adore everything about this outfit! And I don’t think you look like a mime lol!! The history lesson on polka dots and stripes was fascinating. Who knew that it would be so taboo, eh? Just a short comment today as I have a cat on my left arm lol and I’m trying to type with one hand!!
Huge hugs
Suzy xxx
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Suzy! I don’t know why the mime thing popped into my head, but it did! LOL Isn’t that so intersting how certain patterns were perceived and delegated to people based on their station in life? I have been really getting into learning about the culture during the middle ages. It fascinates me! Give kitty a pet for me!
xoxo
Shelbee
Nancy
I agree on your take of polka dots. And they mix with any print! I have been looking at shorts to wear on colder days for ages and thought, nah…. And now I am looking at you and thinking: that looks fantastic!
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Nancy! I do love wearing shorts with tights in winter. You can show off your fabulous legs and stay warm enough! You should try it!
xoxo
Shelbee
Nina
You look fabulous!
xx- Nina
http://www.stylingwithnina.com/2021/02/nyfw-outfit-2021.html
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Nina! Have a fabulous day!
xoxo
Shelbee
Ellie
I think dots and stripes compliment each other so well. While I haven’t mixed them on outfits, I do so occasionally on my handmade cards, and stripes and dots are my favorite patterns to mix!
Really loving that velvet blazer! And interesting history about dotted patterns.
Ellibelle’s Corner
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Ellie! I agree that dots and stripes always work so easily together. It is like they were created for one another! I really like the combination in home decor and crafts as well. This velvet blazer is a really old thrift shop find! I have had it for at least a decade. I hope you have a wonderful week ahead!
xoxo
Shelbee
Anita Ojeda
Another fun and informative post, Shelbee! I had no idea polka dots were taboo in the Middle Ages! History fascinates me. I confess I only have one polka-dotted object in my wardrobe–a dress that I don’t wear very often. I feel very bold and out of character when I wear it.
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Anita, thanks so much! I found that bit about the Middle Ages and dot prints really fascinating, too. I have been watching a lot of shows that take place during the Middle Ages and I am really getting into all the cultural and societal norms from 500 years ago. It is super interesting! I agree that some polka dot prints can be really bold and push you outside of your comfort zone! But sometimes I think it is good to step out of character as well. You never know what good things may come of it!
xoxo
Shelbee
mireille
Oh, I love how you paired the polkat dots with stripes! I am going to have to remember that! I did just buy a polka dot dress from Amazon that I want to wear this week. We have some warmer days coming up. I like the idea of a polka dot scarf..
http://www.chezmireillefashiontravelmom.com
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Mireille! I think dots and stripes are the easiest prints for pattern mixing. They just seem to always work well together even if you don’t stay in the same color scheme. I look forward to seeing your new Amazon dress!
xoxo
Shelbee
Sheila (of Ephemera)
I adore polka dots, although now that I think of it, most of my dots are in my spring/summer wardrobe! I have dresses, shirts/blouses, pants…bring on the dots!
I love your wonderful striped shorts, Shelbee – they remind me of the striped skirt that ripped on me a few weeks ago! The velvet blazer is awesome.
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thank you, Sheila! I am always drawn to polka dots and have quite a many things for all seasons in dotty prints! What a bummer about your skirt! Oh, this blazer was a thrifted find from at least 10 years ago, maybe longer. And I wear it every year. Definitely a closet workhorse!
xoxo
Shelbee
Jacqui Berry
Some great styles Shelbee, you look freezing cold, any sign of your snow going yet? Have a super week. Jacqui x
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thank you, Jacqui! I am always freezing cold and will be until June! The snow usually lasts until then. If we are lucky on a good year, it could stop snowing by the end of April. But this is my 8th winter in this place and it has snowed every year in mid-May or later. I am waiting patiently for some warmth and sunshine!
xoxo
Shelbee
Lizzie
So cute! I love how you layered this look!
Lizzie
http://www.lizzieinlace.com
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Lizzie!
xoxo
Shelbee
Lovely
This is such a fun look, Shelbee! Love the polka and stripes combo!
xoxo
Lovely
http://www.mynameislovely.com
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Lovely! I think stripes and dots always work well together!
xoxo
Shelbee
Michelle
I love the polka dots and stripes together! A really cute outfit (although you must have been freezing your ass off!). Interesting history of polka dots, and how their early renditions resembled diseases. And strangely, I read a nice overview in the Washington Post about previous plagues and pandemics. Smallpox, measles and of course the plague were early harassers of humans – all sporting rashes, welts, and buboes. Blech! But today, I find polka dots whimsical and fun!
Michelle
https://mybijoulifeonline.com
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thank you so much, Michelle! I am always freezing my ass off, by the way, no matter how much or how little I am wearing! Maybe that’s why I have such a flat butt! Haha. Isn’t that so fascinating about the earliest dotted patterns for clothing. I have been reading and watching a lot about the Middle Ages and of course the plague comes up time and again. It is all scary and really icky! I am glad hat polka dots are whimsical and fun today rather than reminders of deadly infectious diseases.
xoxo
Shelbee
Kathrine Eldridge
I love the mix of polka dots and stripes in this elegant look! The beret is such a nice touch.
https://www.kathrineeldridge.com
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Kathrine! You know me and my berets! I wear them all the time!
xoxo
Shelbee
Ada Furxhi
How playful, fun, edgy and whimsical is your outfit. Polka dots and stripes are forever harmonious together. Love the bold flower brooch too and your beret. You totally killed it in this look! And in all your blacks you definitely sparkle in the middle of that gorgeous white snow background!
P.S. As always I love your history you post about the background of the fashion styles and challenges we chose. I learnt some facts about polka dots, today. =)
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Ada! I agree with you that dots and stripes always work easily together in perfect harmony. They are two of the best prints for mixing patterns, for sure. I am fascinated by the history of so many things and really enjoy learning how certain trends began and where they originated. So it’s fun for me to go find that information and I figure why not share it! I hope you have a fabulous day, my friend!
xoxo
Shelbee
Patrick Weseman
Looking so very fabulous and nice. Love the look. Thanks for sharing.
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Patrick! Have a great day!
xoxo
Shelbee
Lisa | Handmade in Israel
Thanks for teaching me the history of polka dots! Anything with dots on is a good thing in my mind!
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Lisa! I do love polka dots, too. And the history of fashion trends and prints is so fascinating to me! Have a wonderful weekend.
xoxo
Shelbee
Gail
I love a polka dot or two and love your scarf! Interesting to read about the history of polka dots. That brooch is a great touch too.
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Gail! I really love polka dots, too!
xoxo
Shelbee
Sherry
Stripes an polkadots are my fave! Love this look and as usual all he fun backdrops are amazing. xo~Sherry
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Sherry! I love these two prints together as well!
xoxo
Shelbee