At the beginning of the year, as I was planning out a few months worth of blog posts, I’d had a notion to base this year’s Color My World posts on the pairing of Greenery (Pantone’s 2017 color of the year) with other colors. Last month, I featured White White with it being the dead of winter and there being a ton of snow in many parts and this month I chose pink as a nod to Valentine’s Day even though it was earlier in the week. I don’t really have a lot of green in my wardrobe but there are a few pops of it here and there so it appears mostly as an accent and not as the main attraction.


Polka Dot Peplum Top – Kohl’s, bought last year (cute option, another choice)
Cardigan – Kohl’s, bought two years ago (very similar, another option)
Skirt – thrifted (similar look, another option)
Shoes – Jessica Simpson, thrifted
Purse – INC, old (option 1, option 2)

An alternative title for this post could have been “Lots And Lots Of Polka Dots” since both the top and the shoes are sporting polka dot patterns. While you too may be fond of this pattern that consists of dots of uniform size and arrangement, do you know the unusual origin of the term “polka dot”? I found this explanation in a post on Wordorigins.org: “In the 1840s, the polka was sweeping Britain and America. It was the latest dance craze, like the Charleston of the 1920s. In an effort to cash in on the fad, manufacturers began naming all sorts of thing polka. Polka gauze, polka hats, polka curtain bands and many other products with the polka name hit the market in the 1840s. Although, the actual term polka dot is not attested to until 1857. Of these, only the polka dot survives today.” So, who feels like dancing?

Perhaps it is the rhythm and symmetry of the pattern that elicits a happy and positive response from those viewing it. My peplum top with it’s mix of green, pink, and white polka dots certainly caught my eye when I spied it at Kohl’s several months ago.  The green in it isn’t quite the shade of Pantone’s greenery, but it’s my blog and I call it close enough.  Fine, whatever.

And if we were to get really picky on details, black is really the dominate color in this outfit but, as I said earlier, bright and bold colors can be just as interesting as pops and accents as they would be as the star of the show. Black doesn’t need to dark and dreary if you’ve mixed it up with texture, pattern, and color.

Let’s Wrap This Up

Now, onto the Fine-Whatever link up for this week. There were so many great posts added to the link up last week that I had a hard time decided on just one to feature so I’ve picked three. Check out the fabulous jacket that Laurie from Vanity and Me showed in her very popular post (it received that most clicks). The workplace chic look Joi shared in her post on In My Joi is a fantastic example of what can happen when you throw out the rules and stay true to your own style. And lastly, I had to show you the look that Jodie from Jodie’s Touch of Style had based on a post of mine from last October’s Color My World post. Bravo to all three of these fine ladies.

Laurie
Joi
Jodie

Have you jumped onto the greenery trend yet? Are you going big and bold or are you limiting it to pops and accents? What is your favorite color pairing for greenery?

Let’s connect! Subscribe, tweet, follow, friend, love, pin, stumble … all options are available and waiting for you. I look forward to hearing from you. And don’t forget to add a post or two to the link up.

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38 Comments

  1. Pingback: [BLOCKED BY STBV] To Dress or Not to Dress? – 50 days of no grey

  2. I love that peplum top – it is so flattering on you and the pop of pink is such a nice transition for Spring. I don’t have any green in my wardrobe, but a little hint of it like in your polka dot top would be enough for me. 🙂

    • Rena

      Colleen, thank you for lovely compliment. A little bit of green can go a long way.

    • Rena

      You’re most welcome, Laurie. I appreciate your support and posting to my link up every week.

  3. I adore polkadots and the way you’ve styled this with a second pop of polkadots on the shoes. And is that a vintage handbag I see? Lovely!

    bisous
    Suzanne

    • Rena

      Suzanne, I adore seeing a mix up of polka dots so it was a natural for me to pair up this top with the shoes. I don’t know if a purse that is about 20 years old qualifies as vintage but I did add to the outfit because of it’s retro style.

  4. Marilee Gramith

    Loved the history to go along with this post Rena. I can’t imagine just “dots”…

    Although the Pantone people have declared it a green year I’m also hearing accolades for pink! As you say, whatever tickles eh? Anyway, you’ve given a nod to both colors in this post and your styling is very classic. The dotty shoes make me smile and this outfit looks very suitable for the office!

    • Rena

      Marilee, I’m glad that I could make you smile (and I hope it was more with me than at me, LOL). I,too, have been seeing a bit of pink popping up on blogs and even though that wasn’t quite my intention, I’ll still go with it.

  5. Lovely story about the polka dots. I like some symmetrie! Are you joining is with a bad buy next month Rena?

    • Rena

      Nancy, I’m delighted you liked the story and that you are also a fan of polka dots. And yes, I’m getting my photo ready for your feature.

    • Rena

      Thank you, Shelbee, and I’m glad to know there are so many others that like polka dots too. I’ve had several polka dot dresses in the past and I can recall getting many compliments and comments on them.

  6. Pingback: [BLOCKED BY STBV] Walking to MORDOR. « Outfits « Go Fashion Deals

  7. What a cute outfit! I love how the peplum echoes the flare of the skirt. And polka-dots are always stylish.

    • Rena

      I’m delighted that you like the outfit and thank you for noticing the repeat effect of the peplum and the flare of the skirt. I’d neglected to mention that in the post. Good eye.

    • Rena

      Vale, I’m tickled to have you joining my link and as a new follower of my blog. Thank you so much for both of those. The name of your blog is fantastic and I think that your message of portraying real, everyday looks which is what I try to do as well.

    • Rena

      Patti, thank you for the compliments and for the reminder to highlight, not hide.

  8. Interesting history of the origin of polka dots! Your top is very nice. Plus, I love the pink cardigan with the outfit. I don’t have a lot of green, but I’m finding more green in my closet than I thought I had….

    • Rena

      Andrea, as a fellow Califorian, you must be loving all the greenery in the landscape now that we’ve had so much rain. It’s almost like color of the year choice was a foretelling of “greener pastures” ahead in regards to the drought.

    • Rena

      LOL, Joi at the “spot on” comment. I’m glad you like the outfit and you’re most welcome on being one of the featured bloggers. Your outfit was amazing!

    • Rena

      Jennie, thank you so much. The second best part about the pumps (after the polka dots) was the thrifted price of $3.

    • Rena

      You’re a dear, Edwige. Thank you for the lovely compliment.

    • Rena

      Maggie, yes they are different colors and I think that gives the overall pattern a bit more interest. I’m glad to find out that you are also a fan of polka dots.

  9. robjodiefilogomo

    First…thanks for featuring me, Rena!!
    And there really can never be too many polka dots, right? I didn’t see the green at first, but it’s like they are playing hide & seek!!
    My green is not Pantone’s either—-but I’ll be like you—fine, whatever!!
    jodie
    http://www.jtouchofstyle.com

    • Rena

      Jodie, I really was touched that I inspired you so it is I who should thank you. And you know as well as I do, that we can make are own rules when it comes to fashion no matter was some designer or company wants to tell us is in style.