My Thrifty 6 group prompt was “Dots or Spots” and I decided to have the crew talk about how to wear a polka dot skirt. Skirts have become a favorite of mine because they can be tremendously versatile. And I believe that the polka dot print is happiness in material form.
Quote of the day: “If you are not willing to risk the unusual, you will have to settle for the ordinary.” Jim Rohn
The answer to how to wear a polka dot skirt?
In a multitude of ways.
What I love is how we not only showcased how to wear it casually, dressy, or with other prints, but we each wore different footwear options also.
If you’re worried that polka dots aren’t appropriate for older women, I hope we can change that thinking. We have shown other examples on the blog in winter, in the spring as well as worn in the summer.
As much as I love my site, Jodie’s Touch of Style, I really enjoy putting together my daily emails. I consider my emails an extension of my blog that is chocked full of positive inspiration that one friend calls a “Variety Show.”
I include articles, videos, and posts that strike my fancy and since I have no siblings to share with, I share with you.
Valerie-Print Mixing with a Polka Dot Skirt
Print mixing may seem intimidating, but trust me, it’s a fantastic way to create a unique and stylish outfit. One way for successful print mixing is finding a common element between your prints, whether it’s color, scale, or theme.
For this look, Valerie paired the polka-dot skirt with a polka-dot sweater. By doubling the print, it works together marvelously, and since the scale is different on both, it’s perfect.
Insider detail: This is Valerie’s “skirt.” It’s actually a va-va-voom dress, and she layered the polka dot sweater (and jacket) over top to make it look like a skirt.
This trick makes your closet so much bigger.
Details:
-Valerie added even another print to the mix with her purse.
-The purse also adds a third color to the outfit, which Valerie repeats with her necklace, rings, and earrings.
-Because the weather was warm on this day, Valerie also wore a t-shirt under the sweater so she could peel off the layers.
Style Tip: Adding pops of color with accessories is very powerful.
Footwear option: Valerie is wearing tall boots with her polka-dot skirt. It’s a fabulous way to be able to wear these skirts during the colder weather. You could also include tights, leggings, or knee socks for added warmth.
Jodie-How to Make a Polka Dot Skirt Look Casual
A polka dot skirt might seem dressy at first, but it’s surprisingly easy to wear in a casual, everyday way. The secret? Pair it with relaxed pieces that bring a laid-back feel.
For this outfit, I took my polka-dot skirt and teamed it with a graphic sweatshirt. I layered the sweatshirt over a denim shirt and included sneakers.
Insider detail: The message on this sweatshirt is powerful. “Kindness is Free- sprinkle it everywhere”. I couldn’t resist buying it for under $20.
Details:
-I used one of my “cardigan clips” to create asymmetry in the hem of my sweatshirt. It mirrors the ruching of my skirt.
-Denim shirts are one of those items that can be worn in a multitude of ways, as we’ve shown in the past. I love them as a layering item both over and under other pieces as well as wearing them alone.
-To bring in the different colors on the sweatshirt, I chose this multi-colored necklace and multicolored earrings.
Pro Tip: If you want to add a little extra casualness to the look, consider leaving off the jewelry and wearing a baseball cap.
Footwear option: I wore a pair of sneakers with my skirt. All kinds of sneakers would be a stylish option for any length of skirt. No-show socks are still my sock choice for now, but crew socks are trying to make a comeback.
Charlotte-Dressing Up a Polka Dot Skirt
For those days (or nights!) when you want to elevate your polka dot skirt, think about choosing elegant pieces that mirror the femininity of the print.
For this idea of how to wear a polka dot skirt, my mom opted for a silky blouse with the same type of material vest over top.
Insider detail: Valerie isn’t the only one who got creative with her clothing. This “navy silk” vest is being worn inside out. My mom just removed the label and turned it inside out. Many items look just as cute inside out (or backward), so remember to think creatively about your clothing.
Details:
-The Western boot trend has been going strong for some time. My mom originally bought these in Denver and wore them with a red outfit.
-A smaller polka dot print like my mom’s skirt almost looks like a solid from far away. These types of prints are the easiest ones to dip your toe into when combining 2 prints together.
-I love the mix of styles in Charlotte’s look. While the overall feel is dressy, she incorporates a menswear nod with the vest and a cowgirl vibe with the boots.
Pro Tip: To make a dressy outfit look even more fancy, pay attention to your accessories, hair, and makeup. Being intentional in these elements can elevate the overall feel. For example, just adding red lipstick can add “oh-la-la” to anything.
Footwear option: Ankle boots are still a trendy choice for wearing with skirts. The advantage of shorter booties is that they are easier to get on and off than tall boots.
Final Thoughts: Why You Need a Polka Dot Skirt in Your Closet
The best part about a polka-dot skirt is its versatility. As we’ve shown, you can easily transform it from playful and bold with print mixing to effortlessly casual with sneakers and a sweatshirt or into an elegant, refined outfit with a silk vest and ruffle shirt.
Fashion should be fun, and by experimenting with different styles, you can discover new outfit combinations that make you feel fabulous.
So, if you haven’t already, consider adding a polka dot skirt to your wardrobe—you’ll be surprised at the many ways you can wear it!
Thrifty 6
With the fashion and textile industry being a major contributor to landfills and other environmental pollution, we decided to make it the mission of this little group to focus on second-hand items.
Since the prompt for this month was “freckles, spots, and polka dots”, there should be a large variety of options to enjoy below.
Insider tip: If there aren’t many wonderful secondhand shops near you, I have included a list of online shops that I love at the end of this post.
- Emma of Style Splash
- Sally of Within a World of My Own
- Jane of Preloved-Vintage-Handmade
- Jodie (and crew) of Jodie’s Touch of Style
- Nancy of Nancy’s Fashion Style
- Shelbee of Shelbee on the Edge
Check out the other members of the Thrifty 6 group for all kinds of ideas.
Shelbee of Shelbee on the Edge
“I have quite a few preloved pieces that have speckles, spots, and polka dots so I had planned to combine multiple dotty and spotty things into one outfit. But try as I might, I failed miserably. None of my dotty things worked well with each other. So I styled this speckled dress, which had stains (or spots) and holes in it when I brought it home from the thrift shop. I patched it all up with denim scraps and added a preloved leopard spotted scarf, a thrifted denim jacket, and my distressed cowgirl boots. I was not wholly satisfied because I wanted to incorporate more dotty things, but I ended up really loving this outfit anyway.”
Nancy of Nancy’s Fashion Style
“So I had nothing, absolutely nothing, with polka dots in my closet. Strange actually because I do like them. Well, time to shop on Vinted again. And I didn’t even need that much time to “spot” this beautiful blazer. From a Dutch designer, Frans Molenaar, in collaboration with C&A. I love these kinds of blazers, nice and casual, tight-fitting. Looks nice on everything!”
Emma of Style Splash
“This was quite a difficult theme for me because I don’t own much in the way of dots and spots, so finding something pre-loved was a challenge! After going through some stuff in storage I pulled out this vintage dress which has tiny dots in the pattern. It was a fantastic find on eBay and I really should wear it more!”
Jane of Preloved-Vintage-Handmade
“How cool is this hooded dress!!! – It’s been handmade in the 1970s by someone with a really fun sense of style – how often do you see a blue and white spotty dress with a red hood (even in the 70s) 😂
I’ve done some work on it myself, adding to the crazy vibes…
– I’ve shortened it and used the fabric removed to face the inside so when the zip is open, it has a neat, finished look.
-Finally, I’ve taken the sleeves to maximum length, adding red bias binding as a cuff to match the hood lining.
– and finally, I’ve replaced the original zip with a chunky oversized one, which injects yet more personality into this funky little frock.
So when Shelbee chose ‘Freckles, Spots & Polka Dots’ as the T6 theme for March, I couldn’t wait to show off my handywork and give this dress its 15 minutes of fame!“
Sally of Within a World of My Own
“Ask me if I like polka dots and I’ll say YES! But when I look at my wardrobe, the top prints are stripes, florals, and animals/zoological. Some dots, but mostly for summer. But the weather cooperated for me to wear this thrifted CJ Banks spot print quilted vest that has a geometric design with a dot vibe to it. I do have a number of polka dot scarves, like this green and navy one with white dots. I decided to add some crisp green to my look (thrifted Eloquii pants) to celebrate the coming arrival of St Patrick’s Day and spring! My thrifted Target floral print loafers are a fun finishing touch.“
Online Thrift Stores
If you don’t have great secondhand stores near you, then another great option is online thrifting. These are the ones I’ve used more than once (except Swap, but it comes highly recommended by a friend)
thredUp—this link gives you $10 (and me in return).
Poshmark — here is the post about how to shop the site.
Preworn–10% off with code JODIEFILOGOMO
Etsy
ebay
Swap
Uncommon Closet— nonprofit to help women.
Gild the Lily–a local Michigan store that sells online.
Thank you
If you’ve enjoyed this, I hope you will look around the site and…
- find out more about the blog here. Including behind-the-scenes of our relationship here.
- you can see all the categories of past posts here
- feel free to use any discounts or deals that I share here.
- make sure to sign up for emails to enjoy fun features in every email PLUS get my recent eBook here.
- follow me on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and Pinterest.
- and if you ever want to reach out or have any requests, feel free to email me at JTouchofStyle@gmail.com
If you enjoyed any of this information, I would appreciate it if you would share, share, and share wherever you can!! You can do this by saving an image to your Pinterest board or sharing this post on Facebook. Or send this post to your friends, and make sure they sign up for the emails.
Welcome to Jodie’s Touch of Style. I’m here to prove that it’s never too late to look great. Clothing and style are meant to showcase your inner personality. So let’s have fun and try new things.
