Dressing for St. Patrick’s Day doesn’t mean you have to look like you’ve been swallowed up by a highly unflattering shade of neon green. Think of green as a pop of color necessary to elevate your outfits — it should shine in your day-to-day clothes yet still remain subtle, like digging for the fun marshmallows in your Lucky Charms cereal. This holiday is about having fun, so make your outfits more special by incorporating green and go about your day looking festive with ease. Whether you’re drinking Guinness at McSorley’s Old Ale House on this fine Monday night or in need of some festive, office-appropriate fashion for your internship, here are some outfit options for all types of green-tinted occasions — Sláinte!
For the pub
You’re planning on going out for a drink with friends, but you don’t want to look like a leprechaun. Completely understandable!
It’s time to reach for a baby tee — a simple fitted white shirt that can easily be paired with a green denim skirt to bring out this cheerful color. If you want to dress it up a bit, buy an olive mesh skirt to achieve just the right amount of flattering. I wouldn’t normally advise wearing a jacket with this ensemble, but since Punxsutawney Phil predicted a long winter, try this brown leather jacket or pick one up from your local thrift store. Brown goes very well with green, bringing out its earthy tones but not washing it out. And lastly, for shoes, put on those brown platform boots to ensure your feet survive a long night of standing in a packed bar.
For an office job
You’re heading to your internship that you’ve spent months applying for, but you want to spice up your usual outfit with a little magic. It needs to look effortless — it has to say, “Oh, this? I totally didn’t wear green on purpose today.”
Start with black flared pants that are stretchy and comfortable to wear all day. For the top, you can choose a basic olive shirt that you just happened to pull out of your closet, or an asymmetric green top that screams elegance. If you want to elevate this outfit even further, layer a simple black blazer over top. Now onto the star of the show — the shoes! Dig through your closet for a pop of green, and maybe you’ll find, or buy, a pair of emerald slingback heels with a classy pointed toe and a fun open back. Style the look up with some stone earrings, or give it a little luck with these delicate clover hoops. For an extra touch, try a few sprays of Green Verbena perfume to pull together that Irish charm.
For a date night
Who plans a date on St. Patrick’s Day? Regardless, it would be a real shame to miss a perfect opportunity to wear green for a super special occasion.
You can start with a simple green slip dress that never goes out of style or opt for a sophisticated green dress with metal detailing. Pair it with a dark green croc-embossed bag or, if the green is getting excessive, opt for a black chain bag. Either way, you want to show that you’ve got all of your stuff together. Buy some mesh black heels with just the right amount of flair, and complete the whole outfit with a statement green necklace. Now, you’re all set for this date night — fingers crossed that you have that Irish luck on your side.
For a quiet day
This Monday you’ll likely be drowning in the remnants of leftover midterms and needing to catch up on beauty sleep. Maybe you’re just heading to the grocery store or grabbing coffee. Not to worry! Your outfit can still be saved by Celtic-inspired pizzazz.
Grab that super basic fitted green T-shirt from the pile of clothes on your dorm floor for a relaxed look, while still including that perfect shade of green. Throw on a white cardigan for a simple layer for the unpredictable weather, plus added cuteness. To keep it casual, but not look like you just rolled out of bed, choose a pair of low-rise jeans. Instead of your usual sneakers or Uggs, try graceful white ballet flats to match the cardigan. Who said you can’t look cute while running errands?
Contact Christobelle Rudes at [email protected].