Four-Leaf Clovers, Leprechauns And All Things Green – Celebrating St. Patrick’s Day In Style

By Brian Maynor
March 14, 2014

This weekend St. Patrick’s Day festivals and street fairs will dominate cities both large and small, and even if green isn’t your color you have to find creative ways of wearing it to avoid being pinched.

If you find simply adding a shamrock pin to your ordinary outfit a bit boring, or want to embrace the traditional ‘wearing of the green’, here are a few inspiration looks that will keep you both in the spirit of the holiday and comfort of your style:

1.    Not all greens are the same.  While Kelly Green, think Kermit the Frog, may be the color of Ireland and therefore the defacto color of St. Patrick’s Day, that is by far not the only shade of green acceptable for the occasion.  Very few people look good in Kelly Green, so my recommendation is to find a shade of green that works best for you.  Forrest Green and Emerald Green are two popular alternatives that are more flattering for most people.

As an interesting side note, blue was actually the official color of St. Patrick, but over the years, because of the relationship with Ireland, the color green was more readily associated with the holiday.

2.    Counterpoint.  While St. Patrick’s Day tends to be associated with excess, wearing green head to toe would definitely qualify.  If you want to make more of an impact with your green, use it prominently, but not solely.  A green blazer, shirt or pants are enough to bring attention to the fact you’re wearing green while still giving you plenty to work with for building an outfit.  After all, the goal of every outfit is for the pieces to work together cohesively, not simply be a collection of random pieces.

Some of the most common complementary colors for green are purple, red, blue and yellow in all of their various shades.  The key to pulling colors together is to keep the weight of the colors equal.  For example it is harder to pull together a light and a dark color than two light or two dark colors.  Of course your neutrals will also work.

3.    Accessories.  When all else fails, or you run out the door and forget your something green, you can always find a green accessory.   From emerald earrings and necklaces to those shamrock pins and stickers the perfect pieces can be found.  Try to avoid office products like rubber bands, paperclips or sticky notes if possible.

Like all things, I believe the best form of celebration is with moderation, even when dressing.  Green is a fun color, but one that definitely works best when supported and grounded with complementary ones.

Click here or on the images below to learn more about the outfit.

Click here or on the images below to learn more about the outfit.

I am always curious to hear about your weekend wardrobe dilemmas and help make your work wardrobe pull double duty.  Email your questions, quandaries and conundrums to [email protected].  Also find each of these storyboards at http://brianmaynor.polyvore.com with links to purchase each item.

About Brian Maynor

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