What to Wear to Look Your Best in Patriotic Attire

In many Nations, it’s tradition to dress in patriotic attire on the National Holiday. While doing so can be fun, it can look easily costumy. Read how to look your best when creating a patriotic outfit, no matter whether it is red-white and blue, orange, red-white and green, red-white or whatever your national colors may be.

Contents

Use Garments in Your National Colors
How to dress for national day
Avoid meant to be “funny clothes” with the flag all over
How to avoid looking costumed in patriotic colors
How to Get Patriotic Dressing Right at any Age
Patriotic outfit ideas for women over 50
Wrapping up

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Use Garments in Your National Colors

Many people dress in patriotic attire, on their National Day. Since Independence Day is just around the corner, this post of the Ageless Style Series features patriotic outfit ideas. Even though my outfit inspirations are in red-white-and-blue, this post is meant to be inclusive for all my readers. You, for sure, have enough fantasy to replace those colors with your National colors.

How to Dress for a National Day

You can use the colors of the flag or colors that are close enough to show the intent to dress with the theme. The photo below, for instance, substituted red with pink. It’s close enough.

fashionblogger in posh patriotic look — Example of staying close to the National colors: London boyfriend jeans with a Isaac Mizrahi pink cashmere sweater and Fossil white denim jacket, DIY statement necklace, Hermes H-bangle, Hermes collier de chien bangle, Festina watch, and a LV multi-color studded bag for an example of creating a patriotic vibe while substituting red with pink

The next photo is an example where the original blue is exchanges for a light blue.

Vionic patriotic inspired outfit — Oliveo leather pencil skirt with white and blue Carhartt gingham button-down shirt, Ray Ban sunglasses, Jaeger tote, Tissot rock watch, Hermes collier de chien bangle, (all own) and red wedge slides c/o Vionic as an example of a color added (taupe for the bag)

There is also not need to just wear the National Colors. In the example below, for instance, the leopard shoes add brown, tan and black. The trick about adding another color reduces the risk to look costumed.

over 50 years old fashion blogger in casual outfit for Independence Day — Levis denim jacket knotted around the waist for style with G-III suede skirt, Aldo leopard print pony-hair pumps, Ray Ban sunglasses, Celine tote (all own), and striped T-shirt c/o Marine Layer

Try outfits that also would work on a normal weekend, but just have the colors. Here are some visual patriotic outfit inspirations that include the colors, but could also worn on a weekend.

red white and blue outfit for Independence Day — GNW cardigan worn as top with G-III suede skirt and Chanel belt (all own)

denim skirt with red top and Persian Pickles print cardigan — Oliveo denim skirt, August Silk sweater, BP espadrilles, Paloma Picasso sunglasses, Hermes Constanze bag, Kieselstein Cord belt and buckle, GNW cardigan with BP espadrilles

red, white, blue and black outfit — Olivero leather shorts, Loft striped T-shirt, Hermes H-buckle belt, Star denim jacket and Celine bag (all own)

Avoid meant to be “funny clothes” with the flag all over

Ever since the week of Father’s Day ads are popping up about sales for Independence Day Attire. Even when one buys something not so extreme as the young lady in the photo below these items are never stylish at any age. Do I have to mention that they are cheap for a reason and that you will not get a lot of wear from them? Thus, the cost-per-wear ratio is not in your favor in addition that you don’t look chic.

outfits what not to wear on Independence Day over 40 — Example what not to wear

How to avoid looking costumed in patriotic colors

A bikini or shorts in the colors of your flag are a guaranteed ticket to end up on the worst dressed list. Who wants to be there to begin with? Here are some tips to avoid looking ridiculous when wearing patriotic attire.

Ruffles are an element of costumes and Romantic Style, but not for a serious event like a National Day. Therefore, avoid them like the plague.
Stay away from bikini, shorts, socks, T-shirts, dresses, shoes, sunglasses, hats, shirts, etc. with flag prints. It’s plain tasteless
Don’t cut an old flag and make it into an apron.

How to Get Patriotic Dressing Right at any Age

The following points provide stylist’s tricks to dress patriotically, respectfully and stylishly.

Riot your closet for items in your national colors. If you plan to go to a parade or dress for a BBQ with friends, create a casual outfit with these items like you would wear at a normal weekend.
An alternative is to just go with the spirit and use colors that are in the same hue. Again create a casual look in your style. You may even add another color to your national colors or swap just one color with a color in the same family but a different hue. But let the spirit still be obvious. For example, when your nation has just one color like orange for the Netherlands, salmon pink or peach are great options. You even may add another color in small doses and still get a patriotic look. If you style a monochromatic look in just your nation’s color add interest by different texture or shine.
Leave one color out.
Create an outfit that includes the colors.

fashion blogger in patriotic inspired colors with trench coat — Outfit details: Ralph Ralph Lauren polka dot pleated skirt, Brooks Brothers sweater, Kieselstein Cord belt and buckle, Burberry Brit trench coat, pearl necklace, and Salvatore Ferragamo Vara pumps (all own)

Patriotic outfit ideas for women over 40

The following photos illustrate the above discussed concepts applied in red-white and blue outfits. They provide examples of national-inspired looks for women over 40.

Substituting red with pink. Striped Notation T-shirt with Ralph Lauren polka dot pleat skirt, Kieselstein Cord belt, Hermes collier de chien bangle, and Chanel bag (all own) Patriotic outfit with Oliveo maxi leather skirt, Dr. Scholl wedge sandals, Festina sport watch (all own), striped T-shirt c/o Marine Layer, and wooden watch c/o Jord. Here white is substituted by winter white

Example for substituting white with the beige in the hat. Karina navy with red floral dress with sun hat, Gloria Vanderbilt open-toe pumps, Hermes collier de chien bracelets, and Chanel quilted bag (all own)

stylist over 50 years old in posh casual outfit in patriotic colors

The Limited polo shirt with London Jean boyfriend jeans, Kieselstein Cord belt and buckle, Constance bag, Keds (all own), and sunglasses c/o ShopGlasses

When you liked the outfit recipes of this post, and want recipes for all kind of dressing situation in midlife, buy my book How to Dress for Success in Midlife.

stylist looking posh in a patriotic red, white and blue outfit — Levis denim jacket with G-III suede skirt, polka dot print Keds, Hermes collier de chien cuff, Hermes enamel bangles, Ray Ban sunglasses, Celine tote (all own) and striped T-shirt c/o Marine Layer

petite blogger in small print slip dress with cropped denim jacket and wedges in red-white and blue — Star denim jacket with slip dress, DIY scarf and BP espadrilles (all own)

fashion blogger in red, white and blue summer outfit with paisley pattern — Outfit details: Constance bag, August Silk top with Persian pickles print GNW cardigan, BP espadrilles, Kieselstein Cord belt and buckle, Oliveo denim skirt, Tissot watch, Dolce and Gabbana Madonna sunglasses, Hermes collier de chien leather cuff, coin bracelet, cat cameo necklace, cameo earrings (all own)

influencer in patriotic inspired outfit — Outfit details: Oliveo leather skirt, August Silk silk top, Jones New York striped cardigan, unbranded pointy-toe studded flats, Hermes collier de chien bangle, cameo pendant necklace and earrings, Hermes enamel bangles, Seiko watch and Celine bag (all own)

Wrapping Up

Patriotic outfits can be stylish. All national day parades or parties require to dress up in the national colors. Thus, you must not be an American to get something out of this post. No matter what your nationality is, when it comes to dressing in the national colors, one may end up looking costumed. To avoid looking ridiculous in patriotic attire.

Stay away from anything ruffled. Ruffles are an element of costumes.
Don’t wear shorts, socks, T-shirts, dresses, shoes, sunglasses, hats etc. that have flag prints.
Pick items in the national colors from your closet and create a casual tasteful outfit that you could imagine to wear at a normal weekend.
When you like a twist or only want to go with the vibe, add another color or leave one out.
Substitute one color with a color that is close to your national colors.

What do you do on your National Day? Do you have a family tradition? What are your plans for Independence Day? Do you have a patriotic inspired backup plan for a rainy July 4th? Will you wear a patriotic outfit?

Happy 4^th of July to my American readers.

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