You Can Look Great in Green for St. Patrick's Day

While not an official holiday, St. Patrick’s Day is honored in many work places. It’s a great excuse to hang around the water fountain or coffee room a bit longer than usual. Despite there is not an official party, people acknowledge the occasion by dressing up for it. This post provides some work appropriate St. Patrick’s Day outfit ideas that keep your colleagues guessing whether it’s intended or accidental, so you won’t feel out of place. Read to get inspired.

Contents

Roots of Wearing Green on St. Patrick’s Day
Show Your Closet for an Appropriate Look
What Are Classic Irish Pieces
St. Patrick’s Day Outfit Ideas that Go with the Spirit
- Chic Looks with Analogous Colors to Green
- Wear an Emerald
Top of the World Style linkup party No. 346

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Roots of Wearing Green on St. Patrick’s Day

March 17 is St. Patrick’s Day. It doesn’t matter that St. Patrick was born in Britain. In addition, the traditions of celebrating St. Patrick’s Day came back to Ireland over the pond as a great spring tourism marketing opportunity. On St. Patrick’s Day, the Irish-American community celebrates with parades and parties, and it is advisable for kids to wear something green to school to avoid being pinched. Not always does mama have green duct tape handy – Alaska’s solution to fixing whatever is fixable – to savor the kid who refused to wear green.

Even when your ancestors were not Irish, you may want/have to wear emerald that day. Why? Just because there is a great Irish community in your town; you are invited by your friends who have Irish ancestors, are Irish or celebrate everything; someone at the office is throwing an Irish coffee break – you name it. The big question is: How to wear green for St. Patrick’s Day without looking costumed. In other words, how to wear green in a posh chic way, but keep people guessing whether it’s because of the occasion or just because – well green is a great color.

I don’t know about you, but after this long winter with so many snow, I am more than ready to see more of this leave color. Well, still at least eight weeks to go before green-up.

blogger in meadow and white outfit for a holiday family breakfast — Front view of pants look described below

stylist in St. Patricks Day ready work outfit — Newport News leather pants, Brooks Brothers sweater, Hermes Medor watch, Paloma Picasso sunglasses, Louboutin pumps, Hermes collier de chien bangle, layered necklaces

Show Your Closet for an Appropriate Look

The day has become a great commercial thing in recent years starting with meadow green cupcakes to entire clothing collections. Even if you are not so into it, you may want to fit in the spirit of the day as a courtesy to your colleagues, friends or who ever takes the effort of throwing a party and/or decorating for St. Patrick’s Day. The easiest way is to create an outfit with a green item like the St. Patrick’s Day outfit ideas in the next photos.

older woman in St. Patrick's Day work outfit — Front view of look described below

Alaskan stylist looking fresh with long maxi coat outfit — LeatherCoatsEtch now cream with faux fur quilted lining leather coat, Gucci Dionysus belt buckle, Kieselstein Cord belt, Banana Republic skirt, Salamander shearling booties, GNW tights, R&Q down vest, bag c/o Uno Alla Volta, and LeatherCoatsEtc gloves

This denim skirt plus plaid shirt with green cashmere sweater combination makes a nice work outfit for a casual office in winter. In a more conservative work environment that allows wearing denim, it makes a nice Casual Friday look. Thus, it’s a great look for this holiday too. It makes use of layering to stay warm in a thin cotton button-down shirt. See the post at the link for what to wear in cold, wet weather.

style book author in green-blueplaid shirt, matching sweater and denim skirt — Oliveo plaid shirt, Brooks Brothers green cashmere sweater, Kieselstein Cord belt and buckle, Hermes collier de chien bangle, Oliveo denim skirt, GNW blue tights, Haftee white layering top and L.K. Bennett pumps

When green is not your color, go with the spirit and wear an Irish blazer or cable knit sweater on St. Patrick's Day. #StPatricksDay #styletip Click To Tweet

What Are Classic Irish Pieces?

This “Irish holiday” is the best time to wear a green sweater or something that is associated with Irish heritage. Here are my tips to look effortlessly chic when dressing for Paddy’s Day.

Try a (green) Irish sweater with white skirt or pants, or green bottom and white shirt or sweater.
Add a pop of green to your normal work outfit.
Wear a gold or silver cloverleaf brooch.
Try an outfit in various shades of green like a mint green shirt under a hunter-green sheath, and Kelly green pumps.
Solid color work dress with neutral pumps and cloverleaf print scarf
Style a normal work outfit in the spirit by adding cloverleaf costume earrings or a shamrock scarf.
A plaid shirt that has green as one of its colors with a green or other color of the plaid skirt/pants and neutral pumps.
Green solid dress with pearls and neutral pumps.
Printed dress with green background or a green dominated print, neutral pumps, pearls.
Green tartan skirt with striped shirt, black pumps and leather jacket.
Just add green jewelry to your work outfit.
Wear a shirt or top with a green print with neutral color pants/skirt and blazer.
Just sport some Irish spirit with an Irish blazer or an Irish cable-knit sweater.
Wear some variation of green like petrol or teal.
Wear neutrals with jewelry that features emeralds. More on emeralds.

style blogger in plaid sheath with leaf color sweater — Ruby Belle sheath, Brooks Brothers sweater, Steve Madden lace-up sandals, Hermes collier de chien bangle, DIY brooch

over 50 years old woman in LBD, clover turtleneck — Brooks Brothers turtleneck, GAP sheath, GNW tights, Sanchez boots, D&GM sunglasses, Hermes collier de chien bangle

over 50 fashion blogger in a St. Patricks Day outfit inspiration with Irish blazer and leather pants — Front view look with Irish blazer

jewelry with Irish blazer — Zoom-in on details

fashion blogger in gingham shirt and wool cashmere sweater with a hint of green — Carhartt gingham shirt under GNW Luxe wool cashmere sweater worn with I.N.C. leather pants, Hermes collier de chien bangle, and Clarks booties (all own)

What Not to Wear

A head-to-toe meadow-green monochromatic outfit never looks great, not even on St. Patrick’s day! It is just plain ridiculous at any age, unless it’s a sport uniform. Unless you want to wear a costume, go with one green item. A green dress is great, but either color-block your shoes or go for nude.

St. Patrick’s Day Outfit Ideas That Go with the Spirit

Here some photo outfit inspirations with green pieces to go with the spirit and keep people guessing whether it’s this pop of color is on purpose or accidental.

over 50 year old in green dress and pumps — This look works in the South where temperatures already feel like spring. Outfit details: Karina Dresses Ruby dress with lace trimmed underskirt (DIY), Nine West pumps, Gucci ostrich vintage bag, and GNW cardigan knotted in the front for style

50 year old woman in denim on denim — Great Northwest denim jacket, silver belt, silk printed neckerchief, Dooney and Bourke, boyfriend jeans with landscape print on the cuffs c/o Soft Surroundings, wood watch c/o Jord, and Tee c/o Onno

mature woman in A-line skirt, polka dot sweater, green heels — Another look for regions with warmer climate. Outfit details: Nine West pumps, Gucci bag, Hermes collier de chien bangle, Ecclipse watch bracelet, unbranded pantyhose (all own), silk skirt c/o Lilysilk, scarf c/o Uno Alla Volta, sunglasses c/o Eagle Eyes, and baroque multi-color opera length pearl necklace c/o Pearl Claps

Chic Looks with Analogous Colors to Green

The following photos show looks with adjacent colors to green on the color wheel. They carry the spirit, when you don’t have something in glover color.