Introduction
St. Patrick’s Day is an annual holiday honoring the patron saint of Ireland, Saint Patrick, and celebrating Irish culture. The holiday is celebrated on March 17, the anniversary of St. Patrick’s death, and is marked by parades, parties, and the consumption of Irish beverages such as Guinness.
In addition to the grand celebrations in Dublin, there are also large parades in cities like New York and Boston. St. Patrick’s Day is also celebrated with bar crawls and other events.
When it comes to fashion for the holiday, the color green is often dominant, with people incorporating it into their outfits in various ways, such as with shamrock-colored dresses or green sequin skirts.
Here are some ideas to wear on the day, and towards the end of the article, some party ideas for the celebration.
St. Patrick’s Day Party Outfits and Dresses
The symbol of the Holy Trinity, the Shamrock is associated with St Patrick’s Day. The green color rules supreme on this occasion. Many people choose to combine green with the colors of Ireland’s flag (tricolor of green, white, and orange).
Dressing for St. Patrick’s Day can often be tricky unless your go-to outfit is that of a leprechaun, so we have put together some helpful ideas.
Whether you are attending a parade, going for a bar crawl, or getting together with friends and family for a day party, these dressing tips will help you stick to the theme yet stand out among the sea of green.
1. Consider a shamrock-colored one-piece dress.
For women who love wearing dresses, a green one-piece is a perfect pick. However, refrain from wearing everything in green and instead, balance the look with a white jacket or footwear in a different color.
If you are planning to hit the parade or go out with your date but do not want to wear a costume, a cute girly dress with green prints combined with fun accessories is also an excellent choice.
2. Go for the kill with bandage dresses.
If you wish to stand out while also sticking to the day’s theme, you cannot go wrong with a sexy bandage dress.
Consider this green strapless version (below) with an eye-catching off-shoulder neckline to turn heads anywhere you go, and it is perfect for a night around town.
If you are looking for something brighter and party-worthy, this neon yellow long sleeve dress is just the thing for you (below). The full sleeves offer the right amount of coverage while the short hemline falls just above the knees, flaunting your toned legs.
3. Think mini.
Talking about showing your legs, how about a cute yet hot sequin mini skirt in green?
Ideal for any event on St. Patrick’s Day, minis are versatile enough to give you the look of a naughty schoolgirl (pair it with a white blouse and sexy heels) or the appearance of an Irish lass (ditch the killer heels and go for more appropriate footwear).
A mini sequin skirt is perfect if you do not want to go for a typical costume.
4. Pick bottom wear in green.
A smart way to incorporate the color theme of the day into your look without going overboard is to for pants in green. A well-fitting sleeveless white blouse with wide-legged pants spell elegance and is the perfect look when you need to be around work colleagues or the boyfriend’s parents.
If you have plans for some romantic time with your special someone, dark green glistening pants with a lovely crop top and heels bring the right mix of St. Patrick’s Day-themed wear and feminine grace.
You can also opt for a monochrome outfit in green by going for a skirt and top in different shades or textures of the same color.
5. Show off your curves in a pencil skirt.
St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated on March 17, and if the place where you stay remains chilly at this time, you need to dress to keep warm. At the same time, being comfortable does not mean being bundled up in layers.
We suggest going for an oversized sweater in a shade of green with an elegant pencil skirt or on top of a fitted bandage dress in a neutral hue with a nice pair of heels.
If you need to work on St. Patrick’s Day, this is the outfit to fall back on. And when you head to a party or pub crawl after work, add a dash of color by swapping your footwear according to the event.
6. Use accessories to dress according to the theme.
You don’t have to wear green clothes to stick to St. Patrick’s Day dress code. If you don’t have time to shop for outfits, there is no need to panic—you can still dress to fit the theme with the right choice in accessories.
Or add the shamrock color to your look with a bright green bag without having to splurge on a new dress. And don’t underestimate the power of the right footwear. A pair of green booties instantly transforms your look while also setting you apart from the rest.
Other accessories that you can use to add green to your outfit include a delicate clover-shaped pendant (which is excellent for work or dinner at an upscale lounge), scarves, green nail polish, headbands, and even socks.
7. Pick your shoes according to the event.
While it can be tempting to play dress up for St. Patrick’s Day events, it is vital that you choose the right footwear depending on what the occasion demands.
For example, it is okay to wear killer heels when at a house party where you can sit around, but if you plan to join one of the many pub-crawls during the day, opt for something more comfortable. You do not want to be limping around on sore feet or walk bare feet while carrying your stilettoes in your hands by the time you reach bar number three.
A cute pair of wedges, flip flops, or even green canvas sneakers work great. Paired with well-fitting denim and a stylish jacket in green, you are all set to rock the girl-next-door look for a casual night out with friends.
How is St. Patrick’s Day Celebrated
The most popular St. Patrick’s Day celebration is in the form of parades, with grand celebrations in Dublin as well as in the United States including New York and Boston. Complete with dance performances, marching bands, and thousands of revelers, these parades are unmissable.
St. Patrick’s Day is also celebrated with day parties and a lot of drinking, particularly of Irish beverages like the famous Guinness.
Bar crawls are popular events held by many places on this day, so get ready to tuck into some bangers and mash and wash it down with a pint or more of Irish beer. Expect everyone to shout “Sláinte” before taking a sip.
Here are 10 St Patrick’s day party ideas that are (relatively) low-cost and practical.
- Host a traditional Irish dinner party featuring corned beef and cabbage, Irish soda bread, and Guinness stew.
- Organize a St. Patrick’s Day pub crawl, visiting a selection of Irish pubs in your local area.
- Put together a St. Patrick’s Day-themed scavenger hunt with clues and challenges related to Irish culture and history.
- Set up a St. Patrick’s Day parade with floats, marching bands, and other participants in your neighborhood or at a local park.
- Host a St. Patrick’s Day movie night featuring classic Irish films such as “Darby O’Gill and the Little People” or “The Quiet Man.”
- Organize a St. Patrick’s Day costume party, encouraging guests to dress up in traditional Irish attire or as their favorite Irish characters.
- Have a St. Patrick’s Day-themed game night featuring Irish-themed games such as “Irish Snap” or “Forty-Five.”
- Host a St. Patrick’s Day dance party with a DJ or live Irish music.
- Put together a St. Patrick’s Day-themed art or craft project, such as making shamrock decorations or Irish-themed pottery.
- Organize a St. Patrick’s Day-themed outdoor adventure, such as a hike through an Irish-themed landscape or a nature walk to search for shamrocks.
What is St. Patrick’s Day?
Originally a religious and cultural celebration of the Irish, this day is celebrated on the death anniversary (March 17) of Saint Patrick, one of Ireland’s patron saints. According to history, he was instrumental in getting rid of paganism by converting worshippers to Christianity. He is believed to have driven away snakes (which symbolized evil) from the country.
Today, St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated in several places around the world including the United States.
There are millions of Americans of Irish ancestry, who celebrate with various events, like the great dying of the Chicago River to a bright green hue and of course a few or more Guinness beers.
Summary
St. Patrick’s Day is an annual holiday that celebrates Irish culture and honors Saint Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. It is typically celebrated on March 17 and is marked by parades, parties, and the consumption of Irish beverages.
People often wear green and incorporate it into their outfits in various ways. And there are several outfit ideas for those planning to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, including wearing a green one-piece dress or green prints, a sexy bandage dress, a mini sequin skirt, green pants, a pencil skirt, or a green sweater.
Party ideas for the celebration include bar crawls, hosting a potluck, or having a traditional Irish meal.