Saint Patrick’s Day:
That celebratory mid-March day when we gather to fete St. Patrick, Ireland’s patron saint, to thank him for bestowing Liam Neeson upon the world – and forgive him for also saddling us with Colin Farrell.
(Note: I didn’t pay a ton of attention during Irish history class, but I’m pretty sure that’s accurate.)
Unlike Valentine’s Day, a made-up holiday that it seems like nobody enjoys, St. Patty’s is pure revelry.
Thereare few things more fun than tipping back a pint of Guinness on March 17th, but the day is not without its challenges.
Namely: how the hell do youmake green look good?
Obviously you want to wear green on St. Patty’s Day, but yourgoal should be to work one or two stylish greenpieces into your wardrobe, not blend in with the hordes of obnoxious partiers dressedhead-to-toe inneon green.
Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to imbue yourself with the luck o’ the Irish without going full leprechaun.
Below I’ve rounded up a few of my favorites.
Table Of Contents
- Rock a (Stylish AF) GreenSweater
- Tie (A Green) One On
- Green Watch Band or Dial
- Polo Shirt
- Field Jacket
- Green Pants
- Rugby Shirt
Get The Luck (and Look) o’ The Irish:
WhatGuys Should Wear on St. Patrick’s Day
Rock a (Stylish AF) GreenSweater
There are few pieces more simple – or more stylish – than a well made, well cut sweater.
Find one in a darkshade of green (I don’t know what the green equivalent to navy blue is, but that’s what you’re shooting for), throw on your favorite jeans and pair them withdark brownboots.
Personally I prefer v-necks (Uniqlo’s merino wool vee is a particular stand out) and chunky shawl collar cardigans.
Butkeep in mind that I live in Toronto, where St. Patrick’s Day is usually pretty frigid, which may explain my preference for warm layering pieces.
This year, guys who are a little more fashion-forward might want to opt for a turtle neck.
Turtle necks have been coming back in a major way over the past few years, and I strongly suspect that by next winter, we’ll all be wearing them.
So those who feel particularly bold can get ahead of the game by picking one up in forest green now, then break it back out when the weather dips again come fall.
Sharp Selections:
Ted Baker
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Related Resource ↓
To choose a green sweater that will look great for years to come, check out our breakdown of the 14 most timeless, essential and handsome AF types of sweaters for men.
Tie (A Green) One On
One of the best ways to partake in St. Patty’s without looking like an over-eager freshman getting morning-drunk for the first timeis todress in neutral colors, but accessorize in green.
One of the best ways to make this look work is to rock a green tie over a plain whitedress shirt or oxford cloth button down.
If you go for the more casual oxford shirt, you can pair it with jeans and sneakers, which will help you keep from looking too “dressed up” even though you’re wearing a tie.
In that scenario I definitely recommend going with a knit tie, which also helps negate the inherent “fanciness” of a tie.
But if you’re in a more formal setting, a white shirt and dark green will pair well with suits and pants in neutral colors like navy and grey.
Sharp Selections:
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The Tie Bar
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Green Watch Band or Dial
This one is keeping with the accessories theme, but offers an even more subtle option.
If you want to nod at St. Patty’s without doing too much, you could justswap out the band on your Timex Weekender (you did pick one up after reading my Timex Weekender review, right?)or any other watch that has a replaceable band.
Don’t have a green band?
For 12 bucks, Amazon sellsa multi-pack that offers four different bandsin various colors, including green and a red-white-and-blue option.
(Spoiler alert: if this pops up again before Independence Day, don’t say I didn’t warn you.)
Another option is to opt for a watch with a green dial. This is the more expensive route, since it involves buying a whole new watch, but arguably the more stylish option.
I have a green chrono from Vincero that’s become one of my go-tos all fall and winter, but it’s especially great on St. Patty’s because it nicely complements the green shirt without feeling too over-the-top.
Sharp Selections:
Polo Shirt
The weather on March 17th can vary wildly fromplace to place, and even from year to year in the same place.
As mentioned, in my hometown of Toronto it’s almost always too cold for short-sleeves on St. Patty’s.
But if you find yourself in a warmer climate this year, you’re in luck:
Pulling on a green polo is as easy as it is timeless, to say nothing of stylish.
Pair it with grey pants and brown shoes and youcan’t go wrong—but you can go to pretty much any party, from a kegger to a corporate event.
Personally, I’m partial to Banana Republic’s Luxe Touch polos, which fit great and are available in green.
But in addition to being stylish and timeless, polos are also pretty ubiquitous, so there are plenty of great (and green) options out there.
Sharp Selections:
Bonobos
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Field Jacket
For those of us in more northern climes, getting away with just a polo in the middle of March is basically a fantasy.
Fortunately there’s an easy way to look stylish while meeting your green quota: the field jacket.
Initially designed for the military, field jackets make the perfect in-between coat for late winter/early spring, and can oftenbe found in a holiday-appropriate shade of army green.
I found the one pictured here on Amazon for just $30, and it certainly looks like it fits the bill.
It’s probably safe to expect that ajacket bought for 30 bucks won’t be of the highest quality, but if you only plan to wear it once or twice a year than it may well be worth the risk.
(I certainly had great luck on the $12 dollar Steve McQueen jacketI got off eBay, which is still going strongfive years later.)
Sharp Selections:
J.Crew
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Green Pants
There aren’t many lessons that apply equally to dressing well and weightlifting, but one is this:
Don’t ignore your legs.
If the idea ofbuying a green shirt or jacket that you only break out once a year doesn’t appeal to you, why not consider going green from the groin down?
(That didn’t come outright.)
An olive green pair of chinos like these ones from Mott and Bow can be warn all fall and winter, and easily paired with any neutral tone shirt, sweater or jacket.
They also work with multiple types of shoes, including sneakers,chukkas and pretty much any boots.
Rather than only wearing them once, St. Patty’s Day could be their swan song after two full seasons of consistent use.
Sharp Selections:
Rugby Shirt
St. Patrick’s Day has a reputation as a… well, a drunken night of debauchery replete with douchebags in every bar and pub, if we’re being honest.
But if you’relooking for somethingmore brogue than bro, there are few better choices than a classic rugby shirt.
The green and gold on this one are both in hues that are classier than the lime green t-shirts most frat-broswill be sporting, and the cream color gives it a classic feel.
Sharp Selections:
More Resources ↓
More Shopping Recos and Buying Guides:
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- How to Dress Better for Guys
- Thursday Boots Review
- The Best Stores Like TJ Maxx Online
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