What to Wear for the Epic Day of Irish Revelry that is St. Patrick’s Day

Every year, on 17 March, people across Ireland and the Irish diaspora dotted around the world will come together to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. The revelries that are most well-known tend to involve public parades, festivals, banquets, dance halls, packed bars, and some incredibly creative attire.

Some will opt for the more subtle approach, turning up with a more casual getup but with a few little hints at their ties to the celebrations, such as with the Instagram inspired rainbow makeup. Alternatively, there’s the all-in route of green suits and ginger beards.

Either way, as long as you have even a slight tie to iconic Irish symbology or mythology, you’ll fit right in! Here are some points of interest that might spark your imagination, as well as a look at what others plan to wear for St. Patrick’s Day each year.

Luck and Leprechauns from the Emerald Isle

Much of what you see people dressed up in on St. Patrick’s Day isn’t much to do with celebrating the traditional date associated with the death of Ireland’s foremost patron saint. In Ireland, Christians will duly meet in church for the occasion.

More and more, however, the tradition of Lenten being lifted for the day to allow for drinking and eating is what’s celebrated most overtly. Being distinctly Irish, all of the stereotypical imagery and associations are brought out by the masses: none more so than the mythical leprechaun.

The fairy of Irish folklore, as Britannica describes, has a hidden crock of gold, is so tricky that it’ll invariably escape capture, and is now often seen in distinctly Irish-associated attire. This includes a green, gold, and black suit, a green top hat with a golden buckle, and, of course, a gloriously ginger beard.

Irish and Celtic symbology will also come into play for many. The Tree of Life, Dara Knot, Triquetra, Celtic Cross, Triskelion, Harp, and Shamrock are all hemmed into outfits and decorations on the big day. Of course, anyone who has engaged with popular Irish-themed entertainment will get to see how all of this combines in a cohesive look.

In entertainment, hit games like Rainbow Riches, for example, draw from all of these elements to make an iconic Irish experience. With the rolling hills of Ireland in the background, the aim is to get to the end of the rainbow and uncover the tricky little leprechaun’s riches. You’ll notice the reels of Irish symbols and a smartly-suited fairy running the reels.

Going All-in or the More Subtle Approach

While there is certainly space to go for NYFW-tier bizarre looks on St. Patrick’s Day, to fit in with the crowd, you really just need to wear something green. An oft-overlooked color for its boldness, a green tie, green t-shirt, green suit, green pants, or perhaps just some green gloves will do the trick.

That pure or bright green isn’t a necessity, either. You can certainly get away with darker or slightly bluer tones of green, and create a superb outfit with the Fashionisers guide to the emerald green color code for the occasion. With it, some gold accessories will go a long way – especially if the accessory ties to Irish symbology.

Away from more everyday attire that links to the color scheme, there’s a whole host of options out there for much zanier St. Patrick’s Day dress. Fully green suits with green waistcoats and hefty top hats, green and buckled barmaid outfits, ginger wigs, bears, and mustaches, and festive makeup kits are all readily available online.

All are welcome to enjoy the revelries of St. Patrick’s Day every year, but to do so to the fullest, you’d best fish out your favorite green piece or invest in an all-out getup for the occasion!