With St. Patrick’s Day coming soon, people from around the world get read to party and drink for Ireland’s national holiday.
Due to the power with which Irish culture has taken over the world in the 2000s, St. Patrick’s Day has become an international holiday. While it was first celebrating Ireland’s patron saint, Saint Patrick, now the holiday has turned very much into a feast of fun. In full lent, that is.
The Irish imagery has become synonymous with the date of March 17. Just like Christmas, St. Patrick’s Day has its own color signature and visual cues that define it. The colors of the Irish flag: green, white and orange and symbols such as the shamrock or leprechauns are other things that represent the holiday.
Thus, for those looking to dress up in way that is celebratory to St. Paddy’s, these are probably the best things to rely on. As usually though, we recommend going subtle and not in a full-out leprechaun costume.
While the Irish green and orange are quite bright and highly saturated, for a more subtle look, one can go for duller shades. Think of a very dark green mixed with a pastel orange. That is, of course, you wish to wear this exact color combination. Green and orange is a good color combo, as the two colors are contrast colors (meaning they lie on opposite sides of the color spectrum) and thus go together well. But you don’t really have to wear green and orange, you can simply add a hint of green or orange or go for something even more subtle. For example, a nice neutral tie in a color like beige, with an embossed and slightly visible clover pattern can be a subtle and rich way of expressing your love for Ireland and the Irish, without looking too obvious or being too out there.
Generally, accessories are a nice way to add a festive touch to an outfit without making it look like a carnival costume. A bracelet with a clover, a pair of green cufflinks, or a nice pair of colorful socks can all make your look be fun, dynamic and Irish, but subtle, elegant and polished at the same time.
The idea of dressing up for a holiday is to channel its spirit and meaning, which can have more dimensions.
Ultimately, the holiday of St. Patrick is about a man who was born in AD 387 in modern-day Britain, just south of Hadrian’s Wall. In those times, the region was part of the Roman Empire. In his early teens, Patrick was captured by Irish pagans and was broguht to Ireland, where he was enslaved for a period of six years. Despite this, Patrick started to enjoy the spirit of the Irish. When he finally escaped from Ireland and returned to his family, he promised that he would one day return to the land of Éire.
Patrick studied at different monasteries on the continent and soon enough was ordained a priest and afterwards became a bishop. Pope Celestine I named Patrick to be an apostle to Ireland.
In Ireland, Patrick was faced with much hardship among the pagans, especially the druids. They were not open to handing up their power and their old religion and were fearful of Patrick and Christianity. However, Patrick converted many of the monarch’s family members, but he did not convert King Laoghaire, who was the ruling monarch. Patrick traveled from town to town, converting people and establishing the Catholic Church. By the year AD 444, the the first cathedral of Ireland had been erected in Armagh.
Patrick drew thousands of people to the Catholic Church, he ordained priests, built schools and monasteries. In the end, Patrick managed to convert the whole Irish island in less than 30 years.
Clothing and fashion always have a power in setting up the context for what we do. The way we dress can define our attitudes towards ourselves and others. So, if you wish to celebrate St. Patrick’s spirit or the Irish culture, your clothes are one of your best tools to do.
Fraquoh and Franchomme
Further reading:
Men’s Saint Patrick’s Day style guide
P.S. We want to hear from you! Do you celebrate St. Patrick’s Day? How do you celebrate it? Do you dress special for the holiday? Share your feedback, questions or thoughts in the comments below! For more articles on style, fashion tips and cultural insights, you can subscribe to Attire Club via e-mail or follow us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram!