Styled in Ireland / A Subtle and Festive St. Patrick's Day

Today I’m back with another Styled in Ireland post for you – just in time for St. Patrick’s Day!

We all know St. Patrick’s Day is Ireland’s time to shine. It’s the day the whole world thinks about Ireland, people pull out every item of green clothing they own, and some monuments around the world even get turned green for the day! It is a big day for this little country.

St. Patrick’s Day is a national holiday in Ireland, which means there’s no school or work. If it falls on a weekend, we get the following Monday off! Locals usually enjoy an extra few hours to sleep in, and then spend

the day with friends or family, often over a few pints at the local pub. Whether in Dublin or out in the country, there’s a parade to be watched. Most locals I know don’t bother with the Dublin parade, but I know local parades in smaller towns can be a fun annual tradition for some folks.

{Those girls in front of me were decked out in tiny little leprechaun hats, a full month before Paddy’s Day! It gave me such a chuckle, as you can tell!}

Tips for Travellers

If you’re visiting Dublin on St. Patrick’s Day, you’ll probably want to see the parade. I understand, you’re in Dublin after all! Just keep in mind that in order to be able to see any of it, you’ll want to stake out a spot early. And you’ll want to wear comfortable shoes for standing, and lots of layers. St. Patrick’s Day in Dublin usually isn’t very warm, maybe low 50’s.

Now, the trick with wearing so many layers to stay warm while watching the parade is that you’ll want to be able to strip some of them off when you head to the pub after the parade. And if you’re anything like me, you’ll want to wear something that’s comfortable and doesn’t feel too ridiculous six hours later when you’re still hopping from pub to pub.

Which brings me to my last tip: keep your green subtle. When I was little, I absolutely got decked out in every item of green clothing I owned. And you’re welcome to do that if you’d like. But I prefer my green to be a little more subtle and stylish these days. These green pants are incredibly comfortable and a really beautiful shade of green – which means I’ll wear this whole outfit even when it’s not St. Patrick’s Day!

Highlight // Irish Designer

See that beautiful little cashmere scarf? Made by the incredibly talented Eilis Boyle, and just perfect for keeping you warm on a chilly Paddy’s Day. Eilis makes the most decadent cashmere snoods and scarves in warm, neutral colors. They are just the coziest.  Eilis is also one of the co-owners of Bow in Powerscourt Townhouse, a sweet boutique carrying a great selection of Irish jewellery, clothing and accessories. You can find her cashmere accessories there as well!

Sponsored by Avoca Malahide

Avoca Malahide is the newest of the Avoca shops and cafes in Ireland and it’s happily right around the corner from our house on the grounds of the Malahide Castle. It’s an absolute treat to head up there for a coffee and a cake, wander around their shop, and then take a walk around the Malahide Castle grounds.

Avoca Malahide is working to create a community space as well as a retail outlet, and I’m working with them on a few projects – the latest project is a lifestyle blogger meetup on April 3rd. If you’re a lifestyle blogger in the greater Dublin area, send me an email and I’d love to get you involved!

Missed the previous Styled in Ireland posts? Check them out here! Summer / Match Day / Afternoon Tea / Picnic / Chilly Weather / Wedding Guest / Date Night

Lace top: Avoca / Sweater: similar / Trousers: Avoca / Boots: Clarks / Scarf : Eilis Boyle / Hair and makeup: Kristin Labanauskas / Photography: Julie Matkin, Half a Dream Away / Styling: Emily Westbrooks