There are two camps of attire among people who dress up for St. Patrick's Day. There's those who treat it as a costume, and there are those who just wear green.
If you're not in the dress-up-like-a-leprechaun camp, it's possible to put together a stylish and affordable outfit that embraces green.
I went to a few shops downtown -- PVC Music, 863 Broad St., and Shoppe 3130, 1126 Broad St. -- that have unique secondhand and vintage items.
For men, I found a few button-up shirts that can be layered. The key to layering greens is to stay within the same color but wear different shades. For example, a bright kelly green and a light true green, solids or patterns, would work well together. A teal and true green would clash because of the blue undertones in teal.
A light-green and white-embroidered long-sleeved vintage button up shirt I found at PVC Music for $17 would look great over a faded green T-shirt.
A vintage button-up shirt I found at Shoppe 3130 was a mint color with short sleeves and silvery buttons. It would look good with a more subdued color underneath, such as gray or forest green. It's price was $8, but Shoppe 3130 is having weekly sales this month on its merchandise, so it will be less.
For women who want to be Irish for a day, rather than falling back on that old green shirt or sweater you bring out once a year, try a bold green dress or bright-green accessories.
I found a few dresses at Shoppe 3130 that fit this description. One, a white and green dress with a scalloped neck, has the bright green of St. Patrick's Day that you'd be able to wear again. It's $29.99, full price. I paired it with a brown belt at the waist ($2 at Shoppe 3130).
Another dark-green wrap dress is a great look for a curvy figure. Since the green is subtle, you could pair it with some light-green and gold accessories for St. Patrick's Day. This vintage dress has a $19.99 price tag.
For larger figures, try a flattering dark-green jumper like the one I found at Shoppe 3130 for $5. It would look great worn with leggings and could be layered with a light-green turtleneck or a white camisole, depending on the weather this year.
For a different look, make your accessories do the work -- wear black, white or gold and carry a purse with a green pattern or bright-green shoes.
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