Just in time for St. Patrick’s Day, green is having a golden moment.
From Banana Republic to Intermix, stores are teeming with tops, shirts and skirts in shades ranging from treasure green to floral verdant.
But to avoid looking like the Jolly Green Giant, we askedfashion designer Nicole Young to tell us the best ways to mix, match and look lucky like the Irish.
The answer: “The most crucial thing to take into account when picking the perfect green for yourself is your skin color and tone.”
Here are some ways to go green with envy:
Color & complexion
“The lighter your complexion, the darker the green you should wear, while if you have a darker complexion, go for bighter, more vibrant colors,” says the fashion guru.
Kelly green works best for those who haven’t experimented with the color before, “because it looks great on both dark and fair skin,” she says.
But if you are olive-skinned and still aren’t ardent about donning nature’s hue, Young says to pair up pants with a cute top.
To get it right from head to toe, slip on a scarf and slip into sandals or sneakers.
“Green shoes make an outfit really fun and vibrant,” she says.
And a scarf really spices things up.
“The best scarves are those with green prints as opposed to a solid green.”
Meanwhile handbags and jewelry are also must-haves.
“A green handbag or tote is exactly what you need to bring an awakening to an ordinary outfit. And jewelry, like a bangle or cuff, really adds some punch.”
1) “Mix and match patterns as long as they compliment each other,” says
Young. Samantha striped shirt, $58 at Banana Republic; Empress miniskirt, $24.50 at Old Navy; Vanessa wedge, $78 at Banana Republic; convertible clutch, $12.50 at Old Navy; Tory silk twill scarf, $38 at Banana Republic.
2) When in doubt, go with a jacket.
“You can wear anything underneath and it’s still really striking, but don’t wear green leather.”
GAP jacket, $69.50 at the Gap; Wooden handle canvasclutch, $19.50 at Old Navy; enamel bangle, $38.00 at Banana Republic
3) Tempress kelly dress, $320 at nicoleyoungstyles.com; Bliss canvas sandal, $60 at http://www.keds.com; floral silk scarf, $14.50 at Old Navy
What makeup pairs with green?
“If you’re going to wear green eye shadow, make sure it’s not the same green as your clothes,” says makeup artist Deborah Padilla.
“For paler skin, go for a matte deep berry on the lip and eye shadows that are gold and bronze. And if you have olive or dark skin, wear more pink and peach.”
She also says to wear black eyeliner if you have a darker complexion and brown if you are fair-skinned.
“Most importantly, you should never wear red lipstick of any kind. It’s too much like Christmas!”
Tempting eye shadow, $14; Shroom eye shadow, $14, at MAC; Diorshow Black Out mascara, $25, Dior at Sephora. For a little extra lip action, choose Flossy Glossy Kelly lip gloss (not pictured), $22 at scottbarnes.com