All American Style: Memorial Day Outfit Ideas

Memorial Day is almost here, and if you haven’t found a BBQ to attend, you need to jump right on that. Whether you’re the host or a guest, you probably want to put together an outfit that looks at least a little patriotic by wearing either red, white, or blue, or yikes, all three.

Memorial Day was once referred to as Decoration Day, and most of us will not only just get a day off from work, attend some sort of celebration cookout, but we will most likely be wearing garments that express our affection for the good old USA. I shudder when I see “theme clothing,” but believe it or not, thanks to some clever designers, labels, and manufacturers, it is possible to find something to wear that will represent this holiday and still look hip, cool, and fashionable.

Don’t get me wrong, I am all for celebrating the holiday with a festive outfit, but I am just not a fan of holiday-themed clothing. It’s fun but can easily be overdone, and then you’re left with clothes that you can only wear on their very own holiday. (Though I think the ugly Christmas sweater parties are genius.)

You could wear your Memorial Day ensemble again on the 4th of July, but what red-blooded fashionista wants to be seen in the same outfit twice? Now, I am not talking about a subtle striped t-shirt or lightweight sweater; I am talking about flags, stars and stripes, and the like. I think you know just what I mean.

Unless you’re simply compelled to go kitschy, another idea is to choose clothes from an American designer or brand. Ralph Lauren, Tommy Hilfiger, Keds, Converse, and of course Levis come to mind. It’s a given you will want to work with the colors red, white, and blue, but the trick is not looking too much like a holiday decoration yourself.

Jeans are a perfect start; choose a pair of straight legs or a pair of this season’s dark wash bell bottoms with a high waist. Both guys and gals can go with a traditional white button-down or t-shirt. Also, consider something retro like a peasant blouse, a boxy cropped top, or sleeveless turtleneck in cotton. A mini or maxi denim skirt is a great idea, or go with a pair of long or short khakis. For shoes, consider a pair of white sneakers, Chucks, or funky platforms in one of the holiday colors. Just so you know I am not a complete party pooper, you can always add a bit of fun and buy some patriotic decorations to make some DIY accessories like barrettes, pins, or shoe clips.