Do you love figuring out what to wear to a Memorial Day Party? Memorial Day is the unofficial start of summer and the first summer barbecue, even if it is rainy and cold enough to start a fire and toss on a cozy sweatshirt! There is a definite tendency towards rainy, freezing celebrations in the Midwest for this first of the patriotic holidays!
Let me help you come up with some fun Memorial Day outfits. They can be as simple as denim shorts or jeans with a white shirt, or as elaborate as a layered red, white, and blue ensemble. The key is to look at my outfits as inspiration. Then go check out your closet for similar items. Lastly, if necessary, purchase one (or two ;)) of the items I have curated for you. Remember that anything you wear to a Memorial Day party can easily be repurposed for the Fourth of July and Labor Day. These red, white, and blue clothing items are wearable from year to year, with a few tweaks to look cute, current, and fashionable.
Please scroll to the end of the post as I have collected red, white, and blue pieces from several of my favorite retailers for you to enjoy.
Memorial Day is an American holiday, observed on the last Monday of May, honoring the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military. Memorial Day 2024 will occur on Monday, May 27.
I remember when my cousin, Eddie died in Viet Nam. We were all getting ready to celebrate his homecoming when we learned that he was killed on a helicopter while showing the new officer the lay of the land. We were devastated because we loved him so much and he was so much fun. We thought he had successfully made it through his years overseas. So, Memorial Day is a time I remember that particular fallen hero.
Outfit #1 What to Wear to a Memorial Day Party?
| Dress | Tee | Bag | Sandals | Earrings | Watch | Bangle |
In this first outfit of what to wear to a Memorial Day party, I paired a Ralph Lauren denim dress with a red and white striped tee. This is a subtle nod to the red, white, and blue of Memorial Day. Denim always works for an outfit for Memorial Day because it is a classic fabric. For accessories, I wore white pearl stud earrings, a gold bangle (similar, here), and watch, and nude sandals (similar, here). My bag is sold out (similar, here). The handles are rattan, and the bag is wicker, perfect in the summer and spring.
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Outfit #2 What to Wear to a Memorial Day Party?
| Striped Oversized Shirt | Linen Pants | Sandals | Hat | Sunglasses | Watch | Bracelets | Earrings |
This is the perfect Memorial Day outfit if it’s a warm one. The striped oversized shirt (similar here, here, and here) is loose and flowy. The linen pants are classic in color, fabric, and style. I added the fedora and sunglasses as it was such a sunny day.
My sandals are flat and a tobacco color (similar, here with a 15% coupon when you check out). Nude would work as well of course. My stainless steel watch is almost always on my wrist and I added a group of affordable beaded bracelets for a “high-low” effect. My silver and turquoise earrings (similar, here) give a bit of a boho vibe to this ensemble.
Outfit #3 What to Wear to a Memorial Day Party?
| Blue Striped Shirt | Jeans | Sandals | Bag | Watch | Earrings |Bandana |
Here, I paired a pair of J Crew Factory cropped flared white jeans with a pinstriped blue and white cotton shirt (similar, here). I rolled up the sleeves and added the same wicker bag (similar, here) as the first outfit. I am wearing the cutest bandana ever! I wear this over and over with various outfits! My sandals are nude flat ones (similar, here) and lastly, my jewelry is my stainless steel Ebel watch and my “diamond” stud earrings.
Pro-tip: Wearing vertical stripes makes everyone look taller. Also, this shirt is shaped with long darts from the bust to the waist. This is a very flattering feature to look for on a woman’s shirt as it allows the shirt to skim over one’s waist area in a complementary way. I tend to carry any excess weight in my mid-section, so I love how this shirt looks because of its shape and waist-skimming properties.
Happy Early Memorial Day!
XO,
Dr. Julie
PS Here are a few more posts for you to enjoy:
Red, White and Blue Outfits for Summer Holidays
How to Make a Fun Red, White, Blue Tablescape!
