St. Patty's Day the GQ Way

Don't:
Reach for the same neckwear as a circus clown. We get it, shamrocks and St. Patty's day go together like corned beef and cabbage, but there's a better way to show your Irish love than sporting some acid green clovers around your neck.

Do:
Avoid the pinch by sporting some green, but doing it the right way. This silk knit tie has a bit of texture and comes in a less eye-burning hunter green. Plus it will actually get used more than once a year.

$15, available at thetiebar.com

Don't:
Lower your standards. For a lot of guys the day's alcohol consumption is a marathon, not a sprint, so why spend your time sucking down something you would never order otherwise?

Do:
Sip something worth your time. This new entry into the whiskey market takes Bushmills' perfected triple-distilled malted barley and adds a touch of Irish honey for a warm, sweet finish.

For more information visit bushmills.com

Don't:
Get gimmicky and wear something you would be embarrassed to put on the other 364 days of the year. This applies equally to trompe l'œil tuxedo fronts and puking leprechauns.

Do:
Avoid the word play tees. Play it cool in this season's best graphic style, the horizontal stripe.

$21.49, available at asos.com

Don't:
Go for anything that came from Jamiroquai's yard sale. This one might seem funny for five minutes, but after that it belongs back at the '90s warehouse rave it came from.

Do:
Give a nod to the Emerald Isle's heritage without looking like you're hoarding a pot of gold. This tweed wool flat cap tips its brim to Irish heritage without recalling an old man's look. Plus you'll be investing in one of this Fall 2012's must-haves.

$98, available at goorin.com

Don't:
Focus only on how you look for the day's festivities and forget your fragrance. You'll end up smelling like warm beer and sweat if you do.

Do:
Go for something outside of your daily scent that celebrates Ireland's countryside too. CREED's Irish Tweed cologne is one of the brand's best sellers and has a fresh, manly scent that'll be a welcome change for those around you at the bars.

$285, available at creedboutique.com