How to Dress for Thanksgiving Dinner
Thanksgiving is not only a traditional event to give thanks and gather around loved ones to wine and dine with delicious food, it’s also the beginning of the holiday style season! If you’re at a loss with what to wear this holiday season, we’ve got you covered! Whether you’re hosting guests or attending another gathering as one, don’t compromise style for comfort…you can have both!
If you’re hosting others for Thanksgiving and your company isn’t due to arrive until late morning/early afternoon we highly recommend dressing in loungewear during all your morning cook preparations. Cook prep can be messy and the last thing you need is to ruin your holiday outfit with a grease stain or accidental flour overdose. Instead, keep it cozy and casual until your guests arrive but DO set out the nicer clothes you plan to wear later in your closet or bedroom. Set aside time in your morning cooking schedule to properly dress well before your guests plan to arrive - it’s “unhostlike” (yes, making that a word) to leave your guests unattended to go change and make yourself presentable. Make a schedule so you ARE presentable before they arrive and can join in on the socializing.
Again, you don’t have to compromise style for comfort when hosting. Ladies, opting for a sweater dress or matching pant + top set can be a chic and comfortable option. If opting for a dress, select one that goes past your knees - you’ll be bending over a lot during the day with cooking, cleaning, and serving guests, the last thing you want to be is indecent. Both outfit options, paired with comfortable shoes, provide the utmost comfortability throughout a long day. Remember, you can always change your shoes to a dressy heel or boot once you’re finished cooking or ready to sit down for your meal.
Style tip: if aprons aren’t your thing, a belt is a great way to makeshift a towel apron. Simply tuck in a hand towel on either side of your belt by your hips to help reduce any splatter and damage to your clothes.
Dress - Banana Republic, BEA MERINO SWEATER DRESS, $230 Sweater - Express, Chore Jacket Cardigan, $69.99
Belt - Banana Republic, Lustro Embossed Leather Belt, $140 Sweater Blazer - Banana Republic, Massa Sweater Blazer, $150
Scarf - Banana Republic, Signature Silk Scarf, $80 Cardigan - LLBean, Classic Ragg Wool Sweaters, $109
Boots - Schutz, Maryana Crocodile-Embossed Leather Boot, $238 Shirt - Jos. A. Bank, Knit Button Up Shirt, $39.99
Bracelet - Gorjana, Parker Link Bracelet, $110 Pants - Banana Republic, Houndstooth Grayson Pant, $32
Pants - MANGO, Seam-detail straight-fit trousers, $60 Socks - Ted Baker, Dog Tooth Pattern Socks, $11
Top - MANGO, Knotted Top, $60 Shoes - Dr. Martens, Adrian Smooth Leather Tassel Loafers, $140
Loafers - JCrew, Marie tassel loafers in velvet, $178
Necklace - Zara, Rhinestone Statement Necklace, $90
Ring - MANGO, Flower Crystal Ring, $25
Men have it a bit easier for hosting Thanksgiving - pants or trousers are always a comfortable and suitable option for entertaining. Whether you're cooking or assisting your partner with the hosting, wear something that is comfortably loose and not so form fitting. The last thing you want is to tear an armpit stitch in your suit jacket because it’s too tight while handing one of your guests a drink. A jacket cardigan, like the ones featured above, is a great in-between item that will make you look polished and chic.
Now, a good host will typically always share the dress code when they are hosting an event. In the off chance they don’t, it can be tricky to dress for such an occasion, such as Thanksgiving. You certainly do not want to be overdressed and make your host or other guests feel uncomfortable and underdressed, and you certainly do not want to arrive underdressed either for the same reasons.
Don’t fret, there IS a common ground for this scenario. As a general rule of thumb, stay away from denim. Denim can oftentimes promote an overall casualness to an outfit, even when paired with dressier items. Instead, opt for a nice pair of trousers or skirt and keep the rest of the look somewhat casual and easy. A satin skirt is a great option here because it can be paired with a casual, yet chic, sweater or blouse. Fellas, a printed suit pant is a wonderful option because, again, it presents an overall dressy look without all the bells and whistles of a proper suit.
Jacket - Nordstrom, Good Man Brand Suede Jacket, $598 Black skirt - Nordstrom, Maya Satin Side Slit Skirt RAILS, $188
Sweater - H&M, Wool Turtleneck Sweater, $64.99 Sweater - Rag & Bone, Ingrid Stitched Turtleneck Sweater, $350
Pants - H&M, Plaid Suit Pants, $39.99 Boots - Coach, Pierce Bootie, $194
Shoes - Banana Republic, Lace-Up Suede Boot, $102 Blouse - Zara, PLUMETIS BLOUSE WITH METALLIC THREAD, $45
Grey Pants - Banana Republic, Glenn Plaid Suit Trouser, $84 Belt - Zara, Sash belt, $45
Button Down - Bonobos, Stretch Oxford Shirt, $62.30 Kitten Heels - Veronica Beard, MERLA KITTEN HEEL, $210
Boots - JCrew, Kenton Chelsea boots, $224
Shawl Sweater - Banana Republic, Marled Shawl Sweater, $32
