EVELYSS / Guides / Fashion Sense
Fashion Sense · Ms. EvelyssWhat to Wear to Thanksgiving Dinner (Casual, Hosting or Out)
For a casual Thanksgiving dinner, wear something soft, warm and forgiving at the waist: a knit sweater with dark jeans or wide-leg trousers, or a knit midi dress with boots. Dress it up one notch for a restaurant or someone else's table, and down one notch if you're hosting and cooking.
“Thanksgiving is the one dinner where the outfit has to survive four hours of sitting, a hot kitchen and seconds. Dress for the second plate, not the first photo, and you'll look better in both.”Her take
What should you wear to a casual Thanksgiving dinner?
The best Thanksgiving outfit is one you forget you're wearing. That means a soft knit on top, a bottom with some give at the waist, and shoes you can stand in for an hour. A fine-gauge sweater with dark straight or wide-leg jeans, a knit midi dress with boots, or a cardigan over a fitted top with pull-on trousers all work.
Keep it a notch above what you'd wear on a Saturday at home. Dark denim instead of faded, a sweater without bobbles, real shoes instead of slippers. One deliberate detail, such as gold hoops, a silk scarf or a good belt, is enough to make it look chosen.
What should you wear for each Thanksgiving setting?
Where you're eating matters more than the holiday itself. Use the setting to decide how dressed up to be, then build in comfort for the meal.
- Hosting at home: a washable knit or long-sleeve top you can push up, dark jeans or pull-on trousers, flat shoes or low boots. Change your top just before guests arrive if you've been cooking.
- At family or in-laws: a knit midi dress with boots, or a soft sweater with tailored trousers. Polished but not formal, and nothing too tight to sit in.
- At a restaurant: a sweater dress, a silk blouse with wide-leg trousers, or a fine knit with a midi skirt. Add a coat you're happy to be seen in, since you may keep it nearby.
- Friendsgiving: jeans, a good knit and one bolder piece, such as a colored sweater, a leather skirt or statement earrings.
- Outdoor game or walk after dinner: add a long coat, a scarf and boots with grip. Keep the indoor outfit the same underneath.
Which pieces stay comfortable through a long meal?
Look at the waist first. Wrap dresses, knit dresses, wide-leg trousers with an elastic back, and high-rise jeans with a little stretch all stay comfortable after a big meal. Stiff, rigid denim with a tight fixed waistband is the thing most people regret by dessert.
Choose tops that skim rather than cling, and avoid anything you need to keep adjusting, like a very cropped sweater or a top that slips off one shoulder. A longer knit worn loose over trousers covers the waist and still looks deliberate, especially with a half tuck at the front.
How do you dress for a hot kitchen and a cold walk outside?
A full house and an oven running for hours can make a home much warmer than usual on Thanksgiving, even when it's cold outside. Layer so you can adjust: a short-sleeve or three-quarter-sleeve knit under a cardigan, or a thin long-sleeve top under a looser sweater you can take off.
Avoid your heaviest chunky knit as the only layer. If it gets hot, you have nowhere to go. Keep the warmth in the coat, scarf and boots, which come off at the door.
What colors look right for Thanksgiving?
Warm, deep colors suit the table and the season: rust, camel, chocolate brown, olive, burgundy, mustard and cream. They also hide the odd splash of gravy better than white or pale gray.
If you prefer neutrals, wear tones of one color, such as camel with cream and brown, and add warmth with gold jewelry. Black works too; soften it with a textured knit so it doesn't look like you've come from the office.
What should you avoid wearing to Thanksgiving?
Skip anything you can't wash if you're cooking or serving. Leave white silk and pale suede for another day. Avoid long, wide bell sleeves near candles, serving dishes and gravy boats. Very high heels make an afternoon of standing in a kitchen feel long.
And don't dress so far above or below the rest of the table that you feel out of place. If you're unsure, ask the host. It's a normal question, and the answer saves you guessing.
Questions people ask
Can you wear jeans to Thanksgiving dinner?
Yes, for most family and casual dinners. Choose dark, clean denim with a little stretch and pair it with a good knit and real shoes, not sneakers you'd run errands in.
Is a dress too dressy for Thanksgiving?
Not if it's a knit, sweater or wrap dress worn with boots. Save satin, sequins and cocktail dresses for a restaurant that calls for them or a party later in the season.
What shoes should I wear to Thanksgiving?
Ankle boots, loafers, ballet flats or knee-high boots with a dress. If you're hosting, choose a flat or low block heel you can stand in for hours.
What should I wear if I'm hosting Thanksgiving?
Something washable and easy to move in, with sleeves you can push up. Keep a clean top ready and change just before guests arrive.
What colors should I wear for Thanksgiving?
Rust, camel, olive, burgundy, chocolate and cream look warm and seasonal, and deeper shades forgive spills better than white.
The takeaway
Soft knit, forgiving waist, layers you can take off, a warm deep color, and one notch up or down depending on whose table it is.
Read next
New looks, every day
Her shorts, the Sunday code word for her promo codes, and answers to your questions, on every platform as @msevelyss.
Ask her yours