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Are you ready for Thanksgiving? Probably not! But I'm willing to bet you five dollars that you're more concerned about what you'll wear than you are about what you're serving. Am I right?
Of course I am.
So what's the best thing to wear for Thanksgiving dinner? Here are three things to keep in mind as you get dressed, and three suggestions for actual outfits.
How formal is your dinner? It's not okay to show up for a dressy family dinner in sweat pants; it's disrespectful to the hosts, honestly. But it's also not necessary to drag out your LBD for a casual family meal. Wear something that is appropriate for the kind of day you'll be having. If you will be helping in the kitchen or entertaining small children, choose clothes that will work for that; if you will be sitting down to a formal, served meal, dress for that.
How long will you need to wear this one outfit? If Thanksgiving is an all-day affair in your family, choose pieces that are comfortable for the long haul. My family typically divides the day in two, with the formal dinner early and then leftovers later in the evening; in between we take the kids to the park and play football. I usually wear one thing for dinner and something else for the football-and-turkey-sandwich part of the day.
Will you be having your picture taken? The answer is probably yes, so plan accordingly. Black is easy, but it can make you look washed out and tired in photos; jewel tones are a better choice. Patterns can also be complicated in group photos, so keep them simple, or stick with solids. And don't forget to accessorize -- the most basic sweater can be dressed up with a pretty pin or necklace, or some dramatic earrings.
So what can you actually pull out of your closet and wear?
Casual dinner: Jeans (dark-rinse, mid-rise) or corduroys, fitted tee, tailored jacket, flats. Add a belt or some great earrings and you're good to go.
Dressy dinner: Skirt and sweater, boots or flats. Choose comfortable shoes that you can stand in. Think about layering a sweater over a blouse or tee if you'll be in and out of the hot kitchen.
Formal dinner: Dress, something simple and comfortable; a day dress is fine, as long as you add some dressy jewelery (I like to put a big vintage pin on my LBD for a little bling). Choose shoes that you can spend the day in, although don't discount heels if that's practical for you.
No matter what you wear, choose something that you can eat and drink and hug in. And for heaven's sake, don't wear sweat pants -- you'll feel more thankful if you feel pretty and stylish.
Looking for more inspiration? Cafe Mom has great practical Thanksgiving suggestions, while Mom Logic breaks it down by what you'll be doing that day (hostess, cook, guest, etc). And Neatorama dispells some myths about what the Pilgrims really wore. Fun!
So what are YOU wearing for Thanksgiving?
Susan Wagner writes about style and parenting at ParentDish and about everything else at Friday Playdate. She will be flying on Thanksgiving day and will be wearing shoes that she can easily take off at the security check point.
