Thanksgiving is around the corner. Can you believe it? The longest year ever is almost over. Of course, Covid isn’t over, so Thanksgiving will be different for most of us than in years past. The gatherings will be smaller, and people will likely travel less. One thing that won’t be different is there will be lots of good food and I will not be cooking.
Cooking is a chore that I don’t readily enjoy, especially at Thanksgiving. The preparation and timing of everything cause me massive anxiety. I used to be the one to do it all, but eventually, I gave in to ordering the spread of just going out. Recently I had to find a baby photo for my daughter’s senior yearbook. Of course, she wanted to select the exact photo, so we spent time browsing through old photos online. She was shocked to see that I used to host Thanksgiving. It is always good to have photo evidence, especially when trying to convince your kids of something.
Hosting Thanksgiving may not be part of our tradition but wearing a stylish Thanksgiving outfit is definitely a big tradition in our house. Long gone are the days when I dressed my kids in Gymboree’s latest line, but I personally still enjoy dressing up for the holiday. Truth be told, my 15-year-old son will still wear a dress shirt if I ask him to. He is such a good kid. Keep reading for a Thanksgiving outfit inspiration and hints at what outfit I may actually pick.
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Thanksgiving Outfit Ideas – The Dress Options
Outfit #1: Let’s Dress Up
The holidays are a time to dress up and let your inner sparkle shine. We used to celebrate Thanksgiving at a local resort, and I enjoyed the opportunity to dress up. Southern California is pretty casual, so I dress up when I can. May I suggest this year, you consider a pretty maxi dress. There are so many gorgeous options in the colors of the season.
My dress is from Scotch & Soda. I love the on-trend geometric pattern. I am wearing a medium. It is a fairly light-weight dress, so if you are in colder climates, you definitely want a coat or long sweater to wear with it. You can wear a maxi dress with so many different types of shoes, including boots, booties, flats, or heels. For a dressy look, I added rag & bone Boots and a faux leather blazer. To make the look more casual, I added a lug sole white boot. I always skip high heels because I am the tallest woman in my family.
Outfit #2: A Dress to Eat In
Thanksgiving is all about the food. Between the stuffing and the pie is a whole lot of carb-heavy goodies and extra helpings. The turkey is really an afterthought. A good idea is to pick a cute dress for this Olympic eating event that gives you a little extra room for that growing food baby. Luckily for us, a babydoll or a smock dress is hugely popular right now.
Both of my dresses below are from Anthropologie. The first is a babydoll dress, which is sold out. The second is the Nerina Tunic Dress. I like wearing dresses with boots during the colder months. You can also add tights to most dresses for added warmth though I wouldn’t add them to the first dress below because of the fabric’s breezy nature.
Outfit #3 A Cozy Sweater Dress
It is the season of the sweater dress. I am mostly a pants girl for many reasons, but one big one is I always get cold in dresses. A pretty sweater dress allows me to stay warm. Of course, sweater dresses are hugely popular right now, so there are a ton of options to choose from. Mine is another dress from Anthropologie. I like the stripe detail and henley styling on this dress. It makes it unique. I also picked up a thicker black sweater dress that I plan to wear with OTK boots, likely at Christmas.
Thanksgiving temperatures can be all over the place in San Diego. A couple of years ago, it was 80 degrees, and the kids went swimming. I scrapped my planned outfit for a summer weight blouse and pants. This year looks to be more traditional, and a sweater dress will likely be a perfect option. There are so many great sweater dresses to choose from; you can definitely find one in a cut and color you will love. You can see some of my picks below.
Thanksgiving Outfit Ideas – The Pant Options
I started with dresses because I think most people think of dresses when they think of holiday outfits. But in all honesty, I usually wear pants. As I mentioned before, I am a pants girl. Not only because I get cold easily, but I find pants more comfortable and more my style. I never have to worry about how I am sitting or getting down on the floor. Pants are just easier to move in, and I hate feeling restricted.
I am the woman who wears a tuxedo suit instead of a dress to a formal event. The woman whose pant collection is outgrowing her closet space. It will come as no surprise that I can justify pants for almost any event, and why not? Pants can be as dressy or as casual as you want them to be.
Outfit #1: Cool Corduroys
First off, I must tell you I am obsessed with corduroy pants this year. Look for an upcoming post on my favorites and how I style them. These Free People Pull-On Corduroy Flare pants are amazing! They are available in 19 different colors (19 PEOPLE), and the sizes run like jeans meaning the best chance of a proper fit. I am wearing my normal size 29. The pants have an elastic waist, so they feel like leggings.
Select colors are available in short and long lengths, but I am wearing the regular length and work with both heels and flats. I may consider ordering the black in long as I will likely wear those mainly with heels and prefer just a smidge longer. To dress up the cords, I added a pretty blouse and pointy-toe boots.
You can also wear these cords with your favorite sweater. Below I added a button-down shirt and cotton sweater. The great thing about this option is the layers. You are covered if the home where you are celebrating is cold or unexpectedly hot. My sweater is from Everlane, which you know I love. You could also wear with more of a statement sweater. I will link some of my favorites below.
Outfit #2: Statement Sweater + Jeans
Maybe your Thanksgiving is casual. I think more celebrations will be this year as we gather in smaller groups. If your holiday is casual consider a statement sweater and your favorite jeans. I recently picked up this sweater from Madewell. The colors just make me happy, and they are perfect for the Thanksgiving holiday.
Below I added another sweater from Madewell to a pair of bootcut denim pants. The sweater is lighter weight, so I topped it off with the BlankNYC Suede Moto Jacket. Influencers love this suede jacket, and it is easy to see why. The quality is impeccable for the price, and the look is oh, so chic.
Outfit #3: Print Pants + Cozy Sweater
Maybe denim isn’t quite appropriate for your celebration, but you still want to be comfortable. Try a pair of printed pants like the Leopard Dot Denim from J.Crew. They are technically jeans, but no one will know. They have a good amount of stretch for those extra helpings. I sized down from my normal size (worn in the photo), which you can see in the photo are too big.
Wear these stylish pants with your favorite sweater. I am wearing my beloved J.Crew Cashmere Crew in the first photo that I have in so many colors. This sweater is a staple of my closet. You can read all about how I style this Under $100 Staple You Need In Your Wardrobe.
The second sweater I picked up at the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale. The Frame Surplice Wool & Cashmere Sweater is the perfect dressed up, evening out sweater. The faux wrap detail allows for your favorite camisole or bra to peak out. Of course, skip the bra peeking out for Thanksgiving, please. I am wearing a size large in the photo, but it is definitely too big. I returned for a medium.
So which one do you think I will wear? What type of outfit are you planning? I hope these outfit ideas inspire you to find just the right outfit for your Thanksgiving celebration. If you are interested in what I ended up wearing for Thanksgiving, follow me on Instagram, where I often highlight my day’s outfit. Happy Thanksgiving!
I would love it if you followed me on Instagram for my everyday outfits or on Pinterest for my fashion inspiration. StyleDahlia is a fashion and lifestyle website with a modern take on midlife. We hope to inspire you to step out of your comfort zone, try new things, and live your life in full bloom.
