What to wear
What to wear to Thanksgiving
Dress for the table, the kitchen and the couch, in that order.
The short answer
For Thanksgiving, wear something comfortable but polished that can handle a long meal: a sweater with trousers or dark jeans, a knit or wrap dress with boots, or a button-up with chinos. Choose soft fabrics with a little stretch, warm fall colors and layers for a hot kitchen. Match your family's usual level, from cozy casual to dressy.
Usual dress code: Dressy casual
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Before you get dressed
Every family does Thanksgiving a little differently, and that's the best guide to what to wear. Some households bring out the good china and dress for it; others eat buffet-style with the football game on. Either way, you'll sit through a long meal, move between a hot kitchen and a cooler dining room, and appear in at least one group photo that gets shared for years.
When you're deciding what to wear to Thanksgiving, aim for comfortable but polished: soft knits, forgiving waistbands and fabrics that won't show a spill, styled so you look put-together when the camera comes out. If you're hosting, plan to cook and serve in the same outfit. If you're a guest, dress a notch above everyday, and ask the host about traditions like a backyard football game or a dressy dinner.
Thanksgiving: outfits for women
Build the outfit around soft knits: a sweater with trousers, a pleated skirt or dark jeans, or a sweater dress with boots, all with a little give at the waist. Add earrings or a scarf for the photos, and pick sleeves you can push up while you cook.
- Family dinner: a pumpkin or rust cashmere sweater, a camel pleated satin midi skirt and chocolate knee-high boots.
- Hosting: dark straight jeans or ponte trousers, a fitted cotton tee or fine knit with sleeves you can push up, a cardigan to add when you sit down and cushioned flats or loafers.
- Dressier dinner: a jersey wrap dress in burgundy or forest green, sheer tights, heeled ankle boots and gold hoops.
- Football and a casual gathering: a flannel shirt or a crew-neck sweatshirt in your team's colors, high-rise jeans and clean sneakers or suede boots.
- Plus-size: wide-leg pull-on trousers in a soft knit, a longline tunic sweater or wrap top and ankle boots with a block heel.
- Petite: a cropped sweater tucked into a high-waisted A-line midi skirt or straight cropped trousers, with knee boots or pointed flats that keep the leg line long.
Thanksgiving: outfits for men
A sweater or a button-up with chinos or dark jeans covers almost every Thanksgiving. Go for soft fabrics, a comfortable waistband and layers you can shed in the kitchen, and add a blazer only if your family treats it as a dress-up dinner.
- Family dinner: a camel shawl-collar cardigan over a cream oxford shirt, olive chinos and brown suede chukka boots.
- Hosting: a merino crew-neck sweater or a henley with sleeves you can push up, dark jeans or stretch chinos and comfortable leather sneakers or boots.
- Dressier dinner: a brown tweed or olive corduroy blazer, a light blue or cream shirt, gray wool trousers and brown leather shoes.
- Football and a casual gathering: a flannel shirt over a tee or a quarter-zip in your team's colors, dark jeans and clean sneakers.
- Big & tall: a relaxed-fit merino or cotton sweater in rust or navy over a collared shirt, straight-leg stretch chinos and cushioned boots; a longer sweater length won't ride up when you sit.
- Friendsgiving: a fisherman sweater or corduroy overshirt, black or olive jeans and suede boots.
Color
Colors to wear and to skip
Wear
Warm autumn shades feel right at the table: rust, pumpkin, mustard, olive, burgundy, camel, chocolate and cream. Deep jewel tones like forest green and plum work well too. Choose the fall colors that flatter your coloring; cooler-toned people often look best in burgundy, plum, navy and charcoal.
Skip
Skip white and very pale fabrics if you're cooking, carving or serving; gravy and cranberry sauce show everything. Summer brights and neon look out of season next to fall decor. Head-to-toe orange can look like a costume, so pair pumpkin tones with neutrals.
The most flattering version of any color is the one that suits your own coloring. Find your color season to know which shades to wear near your face.
Details
Things to consider
Host or guest
Hosts need washable, stretchy clothes they can cook in, plus a quick upgrade, like a cardigan or earrings, before guests arrive. Guests can dress up a bit more, since they won't be basting a turkey.
Family traditions
Some families dress up for a formal dinner; others spend the day in jeans. For your first Thanksgiving with someone else's family, ask your partner or the host what people usually wear, then aim slightly above that.
Comfort
A long, heavy meal calls for knit waistbands, wrap styles, ponte and stretch denim. Skip anything tight at the waist or stiff when you sit.
Weather and travel
Late November can be mild in the South and snowy in the North. If you're traveling, pack wrinkle-resistant knits, bring a coat for a post-dinner walk, and wear boots if you'll be crossing a muddy yard for touch football.
Etiquette
Do's and don'ts
Do
- Choose soft fabrics with some stretch at the waist.
- Layer a cardigan or overshirt over a lighter top for the hot kitchen.
- Wear something you're happy to see in the group photo.
- Ask the host how dressy the day is, especially at a new family's table.
- Wear nice socks or tights; some homes are shoes-off.
Don't
- Don't wear a tight waistband or stiff jeans to a multi-course meal.
- Don't wear white or delicate silk if you're cooking or serving.
- Don't wear loose, trailing sleeves or long scarves near the stove.
- Don't overdress for a casual family day; a cocktail dress or a suit can feel out of place.
- Don't wear shoes that pinch; you'll stand in the kitchen and maybe walk after dinner.
Questions
Thanksgiving outfit FAQ
Can you wear jeans to Thanksgiving?
Yes. Jeans are fine for most Thanksgiving gatherings, especially casual family dinners and football-watching days. Go for dark denim with a little stretch, and dress it up with a nice sweater, a button-up or a blazer. If your family treats Thanksgiving as a dressy dinner, trade the jeans for trousers, a skirt or a dress.
What should I wear to Thanksgiving with my partner's family?
Dress a notch above what your partner says is normal: a sweater with trousers or a midi skirt, a knit dress with boots, or chinos with a collared shirt and a cardigan or blazer. Keep it on the conservative side, skip slogans and bring a small host gift. Ask if the home is shoes-off so you can wear nice socks.
What colors should you wear on Thanksgiving?
Fall colors are the classic choice for Thanksgiving: rust, pumpkin, mustard, olive, burgundy, camel, chocolate and cream. Deep jewel tones like forest green and plum work too. There's no rule, so wear any color that suits you, but save white for a day you won't be near the gravy.
What should I wear if I'm hosting Thanksgiving?
Wear washable, stretchy clothes you can cook in, like dark jeans or ponte trousers with a fitted tee or fine knit, and keep sleeves short or easy to push up. Before guests arrive, add a cardigan, earrings or a nicer top so you look polished. Choose cushioned flats or loafers, since you'll be on your feet for hours.
Is it OK to wear leggings to Thanksgiving?
Yes, for a casual family gathering. Choose thick, opaque leggings or ponte pants and pair them with a longer sweater or tunic, boots and a scarf so the outfit looks finished. For a dressier dinner or a first visit to someone's family, trousers, jeans or a knit dress are a safer pick.
What should I wear to Friendsgiving?
Friendsgiving is usually more relaxed than a family Thanksgiving, so dark jeans with a cozy sweater, a flannel shirt or a knit dress with boots all work. If it's at a restaurant or has a theme, adjust to match. Bring a layer for backyard gatherings, and wear something that can survive a potluck spill.
Keep reading
Related guides
Dress codes
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