Thanksgiving Outfit guide
How to be the best dressed at Thanksgiving
By: Most Wanted USA
November 20, 2024
Step 1: Choose Your Color Palette
It’s true that Thanksgiving is almost all about food. Almost. It’s also about color. When we think of Fall, Thanksgiving’s color palette comes to mind, like the soothing orange hues, the muted reds, and the cozy browns. All hues that most people like to wear for the holiday festivities. The easiest and first step of your dinner outfit construction is color. You can never go wrong with a cranberry red theme, a turkey-toned choice of browns and taupes, or a warm palette of reds, yellows, and oranges. You can aim for a lighter ensemble by working with cream, beige, white, or khaki, all of which will bring an angelic and posh feel to your dinner party. Maybe you prefer an everything black palette, which can still look festive with the right jewelry and texture variations. Mix any light and warm tones like cream and yellow for an easy-on-the-eyes ensemble, and any cool tones like periwinkle and indigo to usher in the winter season. As long as you choose a color assortment you're happy with, the rest of the outfit will fall into place, leaving you hassle free and ready to eat.
Step 2: Pick Your Favorite Texture!
There are too many comedic and iconic affiliations with Thanksgiving to let this fashion opportunity pass you by. Fashion is about risk, and sometimes humor. If you want to dress like the runway version of a human turkey, now is the time! For those less willing to get weird looks from Grandma, you can still steal the show with an animal print approach. There’s something so meta about an animal print ensemble at a holiday people celebrate with a feather mascot. Bring the autumn agricultural spirit of the season to life with a cowhide jacket, a leopard belt, or snakeskin satin skirt! All of which indicate your sense of holiday spirit, your versatile fashion sense, and your ability to take risks and come out on top. And while feathers might be a bit much, fur accents are never a bad idea, as long as you keep it within your preferred color scheme.
Step 3: Any Aesthetic in Mind?
If you’re still unsure about the starter steps, this is where you’ll have no problem. Simply choose an outfit aesthetic you’re familiar with or have always wanted to try, and head straight to Pinterest. We’ve listed some of the most fool-proof ones with styling tips that are guaranteed to turn heads this Thanksgiving season.
Western Bae
Western Wear is the hottest trend of 2025. Show up to your thanksgiving feast in style with any bold buckaroo elements like a stylish bolo tie, an animal skin jacket, or silver wing tip cowboy boots. Flare jeans, a real turquoise leather belt, and a matching hat never hurt anyone!
Small Town Chic
It's the coquette girlies' time to shine. Any autumn boot, knit socks, mini skirt, sweater, or hair ribbon ensemble will do. Look like you walked straight out of a Hallmark movie with feminine elements like puff sleeves, soft fabrics and patterned wool scarves!
Gossip Girl Glam
Hey Upper East Siders, Gossip Girl is back on Netflix, right on schedule for a dramatic Thanksgiving Dinner Table moment. Arguing with your family members is pointless if you don't look the best doing it. Channel Serena and Blair with logos, lace, sequins, and posh maximalism. Take whatever satin you have in your closet and dress it up with a statement necklace, a headband, and the most luxury looking bag you have!
Comfy Cozy
If your goal is to be comfortable at the table this Thanksgiving, there’s nothing wrong with being a well-dressed couch potato. Cozy fits are welcome this holiday, as you're celebrating togetherness with your loved ones over an extensive meal. Sherpa accents, soft UGG’s, and a loose fitting pair of cotton pants or maxi skirt is more than enough to dress up with a cut hairstyle, soft makeup and a neutral statement bag.
Old Money
Old Money Outfits are built for two things: Resort Vacations and Thanksgiving. The posh, pristine nature of a cashmere cardigan tied over the shoulders, with a tan leather belt, pleated pants, and a loosely buttoned satin blouse are too powerful to pass up. Elevate your light browns, ivorys, and navy blues with a sleek belt, a scholarly fit, and an untouchable aura!
Monochrome Minimalist
Monochrome minimalist, the dynamic duo of design concepts, allows you to do more by doing less. Simply layering or using only a simple bottom and top piece in the same color radiates effort while requiring non at all. Pair a slender silhouette of a dress and jacket or a matching stocking, skirt, and fitted top all in your favorite color, and you’ve got yourself a winning dinner party look. Add only one of either minimal metal earrings, a lengthy necklace, or a different color belt to separate the look with one different color amidst the symmetry and you’ll have stepped right out of the luxury pages of Vogue.
City Girl Home For The Holidays
Bring the city home with you. The best way to stand out amongst the knits, wools, and fur of this holiday season is to add leather, wide leg denim, and metals to the mix. Grab your brown leather trench, your ankle booties, and whatever daily, more urban-friendly staples you wear away from home and craft an outfit that will remind family members where you work.
Vintage Inspired
Fall is premium vintage fashion season. This holiday, looking like you stepped out of a period film is nothing short of iconic. With a “dated” blouse shape, a patterned maxi skirt, some ringlet curls, and your beloved oxfords, you’ll get more compliments than you know what to do with! Era-inspired ensembles are also some of the most versatile. You can add a fringe jacket and bellbottoms for a 70s aesthetic, a fitted waistcoat over a button up accompanied by a hanging monocle, and even an ascot necktie and leather bag!
Color Blocking
Contrary to monochrome minimalist chic, color blocking, its opposite, equally brilliant reflection, is another approach to your Thanksgiving outfit that’s sure to pay off. The simplest construction method is simple, all you have to do is choose a matching, or complimentary color combination and choose one outfit element, a top, a bottom, or an accessory to be the outlying color. Or you can take the “blocking concept” literally, and separate the regions of your body by different colors, yellow on top, orange on the bottom, and red at the toe.
Step 4: Let The Accessories Do The Talking
Hostee or Hostess? Whether you're carting a styling bag to dinner at a family member’s house, or waiting in fuzzy socks on the couch for your guests to arrive, accessories are your holiday outfit gamechanger. Shoes, Bling, and Bags, Oh My! Thanksgiving is the perfect time to break out your autumn knee high boots and over some knee length knit socks, these fall statement shoes can define your whole outfit, and open the widest range of outfit choices you can imagine. Even if you went for a monochrome minimalist aesthetic, sleek gold accents and an elevated textured bag will wrap the whole look together, making even the most basic dress up attempt appear intentional. Not to mention, a statement accessory like a patterned coat or an embossed belt is big and bold enough that you can pair it with clothes you already have and it will carry whatever vintage, western, or Upper East Side aesthetic you’ve chosen! Browse the Thanksgiving Inspo Collection below to get a feel for the kind of statement bags and bling that you can build your outfit around and stay on theme!
Best seller
Wait. Scrap minimalism. What about the die-hard accessory lovers who want to hop on the bag charm trend of 2025? There are so many ways to prepare a show-stopping Thanksgiving themed outfit and still look fashionably trendy. A shortcut is holiday bag charms. In this case, add some rustic tassels or, grateful affirmation charms, and neutral colored animal print keychains! And if you're visiting family abroad or going home for the holidays, a stylish western luggage tag never hurts!
Step 5: Layer Up & Get Ready To Eat!
If all else fails, simply ask yourself: How much do you feel like digging in today? If the answer is “The Whole Thanksgiving Feast” prioritize a dress or sweater you can eat, serve, and slay in. Layering always does the trick if you're a fashion loving foodie, so add a sweater to any of your favorite collars, a vest over your favorite button up, and some leg warmers over a chic platform heel. The easiest way to spruce up an oversized turkey day look is with a cashmere-level comfy pullover, a maxi skirt, and a waistchain along with some heeled boots, or even a trendy pair of UGGs. Layering such an outfit will give you versatility and preparation for a spill or stomachache.
A more fitted, dominant look that says you sit (or should be sitting) at the head of the table, so if power over that long dinner conversation is your priority, shoot for something in lighter colors with a defined silhouette and highwaisted bottom. Even sequin accents on your bag, headband, or cardigan says you tried and that you care.
