While the chefs in the family are aiming to make the most delicious food, the rest of us are aiming to be the best-dressed at the dinner table. The decision between looking cute for the family photo or feeling comfortable enough to eat to your heart’s desire weighs on my mind every Thanksgiving.
If your holiday plans consist of going over to a friend’s house that feels like a second family, or gathering with just your immediate family, it might beg the question: Why dress up at all? Why can’t I wear a casual outfit since I see these people every day? I would argue, however, that Thanksgiving is different. Dressing up enhances the festive embrace and elevates the holiday experience.
Thinking of Thanksgiving, the basic color backdrops are reds, browns and orange hues to make sure your outfit gives all the fall pre-Christmas vibes. Grey is fine, as long as it is not sweatpants. I should see none of the typical ‘groufits,’ but instead the elevated ‘groufits’ that have taken the internet by storm this holiday season. For Thanksgiving, pairing a long grey skirt with a grey sweater and some black boots is the new perfect ‘groufit.’ To add to the sophistication, make sure to mix different shades of grey.
This is Thanksgiving, and you want to look your best for your family and friends. Especially when the barrage of questions from your extended family comes — “What are you doing after college?” “How cold is it in Chicago?” “Do you have a boyfriend?” Jeans, however, are given the green pass. With a cute brown belt and a nice sweater, jeans are the perfect mix of cute and comfy that gets the Thanksgiving stamp of approval.
For a modest look, consider a classic, cute dress. A nice midi or full-length dress is fitting as its flowingness hides the bloating that might come from all the tasty food yet to be consumed. However, for fellow short girls, mini dresses are also a good option. Tights are a good way to keep warm, but they might be too tight after consuming all that turkey. Both of these options pair with a nice heel, or if living in a place like Chicago, a nice boot to combat the cold.
A suit, depending on the dress code, might be a bit much. But, suit-like outfits can fit in at any type of party. Nice pants, collared shirt, the jacket minus the tie works, or the tie without the jacket works too. Society is seeing a shift away from traditional suits toward a more casual, Gen Z approach to the suit. Even nice pants and a sweater do the job.
This year, let your outfit lean into the elegance of the holiday. Emulate Blair Waldorf, Emily Gilmore astique. They are the queens of a classic, sophisticated holiday outfit. In fact, just re-watch any Thanksgiving episode from “Gossip Girl” or “Gilmore Girls” for inspiration. Even the show “Friends,” which might be more relatable for NU students as up-and-coming twenty-year-olds. The six “Friends” characters give inspiration for any type of outfit if you’re looking to channel your inner Rachel Green or Chandler Bing.
Whether your style leans business casual or chic, this holiday is meant to be spent with loved ones and eating good food. If picking out an appropriate outfit is difficult, text your friends or cousins and see what the vibe is. When all else fails, stealing from your sibling’s closet is always an option. They’ll love you no matter what you wear, but it never hurts to look your best for the many family photos that will surely be taken on this day.
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