American Thanksgiving: What will you do and wear? - YouLookFab Forum

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American Thanksgiving: What will you do and wear?

April

Veteran

I am delighted to say that we are not hosting this year. Too many of our guests have to rush off to attend a second gathering, so we are changing things up.

The afternoon before, we are taking Mr. A's family to a funky pub for an early dinner (very early so the college kids can go out w/friends afterward). The day of, Mr. A and I are going to cook whatever we feel like eating and then watch The Big Lebowski in our basement theater.

On 12/3, a group of young New York City folks are coming for Friendsgiving Potluck in our barn.

I am debating outfits for both events. Since I'm not cooking, I am free from worry over mishaps with grease, gravy, cranberry sauce...

Skirt with boots and a jacket?
Cozy corduroys and a sweater?
Maybe today I'll spend an hour in the closet figuring it out.

General

36 replies

Latest reply was from April

Anonymous

Familia Tigre is very small- we don't have siblings or children, MIL passed last year, and dad stays in FL, so it's just the 4 of us (me, DH, mom, FIL). We're just planning to go to a restaurant, which we normally do. Will probably wear flowy pants or a long skirt, or maybe my velvet kimono.

I'm not fond of traditional Thanksgiving foods at all. I much prefer fresh summer foods and things with a lot of spice! DH ordered us a lemoncello cake from a local restaurant- so at least there's that

RobinF

Veteran

DH's family is large and local so we will be with a crowd - not hosting though. We're very casual so it's usually jeans but I like to wear a pretty top to make it festive. Same for Christmas. Not sure what yet this year.

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

Out Thanksgiving is likely to be just the Mr. and myself. We have his mother’s funeral that Tuesday and aren’t up to going to my mom’s and helping her cook. We ordered a pre- made meal from a local restaurant and invited my mom and sister over, but my mom is refusing to come. MIL’s passing has fractured his family even more than it was, so no talk of them getting together. I will probably wear my coziest sweats!

April

Veteran

So sorry to hear about your MIL, Khris. And your mom's refusal to come to your place. I hope she can rally for you! The pre-made meal sounds like a perfect solution.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Nice, April! I love a non-traditional Thanksgiving. Our favourite, and let us know what you wear

Khris, wishing your family strength, and a pre-made meal is a great idea.

Since we didn't grow up with TG - it's a foreign holiday to us. We have no family nearby - they are in the UK, the Netherlands, and South Africa - and a very small family at that. But the long weekend is sublime! I LOVE the four days off!!! And it kicks off Christmas in our home. We always have Christmas at home with the doggies.

We hosted Friendsgiving with dear friends last week and that was fabulous! I make non-traditional food. High five, Suntiger.

We are going to friends for TG day and I'm bringing the veggie sides. I will definitely wear dressy bright pants and a cashmere pullover. COMFY, roomy and warm. One of these combinations, with lots of pearls.

Cashmere Puff Shoulder Sweater

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FRAME Mini boot-cut Velvet Trousers - Farfetch

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Cashmere Puff Shoulder Sweater

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Linea Paolo Venata Block Heel Bootie

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Jenn

(website)

Veteran

We have no family nearby and none visiting this year, so we made reservations to spend Thanksgiving at Disneyland. My inclination is to dress it up a bit from normal theme park attire. The weather should be lovely if the winds calm down by then.

slim cat

Veteran

No family nearby and I'm still undecided what exactly to do during TG.
It might be some quiet time with my daughter - movie, baking, playing card games ( food is undecided as well -lol ).
Casual dressing as a rule .

Lesley

Veteran

Joining another family and cooking lots! My formula for the last few years is comfy pants (like jeans) and a Party-in-a-Top (TM Kim France). Fun earrings, sometimes but not always a bold lip (hard to maintain with all the eating!), probably some comfy flats or booties.

rachylou

Veteran

No gathering for us either this year. Cousin’s husband recovering from heart surgery. So… I’ll probably be in my bakery wear, to make my own turkey

Bonnie

Veteran

We'll have a turkey breast and the traditional fixings. We're planning a 9 day trip to visit the family in Dec. so it will be just the two of us for Thanksgiving. DH will cook and we'll probably watch the movie Broadway Danny Rose which is one of our favorite November movies. (We love The Big Lebowski and watch it a couple of times every year.) I'll probably wear my white tulle skirt to make things festive, last year I wore my black star tulle skirt, with a sweatshirt and sneakers.

Zella Nola Amazing Fleece Sweatshirt

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White House Black Market

Floral Full Midi Skirt

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Eileen Fisher Prescot Platform Sneaker

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Zella Nola Amazing Fleece Sweatshirt

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Converse Chuck Taylor Low Top Sneaker

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kkards

Veteran

my immediate family is also small, and we go out. as a family we honest the Jewish holidays in the fall, so Thanksgiving is one that we leave to the professionals. i'll probably wear my "leather pants", this not quite a blazer, but way more than a sweater, and these chelsea boots

Seven7 Faux Leather Pants

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Stella McCartney Ankle Boots - Farfetch

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JAileen

Veteran

We’re going to the SF Bay Area to spend Thanksgiving with my elderly mother at her retirement home. We did this last year and it was very nice. The place where she lives is kind of swanky and they make it very festive. The food is good, and there’s no crowd or hubbub of a restaurant.

There will be five of us: my mother, brother and his wife, and my husband and me. I offered to host it, but they are all flatlanders and are scared of snow. Driving over the mountain pass this time of year is always a little risky. They don’t mind us taking the risk, so we’ve driven over the mountains for holidays for the past 35 years.

I haven’t decided on my outfit yet, but probably a nice sweater and pants. The dining room had a “men in coats and ties” rule until just recently, so no jeans. But last year, at Christmas, I wore black jeans and no one was the wiser! I also wore my Scottie sweater and tartan flats. I might wear the shoes again for Christmas this year. I had to get them to go with the sweater, but they aren’t very comfortable.

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Sloper

Veteran

Quietly at home with DH. We've ordered pot pies and dessert pies from a favorite restaurant and will probably roast some sweet potatoes and make green beans (plain, no casserole!).

Comfy leisure wear will be the order of the day.

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

We are having a casual gathering with family, I think 10 of us, for soups and pie. We're not hosting. I am probably going to wear my plaid boyfriend blazer from NAS, with pearl-gray sweater underneath, pants to be determined, and a scarf I just got as a gift from SIL who will be hosting. Or wool plaid pleated cropped pants and a soft cozy pullover.

1.State Plaid Double Breasted Blazer

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Vince Funnel Neck Wool Blend Sweater

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Barbara Diane

Veteran

This year we’re guests at my side of the family. I’ll check the weather and then decide what to wear. And I should probably ask the hosts what they are expecting attire wise. Thanks for the reminder.

UmmLila (Lisa)

Veteran

My family refuses to dress up for anything. I often dress in something nice despite their vibe, as long as I think I won’t come home from my mother’s place adorned in cat hair.

My daughter and I are vegetarian and dislike traditional American thanksgiving food and we are bringing Indian rice and curry veggies plus some tandoori chicken that we will not eat to our family’s more traditional contributions.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

I was happy to leave Thanksgiving behind honestly, although we have hosted more than one Thanksgiving themed meal. As kkards suggests, we are barely finished with the Jewish holidays and Chanukah, where we are having American family, is soon enough. What I will wear to any of these is a very spontaneous decision.

nuancedream

Veteran

Mr. ND and I have been invited to a friend's home for Thanksgiving dinner. I have been requested to make my dried cherry and cranberry sauce and sage dressing, which I will happily do. I don't think about what I will wear on Thanksgiving day until that morning. Depending on the weather, it will most likely be some comfortable dressier pants and a merino wool sweater.

Sloper

Veteran

Nuance - thanks for the reminder - I’m making cranberry sauce too. My favorite thing to make for Thanksgiving.

Debbie

Veteran

I am hosting dinner for 9. I will probably do jeans and a sweater. I would like to be a bit more dressed up but with cooking it is probably not going happen.

Nadya

Veteran

We’re hosting and will have 9 folks including us, the same mix of family and friends as last year. My husband is not a fan of turkey so we’re making a pork roast with apricot and hazelnut dressing, mashed potatoes and gravy, cranberry horseradish relish, and rolls. One friend is bringing the green beans with shallots she makes every year, one her famous cheesecake, and one couple wine from their winery. My SIL will bring crudités and my husband will make 3 pies, which is his expertise, We send people home with leftovers!

I’ll probably wear my dark green Universal Standard Georgia dress as it’s a bit dressy, comfy, not too warm, and I can roll the sleeves for cooking. Shoes TBD: something supportive for all the standing!

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Andrea H

I'll be cooking a turkey breast for just me and my adult son with a few traditional sides for a late dinner. We usually play Scrabble and/or other games after we eat but I'm also hoping to rope him into helping with my Christmas sugar cookie Target store! https://www.target.com/p/targe.....v_XS000000

Planning on wearing a black ditzy floral midaxi skirt, some kind of sweater, black tights, and a pair of black knee high boots that I haven't worn for probably 5 years or more.

Staysfit

Veteran

I’m hosting and will have 4.5 house guests for 6 days. In addition to DH and myself we will host both my children, DD’s SO, their dog, and my mother. Our meal is going to be a mix of non-traditional mains and traditional sides. Three of us are vegetarian/vegan, my mother keeps Kosher and will not eat any meat in our home, so I am sticking to dairy and fish. We prefer spicy foods, and eat lots of curries. I have premade cranberry clementine sauce, Colby cheddar macaroni and cheese (for my son) and a rum apple pie made from the Granny Smith’s that grew on our tree. I will make garlic mashed potato’s, chestnut sourdough stuffing and Indian Cabbage Slaw (From Olive Trees and Honey a Treasury of Vegetarian Recipes from Jewish Communities Around the World). I am making two main dishes, one bean and veggie curry and one spicy fish curry and maybe some sort of rice. We will have “ Thanks Again” the next day. Our Thanksgiving is casual, so I’m going to wear jeans and a hand knit sweater.

April

Veteran

Bonnie - that tulle skirt was my absolute favorite until it got ruined with red wine. (Since then I have learned how to remove such a mishap but at the time I didn't know.)

SF, your family's food habits remind me to re-post my favorite Thanksgiving cartoon. I had this printed on canvas and it now hangs in my dining room - as a reminder of why we are not hosting.

ETA: because our Friendsgiving will be all NYC cool kids, I feel more pressure over my outfit for that event than for the family pub dinner. It has to be comfortable, safe with crutches, temperature-adaptable (could be frigid! could be warm and rainy!), has to feel like me.

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Sisi

Veteran

Hahaha April! That cartoon is so spot on! It has become complicated to invite people, right? I am Italian and we do not celebrate Thanksgiving but I have always liked this festivity of yours.

Kyle

Veteran

Well, we are hosting 23 people this year for a casual, yet still traditional Thanksgiving meal that will be held outside at tables around the pool. We are doing turkey, gravy, pies and drinks, and guests are bringing various dishes and sides to help out. Planning some games for the kids, and hopefully a walk after dinner. It’s been a lot of work already!

Have not thought too much about what I’ll wear, though it has to be comfortable and appropriate for lots of running back and forth to my kitchen. Sneakers, for sure. And possibly jeans, joggers or nice leggings. Any type of sweater will probably be too hot if I’m in and out of the sun, so I’ve considered a 3/4-sleeve button down blouse or maybe a pretty short sleeve top that’s not a T-shirt. Maybe I’ll try to dress things up a bit with a colorful or pretty necklace. Definitely need to think this through some more!

Nadya

Veteran

Staysfit, your menu sounds delicious!

cat2

Veteran

Wine country vacation with my side of the family. I am wearing my olive green print dress from Peruvian Connection and an old duster length cashmere sweater. Olive suede flats.

Gail

Veteran

I'm hosting for the first time 3 years. I'll be wearing something comfortable possibly a midi shirt dress with some boots. Only 11 people so not a huge crowd.

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