"You know that saying? Dress for the job you want, not the job you have? Well, the way I see it: Even if I’m attending a Thanksgiving Dinner for three in my tiny one-bedroom apartment with just my husband and my French bulldog (yes, she counts), I’m dressing to the nines. It’s true that I’ve always carried this mentality, but in a world where “comfy casual” is setting the new fashion standard, who wouldn’t want to take the opportunity and celebrate the year’s most noteworthy feast in top-notch style?
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Listen, I recognize that after a morning of cooking, the last thing you want to do is put on real pants, but just for a second, can we all agree that sporting your fall best, no matter how much time passes before jumping back into your sweats, is part of the tradition’s allure? Though it’s likely you’ll be a bit overdressed, arriving at Thanksgiving Dinner ready to take home the title of the best-dressed attendee in a carefully thought-out ensemble is the mood boost we’ve likely been needing all year.
Ahead, I’m sharing four easy tips to achieve cool-girl status this holiday, complete with outfit inspo to get you started. Oh, and I take back what I said about winning best-dressed—with these tips, there’s no competition.
1. Choose a stand-out piece
Fur Jacket (Plus) | Turtleneck (Plus) | Jeans (Plus) | Kitten Heels | Bag | Earrings
Regardless of the holiday, as a stylist, I often tell clients to center their outfits around one piece. Be it a knock-out jacket or your favorite pair of jeans, narrowing in on one item acts as a catalyst when getting dressed, easily inspiring the rest of the look. However, for the sake of turning up to Thanksgiving Dinner in an inspo-worthy ensemble, I’d recommend starting with something a bit more unpredictable.
Take this fur coat, for example, and look at the way it elevates the otherwise basic pieces. By keeping a tonal base, you’re allowing the jacket to become the main attraction in the outfit. When you inevitably take it off, though, you’ll want to have accessories that will run the show. Another rule of thumb I offer my clients: When in doubt, stick to a monochromatic palette—it provides a neutral foundation while helping you look put-together in a pinch.
2. Embrace the season’s trends
Jacket (Plus) | T-Shirt | Jeans (Plus) | Loafers | Bag | Gold Bangle | Silver Bangle
If you, like me, are a more is more kind of person, go for multiple trends at once: mixed metals, leopard print, a splash of burgundy—the more the merrier. Feeling a bit risk-averse when it comes to your style? There’s still plenty of room to experiment with this season’s it-girl must-haves. Similar to choosing a statement piece to center your outfit around, I suggest starting with one more trend-forward item—be it a print, silhouette, or color—and working from there.
3. Don’t forget to accessorize
Jacket (Plus) | Top (Plus) | Shorts (Plus) | Boots | Belt | Bag | Earrings
First, let me start by saying that there is no more elite, cold-weather combo than boots and shorts. But, for the sake of the matter at hand, I digress. You’ll notice that a majority of these looks start with a simple, tonal base for the sheer purpose of controlling where to focus the attention. In this instance, I want my accessories to be the focal point (look at them—who wouldn’t?), but not entirely; therefore, I’m utilizing another neutral (gray) to create more depth. By keeping a fairly neutral base, I’m letting my burgundy bag and other statement accessories take the attention. This season, don’t be afraid to mix your metals, either, since it’s a surefire way to reach instant cool-girl status.
4. Go for a pop of color
Coat | Sweater | Trousers | Sneakers | Bag | Necklace | Gold Ring
While you’re getting dressed for Thanksgiving dinner, don’t be afraid to think outside the box and style something a bit more unexpected. Brighter colors, like hot pink (in my newfound favorite sweater, might I add) tend to lean a bit more warm-weather focused, but when sported in fall-ready silhouettes and paired with darker tones, actually feel cold-weather appropriate. To bring more visual interest, try playing around with different textures, whether through accessories, outerwear, or footwear.
Tinsley Crisp, Fashion & Beauty Staff Writer
Tinsley Crisp is a Fashion & Beauty Staff Writer at The Everygirl and specializes in reporting on the season’s latest trends and hottest products. As a New York City-based stylist, she’s committed to injecting joy into the art of getting dressed and delivering attainable yet aspirational content to our readers.