How to dress for thanksgiving: 9 outfits to choose from!

Food, family, friends, and fashion. All your favorite things combined in one day. Yes, it could only be Thanksgiving. It will be here before you know it. So, let’s discover plenty of ideas on how to dress for Thanksgiving.

You’ll find lots of examples below of Thanksgiving outfits for women over 40 to give you inspiration whether you will be spending a casual day with friends and family or you’re heading out for a more formal dinner.

How to dress for thanksgiving

Along with the decision about whether to eat in or out, the big question is how to choose what to wear for Thanksgiving.

In this article, we will show you how to dress for Thanksgiving and give you plenty of Thanksgiving outfits to choose from.

After all, if you’ve already sorted out the perfect Thanksgiving outfit, you can turn your attention to how you are going to cook your turkey. Or who is going to cook it for you?

How to choose Thanksgiving outfits

As well as how your outfit looks, there are a number of considerations to take into account.

Think about comfort

You will want to make sure that your outfit not only looks good but is comfortable.

We’re sure you’ve joked about having to loosen your pants or move where your belt is fastened by a notch. If you are planning a big meal, you won’t want to wear anything that will be uncomfortable on your belly.

You also might want to sit on the floor and play a board game with family, for example, or you might want to go for a walk after lunch.

Adaline @sdmomstyles above opts for a look that would take her to any occasion from lunch with family to the office. You can alter your outfit with different accessories.

She is wearing a blazer and a pair of ballet flats from Target. Check out this similar tee, jeans and handbag to complete the look.

What will you be doing at Thanksgiving?

Does your family traditionally get together at home before heading out for a walk together, for example?

Or will you be going out to a fancy restaurant for a Thanksgiving dinner? What you wear will reflect the occasion.

Are you hosting Thanksgiving this year?

If you’re the hostess with the mostess, you may find you are rushing between kitchen and dining room.

So make sure your outfit is comfortable and allows you to move freely. You can, of course, still wear a skirt rather than pants if you prefer. Just make sure you are comfortable.

Beth @styleatacertainage above (read her style interview here) wears an all neutral outfit with a flattering wrap blouse.

She is wearing a wrap top and a pair of sandals (another option here) from Vince. Check out this similar pair of pants, earrings and bracelet to complete the look.

Keep the weather in mind when considering what to wear for Thanksgiving dinner

Thanksgiving tends to be when the weather starts to change.

Make sure you take the weather into account unless you’re planning on staying indoors all day in front of a cozy fire, of course.

Add some subtle glamour

Even if your Thanksgiving tends to be a fairly casual affair, you can always add a little bit of glamour with your accessories, or you could choose a silk shirt instead of cotton, for example, to add a feeling of luxe.

You will still be just as comfortable, but you will have given your style a little festive flair.

Angela @angelamashelle above (read her style interview here) shows how you could update your summer dress by wearing a pair of long boots. You could always add a blazer or cardigan for extra warmth.

Steal her look with this similar dress (another option here), boots, handbag, earrings and necklace.

Think about color and texture

As it’s the festive season, you could opt to wear a bold red or choose a texture or material traditionally thought of as party wear, such as velvet or jacquard.

You can still wear jeans and a sweater for Thanksgiving

Of course, you can still be comfortable but you can up the style stakes by choosing red jeans and a cashmere sweater, for example, rather than your everyday blue denim and sweatshirt.

Carmen @carmen_gimeno above dresses up her jeans with on-trend Mary Jane shoes and the flower on her blazer.

Recreate her outfit with this similar top, blazer, flats, handbag and brooch.

Outfits for all Thanksgiving scenarios

We’ve assumed that you’re either at home with family and friends or you’re heading out to a restaurant this Thanksgiving to put together this capsule, but you’ll find options here which should suit the occasion no matter what you are doing.

You can mix and match these outfits to take you from the most casual of family days to the most dressed up of occasions.

You can simply up the refinement levels by pairing a lace blouse with a midi skirt, for example, or you can dress it down a bit by wearing a velvet dress with a cardigan.

There are hundreds of combinations, but you’ll find 9 suggested outfits in this article which feature the clothes and accessories used in our Thanksgiving capsule.

Don’t forget to let us know what you are wearing this Thanksgiving in the comments at the bottom.

Thanksgiving dinner outfit: Jeans and a sequin top

Choosing a special top to wear with your jeans and pants is an easy way to stay comfortable and stylish for Thanksgiving. A wrap top is a flattering style for all figures.

Teri Jon by Rickie Freeman Sequin Wrap Top – Nili Lotan Jonas Skinny Jeans – Bernardo Nili Cutout Sandal – COACH Floral Printed Leather Small Wristlet – Tory Burch Mismatched Linear Drop Earrings

Thanksgiving Day dresses: a sweater dress

If you’re worried about feeling cold but you want to wear a dress, a sweater dress could be the perfect option. Wear with long boots if you want to stay extra warm.

dh New York Ann Sweater & Satin Midi-Dress – Anne Klein Wei Boots – Longchamp Le Pliage City Crossbody Bag – Madewell Puffy Hoop Earrings

Kim @kimair above (read her style interview here) wears her stripe sweater dress with ankle strap pumps.

Get her look with this similar sweater dress (other options here and here), pumps, handbag and earrings.

A flowy jumpsuit

While it can feel traditional to wear a dress for a party, no matter how small the gathering, you could choose a jumpsuit instead.

You can alter the formality of your jumpsuit by wearing with heels or sneakers, for example, or with a faux fur jacket, blazer or cardigan. If you opt for a strapless jumpsuit, you would wear a white shirt underneath.

Cami NYC Hara Cotton Crop Cardigan – Ramy Brook Savannah Satin Cargo Jumpsuit – Bernardo Nili Cutout Sandals – COACH Floral Printed Leather Small Wristlet – Tory Burch Mismatched Linear Drop Earrings

graphic print jacket and pants

Add interest to your outfit by choosing a modern print. Choose velvet pants for a festive look.

Misook Marbled Jacquard Knit Jacket – AG Jeans Mari High-Rise Velvet Slim-Fit Pants – Vince Camuto Sellyn Slingback Flats – Longchamp Le Pliage City Crossbody Bag – Madewell Puffy Hoop Earrings

thanksgiving dresses: print dress

You could easily wear the dress below for winter by adding long boots, for parties with heels, and then keep it for the warmer months with flat loafers or pumps.

Mango Wide Lapel Wool Bend Coat – Misook Sleeveless Knit Landscape Midi-Dress – Anne Klein Wei Boots – Longchamp Le Pliage City Crossbody Bag – Madewell Puffy Hoop Earrings

Karen @styledbykaren above shows how you can style a dress you might usually wear in summer with tights and booties for cooler weather.

Recreate her outfit with this similar dress, tights and booties.

You’ll find more choices here in this article on the warmest dresses for winter.

Wide leg pants and silk top

Wide legged pants can look just as glamorous as a dress and are particularly on trend right now. Wear with a silky top, and tuck your top in to make your legs look extra long.

Elie Tahari The Leslie Velvet Blazer – BOSS Washed Silk Blouse – Misook Woven Wide-Leg Pants – Bernardo Nili Cutout Sandals – COACH Floral Printed Leather Small Wristlet – Tory Burch Mismatched Linear Drop Earrings

wARM COAT

If you’re heading out at all during Thanksgiving, you’ll need a cozy coat. Perfect for cold weather walks.

Dawn Levy Vera Down Shearling Jacket – J.Crew Cashmere Shrunken Cable Knit Sweater – Hudson Jeans Nico Slim-Straight Ankle Jeans – SOREL Kinetic Impact™ Conquest Aurora Waterproof Boots – Aimee Kestenberg Tamitha Leather Backpack – Madewell Puffy Hoop Earrings – rag & bone Blake Wool-Blend Beanie

sweater and skirt

Take a dressy skirt and add casual touches with a sweater and sneakers for a perfectly balanced outfit.

J.Crew Ribbed Cashmere Turtleneck Sweater – Milly Rayla Pleated Vegan Leather Midi-Skirt – Naturalizer Morrison 2.0 Sneakers – Longchamp Le Pliage City Crossbody Bag – Madewell Puffy Hoop Earrings

Greetje @no_fear_of_fashion above (read her style interview here) mixes red and pink with her outfit.

Steal her look with this similar sweater, skirt, high boots, handbag, earrings and belt.

Take a look at how to wear red for more inspiration.

Comfy loungewear

Perhaps you won’t be going anywhere at all for Thanksgiving. If you are at home, you may prefer luxurious loungewear rather than a “going out” outfit.

Farm Rio Belted Cable-Knit Long Cardigan – SKIMS Soft Lounge Long Slipdress – UGG Scuff Sis Slippers

You’ll find more loungewear inspiration in the best loungewear for women over 40.

9 fabulous outfits you can wear for Thanksgiving

There are so many different ways you could combine these pieces so they are suitable not just for Thanksgiving, but to take you through winter and fall.

Below are nine ideas to get you started.

You can mix and match any of the tops and coats with any of the bottoms. You can change the formality of your outfit with the coat and shoes you choose.

shop the best pieces to wear on thanksgiving:

Read our ultimate guide to creating a capsule wardrobe that works best for you.

Below is an earlier Thanksgiving capsule we put together. While it is past season, it should still give you inspiration.

Do you know how you will dress for Thanksgiving yet? I’d love to hear about your Thanksgiving outfits in the comments below. Let me know your how to dress for thanksgiving ideas…

Continue reading:

1. Holiday Gift Guide: The Best Gift Ideas For Women Over 40
2. How To Dress For A Christmas Party: 11 Outfit Ideas!
3. Top Perfumes For Women This Winter: The Most Glamorous Scents For Your Christmas Parties
4. Christmas day outfits – 10 outfit ideas for morning until evening

Happy Thanksgiving!

Like this article on how to dress for Thanksgiving? Save it on Pinterest!

Feature image by Beth @styleatacertainage

Want to get more articles from 40+style in your inbox, subscribe here.

You can also connect with 40+style on Facebook, Instagram or Pinterest.

Support 40+style by using the links in our articles to shop. As an associate for Amazon and many other brands, we receive a small commission (at no cost to you) on qualifying purchases which enables us to keep creating amazing free content for you. Thanks!