So, how does your family dress (or not) for the holiday? Formal? Not formal? Sunday best on Thursday? Or expando pants???
Speaking for my nuclear family of five, we’re pretty casual, but not sloppy. Jeans and a sweater. Comfy boots or stylish sneakers. Not ruling out leggings and an appropriate top/tunic. If I’m hosting, I’d be ESPECIALLY dressing comfortably, but while I’ll bring a couple of dishes, it’s not at my house.
If we go to the big family reunion Thanksgiving on my mother’s side of the family it’s jackets and nice pants. If it’s at home I try to persuade my kids not to wear t-shirts. Or at least not t-shirts advertising metal bands.
When my kids were little, Thanksgiving dinner was held at their grandfather’s house. He was a divorced guy with a rather laid-back style. The food (which was always excellent because my dad was a very good cook) was eaten off paper plates, and people dressed accordingly.
Later on, when they were teenagers, Thanksgiving involved only our family of four, and the only unique thing about it was that roast turkey was the entree. Often, the meal was eaten in front of the TV. (And the quality of the food diminished because I’m not as good a cook as my father was.)
My daughter, who is in her mid-twenties, is going to her boyfriend’s house for Thanksgiving for the first time this year. I gently pointed out to her that some people dress up a little for this occasion. With our family’s history of ultra-informal Thanksgivings, it’s entirely possible that she wouldn’t know that.
My staple TG outfit is a DVF wrap dress. It is just a comfy robe that masks itself as a fancy frock. The rest of the family wears nicer clothes, too, even if we are staying home. It makes no sense to dress up the table and not the people.
Lol at $225 sweatpants! But I may wear a pair and a tunic this year-I have lost enough weight that people won’t need to cover their eyes if I wear yoga pants!
We’re pretty casual here, which I’ve finally become used to, but when I lived back east, my entire extended family dressed up-not Sunday go to church level dress, but “well dressed”. I admit to missing that. Also, no one eats at a table, so heavy-duty paper plates. The table is wear the food goes. This is apparently a rebelling in my H’s family against 3 giant tables worth of “so fragile you can’t touch it china and crystal” while they were growing up. I got here after that so I’m stuck with paper plates. The food sure is good though!
I wear what I would if I was going out to dinner at a nice restaurant. Black pants, nice blouse/shirt under a pretty sweater. Boots or flats depending on the weather. If it’s a warmish day I’ll wear flats because I’m in my boots a lot in the winter.
The women my age and the younger women wear similar. The guys wear nice slacks, sweaters. The young guys wear jeans.
No jeans or sweats, more nice casual. Cords or other pants, button downs or sweaters for guys. Nicer casual clothes for females, maybe a comfy, cute dress.
Very casuaI but neat- shorts, t-shirts, etc. I always host and we usually have between 20-25. We do a lunch so those who have other family to visit can go do dinner elsewhere. We have hosted it on our patio the last few years because the weather has been perfect but may have to come in this year as it’s supposed to be cooler. My brother always BarBQ’s the turkey. I decorate everything but with a casual twist- burlap table runners, etc. last year it was so warm people went swimming but I don’t think that will happen this year.
We wear what most people call business casual for holidays - the women wear heels with dresses or nice pants, and the men wear button downs with blazers or sweaters. No jeans or sneakers for anyone.
I wonder if there is any correlation between the “style” of the table - fine china vs. everyday dinner plates, vs. Chinet, vs. paper plates - and what people wear.
I am THANKFUL I don’t have to dress up. We are eating, watching football and playing board games - these things do not require dress up clothes (in our family)!!!
