Brittany, Herself.

Thanksgiving Dressing

by

Over the river and through the woods…

It’s almost Thanksgiving, and if was up to me, the only requirement would be a hair tie and my eating sweats, but in my house, it’s a holiday that requires a touch of decorum, and an underwire bra. I mean, we’re rarely fancy, but I like to eat warm turkey in pretty clothes, and save the leggings for Black Friday eating it cold out of a zip lock bag. We all have our traditions.

In fact, it’s been my goal over the last three years to turn holidays into an event. My mom has albums of memories of my grandmother in pretty holiday dresses with set hair, entertaining rooms of people with stories and a glass of wine in her hand… I have no photos like that. Holidays were never an event for me, they were a “did you just take my photo? Can I see it? Oh my God, please delete it.”

Holidays are now an event in our home. And those photos are proof of life, so bring on the champagne and cloth napkins and clothes, I’ve got pictures to smile for.

Now, because everything’s better with options, I’ve put together four Thanksgiving Day outfits, from the casual to the lovely, to inspire and get those style juices flowing so you’re eating your pie in style… and hopefully with extra whipped cream.

Thanksgiving Feminine

Feminine. This outfit feels vintage with a touch of flirty; like Lucille Ball in the kitchen, Jayne Mansfield in the bedroom.
Denim Shirt: Target Women’s Plus, size 1
Skirt: Ikebana for All, Modcloth, size 1X
Belt: Brown Braided Gold Buckle Belt, Lane Bryant
Shoes: Tan Wedges, Target

Thanksgiving Casual

Casual. Eating is my number one priority, and I don’t necessarily need a dress for that. I can squat down at the kid’s table with the best of them.
Hello There Sweatshirt, size XXL, Old Navy
Yellow Striped Tank, size XXL, Kohls
The Rockstar Midrise Super Skinny, size 16, Old Navy
Brown Leather Boots, Fitzwell

Thanksgiving Country

A Little Bit Country. I’m a born and raised country girl, and this is me adding a touch of cold-weather flirt to last summer’s eyelet dress.
Gray Sweater, size XXL, Old Navy
White Eyelet Dress, size XXL, Target
Brown Leather Boots, Fitzwell

Thanksgiving Sporty

Boho Easy. It has taken me exactly five years to embrace this bootie craze, mostly because I don’t like things that cut me off in the leg, as it’s one of my thickest parts. But for a good mocc? I make exceptions and learn to embrace my calves.
Gray Fleece Dress, size XL, Old Navy
(Note: I seriously wish I would have sized up in the dress for extra comfort. Ahh hindsight.)
Brown Moccasins, Target

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  2. Love ALL the outfits!! I also love that they are pieces that are in stores right now. Style-wise, I love number 3, but convenience is definitely in number 2. I think as long as you’re put together with hair and make up, no worries about those Thanksgiving pictures. And thanks for the inspiration to try a little harder this year. 😉

  3. Ok, I have been dying to ask about the Old Navy Rockstar Jeans. I have a problem with lower rise jeans buttoning just above my muff (not a good look) and in the pictures at the Old Navy website these jeans look like they are really low. So at the risk of getting too personal, how high is your waist, Brittany?

    • These new midrise jeans come up just above my belly button. The regular rise is lower but they are so stretchy, I usually yank them up to my belly button anyways:)

    • I thought I would have a problem with these too (due to my giant booty), so I stuck with the Sweetheart skinnies for a while. But they don’t come in as many great colors/patterns as the Rockstar ones. I went for it, but sized up from the others and they seem to do ok most of the time. I do have to pull them up a little when I stand up to get the booty back in place, but they button just under my belly button.

      Oh, and I’d say I’m pretty evenly balanced between leg/torso. If that helps 🙂

      • Thank you both, I will have to check them out. Also, thank you all for the ongoing fashion insight. I bought my first pair of wide leg boots this morning. No more numb feet for me! Oh and you look amazing, Brittany!

  4. As much as I love all of these outfits, I will still be enjoying turkey and stuffing in the same sweatpants and t-shirt I help my mom cook in. But I get the idea of creating holiday memories. I need to make sure my husband snaps some photos throughout the day, so I can remember all the great moments with my mom even when I’m old and grey and have worse memory skills than I already do. We cook together every other year while watching the Macy’s parade on TV.

  5. I really think I dress better because of your blogs. Otherwise I would give up on being pretty. 🙂

  6. I Love that first outfit!
    I totally agree with you about making holidays an event. Both my family and my husband’s family are extremely casual for holidays. I wish we would all class it up a notch a couple times a year. Unfortunately I don’t have the clout to make that happen yet. I usually try to wear something nice and feel over dressed.

  7. I love the idea of making holidays into events. So many times it’s just the same old same. Some of us in the kitchen, cooking and arguing and enjoying each other all at the same time. Some in the (two rooms over) living room watching football and ipads. Younger kids playing in the basement playroom. I wish everyone would at least try not to make it feel like any old visit at my parents’ house. Some do try, some don’t. I love your sense of style. That first outfit would be it for me! The sweatshirt and jeans for Friday. I haven’t decided what to wear yet. Have a great Thanksgiving!

  8. Fun outfits, I line that they are not frumpy, we need to bring dressey back to our holidays like back in the day..

  9. Hi Brittany!
    I thought I would chime in with my opinions!
    #1 is my favorite look, it’s fresh, it’s flirty, its a little touch of country and a little touch of sophisticated. I love it! However, it is not suitable for Thanksgiving. It has a belt. Unless you want to spend the entire holiday in absolute misery, DO NOT wear a belt to Thanksgiving dinner!! I fear that somewhere between the yams and the cranberry sauce (with extra whipped cream), your upper half will begin to fill up with toxic gasses, you will lose all feeling in your lower extremities, and you will begin to experience that dreaded feeling that you have hot water running through your bowels. I feel strongly that wearing outfit #1 would be a grave mistake.
    My vote, therefore, is for #4. It’s a nice stretchy knit, no waistband, and nothing binding. The only problem that I see is that it isn’t patterned. Wild prints and patterns are the only way to go when attending a food related event. You could drip, slobber, and spill and no one would be the wiser!!
    Enjoy your feast, just leave the belt in the closet!!

  10. Love the last one – the grey fleece ON dress – can I ask what you have on underneath (like any spans)?? I always have a problem making it flow smoothly over my hips/legs – yours flows perfectly smoothly on you!

    • Yes, just like the high underwear spanks, and only because it’s short. I could never get away with thigh spanx in that dress.

  11. I feel like such a rock star because I *have* the fleece dress from Old Navy. I think Old Navy usually runs large, so I got the large in this dress and agree – coulda gone a size up!

  12. yay! thanks a bunch! I love number 3 the most and the idea of just adding pieces to a summer dress to make it more cold weather friendly! thanks for helping us all think outside of the box!
    happy thanksgiving!!
    🙂
    s.

  13. I love them all!!! But I love one just a little bit more…..I am in love with the first one!!!
    Happy Thanksgiving!!!

  14. Thanks so much for the inspiration for creating some cool, photo shoot, long-lasting holiday memories, while dressed a little nicer this year! You look great! I appreciate you including the where-to-buy, sources too!
    The gray dress and moccs look mighty comfy, taking you from prepping that turkey, all the way to wine time on the sofa!

  16. LOL – for me, “if it fits, it’s fashion” – And our Thanksgiving is VERY casual – my entire family is about comfort and stretchy clothes, so my vote is for the very casual # 2 look – if you were going out or not hosting, I would go with # 1. But, I’m all for #2. Happy Turkey Day!!!

  18. I like the idea of dressing up, but it does get in the way of the helping cook and I do loves me stretchy pants! I’ll still make them look decent, not go looking like a hobo, but dressing up? Nah

  20. You have the best affordable looks! I’m really digging the gray dress & booties! Gotta check my Target for those, they’re Fab!

  22. Loooooooooooooove outfit number one. You look amazing! #3 is gorgeous too and the other two are cute. I hope you’re jeans are secretly unbuttoned in #2. If I opt for jeans on Thanksgiving, I know mine will be!

  23. Love the first one!

    Somewhat personal question… I have a gut and these outfits (and others you’ve shown) make it appear as though you do not. More like you’re more evenly curvy if that makes sense. Is that the reality of it or do your clothes do a great job of disguising your belly? Or is it the Spanx?

    • Not personal at all. I have a crazy long torso (like, I sometimes buy maternity tanks for length), and as a result, the smallest part of me is from under my boobs to the bottom of my ribcage, so I know to wear things that flatter that. It’s really just a well planned illusion. I also carry most of my weight very low. Like, hips, thighs, and then also my upper arms.

      It just came down to learning my proportions are how to dress them.

  24. Hear Hear to the champagne and cloth napkins! My mom waited until we were in high school before we used the “good” crystal and china. And now she wishes she hadn’t waited. So I use ours whenever I have a good excuse. Birthday? Holiday? Friday? New job?

    I also have champagne flutes my (now deceased) grandma bought me when I was only dating my now-husband – because I mentioned we liked to do champagne just because on Fridays and she thought that was SPLENDID. So now whenever we have champagne, it’s like she’s toasting with us. :..)

  30. Love this especially outfit 1. Please do more of this for the more shallow/less esoteric people like me. Love love live your fashion posts

  31. Well, it’s official. I discovered your blog a few months ago and started way back at your first entry and worked my way toward present day. I made it! Now I’m current!! Love these outfits, by the way!

  33. Madam, you are evidence, proof positive, that a woman who embraces her body and dresses it with whatever looks good regardless of what the tag says is glorious. And inspirational.

    I think Boho Easy is super cute! I think I need those booties!

  34. Every time I see you in an outdoor photo shoot I imagine you stripping down in the woods. Where the heck do you change, girl? Love the outfits, especially the first dress!

  36. I am in love with the yellow skirt. Thank you so much for sharing. Also, my 2 year-old was looking at these photos and we had the following dialogue:

    Clara: Who is that little girl?
    Me: That’s a girl named Brittany.
    Clara: No, that not Brittany, that Ariel.
    Me: Ariel? The little mermaid?
    Clara: Yeah, that Ariel.
    Me: You might be right.

  38. Love the Hello There sweatshirt so much! I read this post Monday night and ran out Tuesday night to buy it . Cannot wait to wear it to a party in a couple weeks.

    Hello There….

  40. I actually dressed up nice for my Thanksgiving today – and I usually don’t. I’d like my hillbilly family to get away from eating in jeans and sweatshirts. I’ll work on that!

  41. Do you have problems getting your calves in boots I can not find a pair that will go over mine. Do you recommend any?