Looking for ideas for men’s outfits for Thanksgiving? You’ve come to the right place. From colors to dress codes, we’ve got everything covered!
Our Pilgrim Fathers wore all black to the first Thanksgiving. However, that dress is more appropriate for a funeral today. Growing up, my mother would often put me in my Sunday bests. Some holiday lunches were more formal than others, so I would wear anything from a blazer and khakis to a button-up and pullover. These days, men’s Thanksgiving outfits have arguably gotten more casual.
This is because fashion, in general, has gotten more casual. Moreover, every family does something different. But what if it’s your first Thanksgiving with a girlfriend or fiance? What if you’re a young man about to attend your first Friendsgiving? There are a few safe options that always work and never look out of place. Beyond that, you can have fun with color and accents to make the outfit your own.
Don’t forget — this is still a celebration! Whether you’re going fully casual or super formal, your outfit’s palette is an excellent way to make it season-appropriate. So, let’s start with what colors to wear on Thanksgiving Day.
What Colors To Wear on Thanksgiving Day
What do you think of when you think about transitioning from summer to fall? You’re probably thinking of going from lighter and brighter palettes to darker ones. Well, you’re mostly right. Your base palette is darker and richer: shades of brown, warm greys, burgundy, dark olive, and forest greens.
However, you aren’t getting rid of all of your brighter pieces. And you’re especially not going to forgo them during a celebration! Think about all of the bright colors you see in nature during the fall. There are autumn leaves, afternoon light reflecting on water, pumpkins, and so on.
So, while you won’t necessarily wear these colors as bases, you can use them as accents. Some colors include burnt orange, mustard, yellows, plum, teal, and deep reds. Perhaps you’re wearing brown tweed pants with a navy button-down. Why not top it off with an orange cashmere scarf? Again, Thanksgiving is a party, right?
Heck, you can even wear a burnt orange or yellow dress shirt. Just temper it with a neutral pullover — perhaps a brown or tan cashmere sweater. I also love the idea of bright socks. Bright mustard cable-knit socks with brown loafers? Sure, if you’re so bold.
Most Common Men’s Thanksgiving Outfits: Smart Casual
The most common Thanksgiving outfits for men are usually smart casual. Lunch or dinner is often served at someone’s house. And it’s usually a mix of close family and extended family. In this situation, I want to remind you that you’re still a guest if your uncle, parents or sibling invites you to their house. Even if you’re super close, you want to respect their space. Moreover, you never know who’ll bring a guest. You always want to make a good impression.
I once brought a platonic lady friend from college to Thanksgiving. My then-single cousin and she hit it off that day. They’ve been married for 15 years.
Upgrading Your Smart Casual Attire
If you’re a guest of a guest, you definitely need to step it up past the super casual realm. You can never go wrong with chinos, loafers, a button-down, and an outer layer. Perhaps that outer layer is a blazer, or it could also be a nice pullover. Either will level up your outfit, but neither will look overdressed, even in the most casual situations.
By going for pieces that are casual, fall-appropriate versions of formal attire, you can add sophistication to your outfit. And you’ll do it without adding stuffiness. For example, you might not want to wear a dress shirt, but you can wear a twill button-down. Meanwhile, sport coats, blazers, and chore coats are sportier versions of a suit jacket.
I also highly recommend you add some texture. The way a second layer adds suit-like structure, textures add character. Fall is all about textures! You might consider corduroy, tweed, mohair, or cashmere. Imagine corduroy slacks, loafers, a button-up, and a blazer. If you think the blazer is too formal, just remove it and ask to hang it in the closet.
Finally, when you’re a guest, you must consider whether the host house is a shoes-off household. If so, you might bring a pair of indoor moccasins or just go for a classy or celebratory pair of socks.
Thanksgiving Outfits for Men: Super Casual
Okay, so perhaps your family practically doesn’t celebrate Thanksgiving. Maybe it’s just another roast turkey lunch, and everyone is in sweatpants. Or perhaps your family is like mine, and you get together for a casual dinner after a formal lunch to get in on some cold cuts.
You can elevate your look by being more intentional with your casual clothes. Consider a henley and jeans with comfortable moccasins. A flannel shirt is always a good idea in the fall and during Thanksgiving. Meanwhile, a pair of GATs (German Army trainers) would add a cool factor to your outfit while retaining the relaxed and cozy look. Besides, what if you have to do a last-minute wine run?
Now, let’s say you want to stick to sweatpants. That’s fine. Or, perhaps after a formal lunch, you want to change into something with more give for a casual dinner. I understand that. Fortunately, athleisure has come a long way. Go for clean-lined joggers over baggy sweatpants. You can even wear them with a button-down and open plaid flannel, then finish them with loafers. Or, you can go full athleisure and pair them with a long-sleeve waffle crewneck. Other athleisure pieces to consider include quarter-zip sweaters, stretch polos, and heavy-knit t-shirts like the Bleu de Chauffe Champion Shirt.
By the way, layers are your friend. They’re an excellent way to add a clean-looking structure, even to the most comfortable clothes. A T-shirt and joggers look much more intentional when added to a soft-lined chore coat or a quarter-zip.
Another way to add intentionality is to use the aforementioned color palette. It’s one way to make a random casual outfit look like a Thanksgiving casual outfit. Consider brown joggers, a burnt orange T-shirt, and a red flannel.
What About Friendsgiving?
My biggest advice regarding Friendsgiving is to wear something versatile. Friendsgiving can be super casual or a bit more formal. However, when you’re with friends, you never know what the night will bring. I’ve known many Friendsgivings that have led to bar crawls or after-lunch nightcaps at the local bar. I once went to a Friendsgiving that ended up at a pretty upscale ice cream parlor.
So, bring that aforementioned outer layer. Even if you’re in a T-shirt and jeans, you never know when a sports coat will come in handy. And again, it’s easy to change in and out of. Moreover, since you’re with friends, have some fun with the palette. Those brighter oranges, reds, and yellows your grandparents might not love would be perfect for Friendsgiving. Go for a burnt orange cashmere sweater or rust-colored corduroys. Have fun!
What To Wear on Thanksgiving Day: At Home, Just the Nuclear Family
Of course, you can do whatever you want if it’s just you, the wife, and the kids. I’ll put that out there. However, I think that these small, intimate Thanksgivings with just your closest loved ones should be special. Even more, it’s a great opportunity to be an example to your children. A sort of dry run to show them how to dress when they’re dinner guests.
Consider a twill button-down, slacks, and indoor moccasins. They’re comfortable enough for when you hit the couch for the game. However, they’re intentional enough that you don’t look silly doing the toast.
Even if you’d rather go full casual, you can still add some style touches. Instead of a T-shirt and jeans, go for a henley and jeans. Wear your “outdoor watch” or your “outdoor belt.” After all, it doesn’t take you any longer to slip on the watch you wear on special occasions than it does to slip on your everyday watch.
Formal Thanksgivings
When it comes to formal Thanksgiving outfit ideas, the question is, how formal is it? If you somehow end up at a black-tie benefit, then, of course, you’ll wear your tuxedo. This doesn’t mean you can’t have some fun, though. Wear autumn-leaf cufflinks, a midnight blue tuxedo with a velvet lapel, or even a knit bowtie.
As with a restaurant Thanksgiving, you must always honor the dress code. Perhaps it’s more business formal. In this case, you can wear a seasonal brown suit with a mustard knit tie. Or, depending on the context, you can even go for a full tweed suit. Otherwise, pair a suit with a cable-knit turtleneck. You’ll look cozy, autumn-appropriate, and still formal, minus the stuffiness.
Finally, if the dress code is cocktail, have fun with your tie and accessories. Go for a burnt orange tie or even one with a fun fall pattern. Remember, cocktail attire is just like business formal attire, only you can choose louder, funnier colors and patterns.
Conclusion: It’s All About Respect
When it comes to men’s Thanksgiving outfits, just remember to honor the dress codes, your host, and yourself. It’s perfectly okay to have a sweatpants Thanksgiving as long as you’re 100% sure everyone is on board with it. And if you’re the host, remember that you’re setting the tone. And that’s certainly something to be thankful for!
How do you celebrate Thanksgiving? Are you more formal or casual? Let us know in the comments below.
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