2 Easy Tips for Dressing for a Big Thanksgiving Meal without Looking Like a Slob

[Featured above: Give Thanks Table Runner, $34.50 Pottery Barn.]

As if Americans don’t eat a lot as it is (I’m just as guilty as the next person), we go all out on Thanksgiving Day, don’t we? It doesn’t take long for us to realize that jeans and pencil skirts are not fit for a heavy eating holiday. But for us fashionable types, pajamas and baggy sweatpants don’t work either. Maybe that’s okay for Cousin Bettylou and Uncle Max, but many of us like looking cute at the dinner table, especially if we’re the guest. It’s like Tom Ford said, “Dressing well is a form of good manners.” A sloppy looking Thanksgiving Day ensemble is way too rude.

There is a way to find a balance between wearing a roomy outfit that accommodates a bloated belly and looking stylish. Here are two easy tips for dressing well for a big Thanksgiving meal without looking like a slob.

1. Omit the waistband. The easiest way to feel comfortable while eating a big meal is to wear a loose-fitting dress. Select something from your closet that has no waistline whatsoever, like a waist-free bubble dress or a maxi dress. It must flow freely from neckline to hemline. Even a T-shirt dress is a great solution.

   

   

   

2. If you have to have a waistband, go with an elastic one. You have two options: leggings or track pants, maybe even possibly sweatpants. So long as your chosen track pants or sweatpants are not baggy and have a clean, contemporary cut, you can get away with going normcore for Thanksgiving. If wearing leggings, select a flowing tunic to camouflage a full stomach. Dress up track pants or sweatpants with a button down top and sleek loafers or smoking slippers.