Guidebook to being the 'It Girl' at Thanksgiving

With Thanksgiving in just a couple days, my mind has been in a flurry thinking of the best outfits and ways to celebrate the holiday. Some may say that dressing "extra" for a family holiday is quite unnecessary. I would very much disagree. Every day is an event and I like to unapologetically dress as such.

A quote from Audrey Hepburn my mom sent me this morning really sums up the thought process: "I believe in manicures. I believe in overdressing. I believe in primping at leisure and wearing lipstick. I believe in pink. I believe happy girls are the prettiest girls. I believe that tomorrow is another day, and... I believe in miracles."

That being said, after being inspired by a TikTok I saw yesterday, I've put together my personal Guidebook to being the 'It Girl' at Thanksgiving outling everything from outfits to mindsets. Enjoy!

Outfits:

Thanksgiving is the climax of showing off your fall fashion sense before the switch to winter and holiday styles. I put together a little lookbook of pieces in my own wardrobe and divided it into three different categories of aesthetics. The Mini Skirt, The Classic Cozy, and The Cool Girl.

The Mini Skirt

A classic mini skirt is a holiday staple and can be styled in so many ways.

The first outfit is a brown faux leather skirt and a slight off the shoulder maroon top. As you'll see throughout these outfits, deep red has been the color I've been loving in recent months. Paired with burnt orange or brown creates such a moody fall vibe. I styled it with brown booties to bring in another brown tone.

The next outfit is a paisly jacket (some may say it looks like a grandma jacket, but when styled correctly, it is such a unique statement piece for fall) with a neutral top and red skirt to bring out the colors of the jacket. Paired with a hair bow, the outfit comes together.

Lastly I have a classic black mini skirt with a retro striped mockneck and white lace tights. Tights is something I'm looking forward to playing with this season and are such an underrated way to bring character to an outfit. I paired it with my warm brown booties to bring out the stripes in the top.

The Classic Cozy

Jeans are another classic for any outfit. These next three are cozy and work if you want to get in on your family's competitive game of touch football while still looking cute.

The first outfit is a pair of straight-leg jeans with a white t-shirt and my favorite plaid shirt I own. It is oversized, super comfy, my brother has stolen it and now returned it, and it has the perfect red and orange colors for the season. I paired it with a white headband to tie in the white shirt.

The second outfit I am currently wearing as I type this. Burnt orange is a color I love on my complextion and a classic Thanksgiving tone. Paired with flaired jeans (which are also quite stretchy, so perfect for eating a lot at dinner) and a red headband.

The last outfit is a slight elevation of the classic cozy aesthetic. With classic blue jeans and a classic brown cardigan I added some trendy touches with a brown babydoll top and brought in more color with the red headband and of course my beloved red Kate Spade purse.

The Cool Girl

Last but certaintly not least is the Cool Girl. This is the city girl who loves fashion, the amazing and cool oldest cousin (me), and the girl who commits to the look.

The first outfit is made of classic denim and white turtle neck. To bring in trendiness I added one of my favorite accesories, a vest and white booties. These details elevate the look and bring in a fall color palette with the brown tones in the vest.

The next outfit is lower rise gray slacks with a black mock neck top and a striped sweater vest paired with a brown purse to tie together the color scheme. It embodies the cool girl aesthetic.

The last outfit is what I am planning on wearing this Thanksgiving. It is a burnt orange turtle neck with lower rise straight leg brown pants, my current favorite. Back with the brown purse and booties, I can bring in other tones.

Jackets

One last thing to address in this category is jackets. Even though these will most likely be taken off as soon as you arrive at your Thanksgiving dinner destination, there is still something to be said about looking good for the journey. Having intention behind your coat and having it be a part of your outfit can make the cold weather not as bad.

Makeup

Quickly I wanted to touch on makeup. If you're someone like myself and enjoy putting on makeup, here are a few ideas I got from Pinterest that will tie together my overall look.

Personally, I love doing eyeshadow (and of course in my case eyeliner) or more of a dramatic eye look, but there is so many different ways to customize your makeup to your taste and add some flair for Thanksgiving. My personal favorites are glitter on the eyes and a bold reddish lip. My favorite lipstick for achieving this look is Rum Raisin from Revlon.

Mindset

Now that you have your look and aesthetic for the day pinned down, next comes the arguably more important piece going into Thanksgiving: your mindset.

For me, Thanksgiving is about spending time with my family, eating good food, and showing my gratitude for what I have in life. The meaning of Thanksgiving can be different for everyone and it is not always a favorite holiday for people, but I've put together some things about the day that I love and help make it a loving day for me.

The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

I LOVE the parade. I've watched it every year for as long as I can remember. My personal favorite of the whole thing is seeing the Rockettes perform. I desperatly wanted to be one, but unfortunatly at 5'4, I would not make the cut. My high kicks are perfect though. Watching the parade on TV with my family is one of my favorite traditions.

Practicing Gratitude

Whether it is going around the table at Thanksgiving dinner and saying one thing you're grateful for, or making a list in your journal, practicing gratitude can be so fufilling and helpful in remembering the good that surrounds you.

Some things I'm grateful for this year include my family, my amazing friends, the opportunities I've had, getting to live in a house with some of my best friends, and so much more.

Talk and Eat A LOT!

Me personally, I love to get involved in conversation. This isn't so much of a tip or suggestion but more just a fun way to express yourself with your family and step into the 'It Girl' persona. I will be sharing my life, thoughts, and opinions. No shame. Also, do what you can to enjoy the food you eat. Indulge in as much mashed potatoes, turkey, stuffing, rolls, and pie as you'd like. And of course, my personal favorite, cranberry ginger ale. Drool worthy.

That concludes the Guidebook to being the 'It Girl' at Thanksgiving. I hope you all enjoy the long break and Thanksgiving holiday. Eat some good food and enjoy time with those you love. I'm thankful for each and every one of you.

<3 Lainey