Weekend Edition #33: Thanksgiving Dressing

Not the stuffing kind. We're talking comfort food clothes and more.

Hi there!

Fall finally arrived in New York City this week, draping the city in soft morning light and washing the afternoons in shades of gold. Nights arrive early, but the sky twinkles with lamplit windows, street lights, and skyscraper spires. It’s a cozy time, and I’m craving that right now.

Looking down 5th Avenue & the view from the Guggenheim. My two favorite Georgia O'Keefe's: Radiator Building – Night, New York (1927) & City Night (1926)

Last weekend we took our three boys to the Guggenheim Museum for their ‘Wake & Make’ craft session, which exists in partnership with Materials for the Arts. The November Art Challenge is Collect and Connect! The team set out trays of supplies for the kids to explore and create their works of art.

Materials for the Arts is New York City’s creative reuse center supporting arts. A program of the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs with support from the Department of Education and Friends of Materials for the Arts, their warehouse connects and inspires local students, teachers, artists, and nonprofits to imagine a more creative and sustainable future.

It was a slow start. There were a lot of different materials, and at first glance, few ways to connect them. My children looked lost, so I asked the coordinator for glue. She kindly handed me a few pieces of tape and then directed my attention to the Solutions board, where there were suggestions like weaving with pipe cleaners, tying ribbons together, and going wild with stickers. Whoops, no glue was the whole point.

More challenging, for sure, but dare I say more satisfying? We crafted for hours, making project after project. Our works weren’t masterpieces (in fact, they were pretty terrible), but that wasn’t the point.

The results don’t matter. The doing does.

I’m fairly certain the theme was coincidental, but it felt incredibly timely. We all have to work harder to make connections these days and it will likely get more challenging over the next few years.

But we can do it.

Art is a powerful tool for connection, and so is fashion. It is why we gather around the metaphorical

Substack

table, and as we prepare to gather around the literal table for Thanksgiving, I thought I’d serve up some style suggestions.

I personally love Thanksgiving, but I also know it can be a hard time for many under the best of circumstances, which we are hardly in, so I offer these looks as either a celebration or a distraction, a way to take up space, or a recipe to feel as comfortable as possible.

LOOK BOOK

For a friend-filled gathering, go casual yet cozy. Pair an oversized Fair Isle sweater (a men’s style is always a good idea and helps Fair Isle from feeling too sweet) with a little pleated miniskirt or a skort (!). Add a lace-up derby and a frilly ankle sock for the ultimate tomboy vibes.

Let someone else do the cooking while you cook up a fabulous outfit. The Nap Dress is the perfect style for a big meal in a swanky setting, with after-dinner drinks in a dimly lit lounge. A tweed overcoat, a sparkly clutch, black boots, and a cashmere beanie complete the perfect recipe for Thanksgiving out on the town. P.S. For those thinking ahead, I wholeheartedly agree with Sogole Kane, who says “Cashmere accessories are a truly underrated gift, IMO.”

I am lucky to love everyone at our Thanksgiving, but if I had to walk into the lion’s den, I’d wear something from Jenna Lyon’s den. She always looks comfortable, chic, and confident. If you purchased the Hey Gang raglan sweatshirt before it sold out, wear that. If not, try this. I love these wide leg wool pants in Cherry Jam (yum!) and these oxblood patent leather heels. Fun fact, I don’t have my ears pierced! So instead of statement earrings, I’d wear the sparkliest necklace I could, right on top of the crewneck. Kill ‘em with kindness - and a badass look - I always say.

I love this look for hosting at home! A leopard print pant will hide gravy splatters, and the drawstring waist on this one will be comfy no matter how many marshmallow-topped sweet potatoes you devour. Kule tees are the best (grab a striped one while you’re at it, my mom and I both love them), and a denim jacket is light enough to leave on inside - this collarless version elevates the whole look just enough, so do those patent ballet slippers! I added a suede market tote, in case you need to run out for last minute supplies before the guests arrive!

If you’d like me to find additional options for you, message me or leave a comment! I love shopping, especially for other people! It’s why I became a merchant :)

EXTRA THOUGHTS

I devoured so many good pieces last week.

Kelly Williams

suggested “we don’t always need to wear clothes to improve our mood but (perhaps) to meet our mood. I’ve thought about how we might need to dress with comfort in mind.”

Laura De Valencia Kirk

styled some gorgeously bold outfits with pieces she found at Ross, and wrote “Fashion isn’t confined to Vogue, big-name brands, fashion capitals, or luxury stores. It exists beyond those gates and boundaries; it’s in places like Ross, where many people, especially immigrants like me, experienced fashion in a real, immediate way.”

Jenny Power

said, “the truth is no one really cares what you wear…get dressed, speak of your personal style, but only do it for yourself, and only if it brings you joy.”

Xue

offered, “I’m not aiming to be anyone’s fashion icon, but I’m still drawn to the art of getting dressed. Every morning, I want to create something that feels grounded yet expressive, comfortable but elevated.”

Jennifer Cook

wrote about the community action she hopes to see over the next four years and how she plans to dress for it: “you lean into uniform dressing because you are confident, capable, and getting shit done.”

Jennifer Klee

wrote, “I know I am the best version of myself when I am creating something.” Same, girl, same. She also wrote, “I think we’re seeing the closing act of the ‘quiet luxury’ look, and I am SO ready for it to go.” Same, girl, same, again.

And

Hillary Kerr

also suggested looks for Thanksgiving, with the caveat that, “the cooking, decorating, and family time are front and center for me, so this is not going to be a trend-centered story. No shade; just saying.” (Her suggestions were still spot on.)

WHAT I BOUGHT

Nothing! Ok, I exchanged the boots I bought last week for these but that’s it. (I also returned the J.Crew coat in Petite - apparently, I have long arms for a short person.)

Thank you for reading, and have a wonderful weekend.

x Lindsay