Thanksgiving Outfits for Men: A Modern Style Guide
The best Thanksgiving outfits for men feel comfortable through a long meal, suit the host’s dress code, and look polished for every group photo. While fall outfits may follow a similar vibe — warm, cozy, seasonal colors — when they align with your specific event, you’ll feel confident from start to finish.
From a backyard football game to a formal seated dinner, this guide covers what’s trending this Thanksgiving and how to land on the right side of dressed up without overdoing it.
Men’s Thanksgiving Looks: Timeless Styles
Thanksgiving style leans into texture and warmth. Corduroy, flannel, and knits are everywhere, and rich fall colors, like olive and burgundy, bring them alive. People tend to lean toward elevated basics, too: Think a quality quarter-zip or a well-fitted sweater instead of a plain hoodie or traditional suit.
Comfort remains a staple part of your look around the holidays. Flexible fabrics, loose silhouettes, and unstructured jackets let you move easily while keeping a clean aesthetic. This elevated casual style lets you nail a classy dress code but won’t leave you with multiple black-tie pieces you’ll never wear. Clothes should earn their place in your closet long after dessert is gone.
Here are a few reliable fall style tips to keep in mind.
Sweaters: The Thanksgiving Staple
A good sweater might be the single most useful piece in your Thanksgiving wardrobe. A crewneck is the safest all-purpose choice, while a V-neck leaves room to show off a collared shirt. Fine-gauge turtlenecks feel dressier under a sport coat, and a restrained Fair Isle knot adds personality to a casual gathering.
Classic sweaters provide consistent warmth, but cardigans offer the most temperature control because you can wear them open or button them up. If you’re attending a fully indoor gathering, pick a breathable cotton, merino wool, or lightweight blend to avoid getting overheated.
Top Fall Colors and Patterns
Autumn shades make an outfit feel seasonal without relying on novelty prints. Rust, chocolate brown, and burnt orange are favorites. But you can also opt for cream and navy, which lets you get more out of your summer wardrobe.
To make a nice fall color scheme, choose one rich color, and then ground it with one or two neutrals. For instance, an eye-catching orange sweater with tan trousers and brown leather shoes.
Texture is a great way to create depth in your look even when the color palette is simple. Try brushed flannel with smooth chinos, a ribbed sweater with dark denim, or a tweed jacket over a fine knit. Consider the proportions of your patterns, too. A larger plaid shirt looks best with otherwise quiet pieces, while a small check can sit comfortably under a textured jacket.
Modern Thanksgiving Trends
While traditional Thanksgiving fashion is always appealing, several modern trends are adding a refreshing touch to this classic aesthetic.
Beyond the basics, let’s take a look at a few trends driving a modern fall closet.
Build A Go-To Capsule Wardrobe
A handful of foundational pieces in a solid capsule wardrobe will carry you through any Thanksgiving plan. Start with a button-down shirt, since they work well tucked into dress pants or layered under a cozy, casual knitwear. An Oxford shirt is a smart pick here because the heavier weave holds up under a sweater or jacket but still looks sharp on its own.
Round out your base with a good pair of pants. For relaxed get-togethers, pick dark denim or chinos, and for dressy occasions, opt for sleek trousers. If you’re looking to get a little activity in, choose shoes that can handle both the dinner table and a walk around the block afterward. We recommend loafers or smooth white sneakers.
Try Vintage-Inspired Outfits
Thanksgiving skews a bit more traditional, so it’s the perfect holiday for a more old-school look. A tweed sport coat with wool trousers brings a timeless, almost 1930s style feel to the table. A cardigan over a button-down shirt, paired with wool trousers, channels a similar vibe with less formality.
Pair either look with leather loafers, and keep accessories simple. A classic watch or pocket square complements the vintage look.
Pro tip: If you aren’t sure how to achieve a vintage look without it feeling like a costume, start small. Add one or two understated pieces to one of your go-to outfits, and work from there.
Choose Polish Over Flair
The easiest way to look sharp for any occasion is to make every outfit choice feel intentional. Check that your shirt collar lies flat, your pants break cleanly over your shoes, and your layers fit comfortably without adding bulk. Then add one finishing touch, like a watch, pocket square, or scarf.
Don’t go overboard. Clean shoes, wrinkle-free clothes, and a balanced color palette will carry the outfit further than an armful of accessories. It is the same reason timeless, versatile pieces continue to anchor holiday menswear season after season.
Casual Thanksgiving Outfit Ideas for Men: 15 Ideas
These combinations cover everything from football games and cabin visits to dinner around the family table. Here are our favorite relaxed Thanksgiving looks.
7 Knitwear Styles
- Crewneck sweater and dark jeans: Choose a camel, forest green, or burgundy sweater, add dark denims, and finish with brown chukka boots.
- Cardigan and henley: Layer an oatmeal cardigan over a charcoal henley, then finish with dark jeans and Chelsea boots.
- Sweater polo and chinos: A knit polo in olive or navy looks sharp with tan chinos.
- Turtleneck and five-pocket pants: A fine-gauge turtleneck with five-pocket pants and Chelsea boots gives casual plans a refined edge.
- Cable-knit sweater and cords: Mix a cream cable knit with brown corduroy and suede boots for a classic fall aesthetic.
- Fair Isle sweater and chinos: Pick a sweater with a subdued pattern in navy, cream, or green, and add simple pants and shoes.
- Quarter-zip and trousers: A fine-knit quarter-zip with charcoal trousers and leather sneakers feels clean but relaxed.
3 Outfits with Button-Downs
- Flannel and chinos: Wear a muted plaid flannel with khaki or olive chinos and suede desert boots.
- Oxford and cords: Pair a white or light blue Oxford shirt with tobacco corduroy pants and loafers.
- Quilted vest and button-down: Combine a lightweight vest with a neutral button-down shirt, dark jeans, and chukkas.
5 Layered Looks
- Overshirt and tee: Try a classic plaid overshirt over a solid, plain tee with black jeans and boots.
- Denim jacket and knit: Layer a dark denim jacket over a lightweight sweater with chinos and leather boots.
- Monochrome layers: Combine charcoal pants, a gray knit, and a black bomber for dark, contemporary take on fall.
- Polo and knit blazer: Wear a solid polo under a tweed blazer with dark denim and leather sneakers.
- Travel-ready separates: Pair stretch chinos with a wrinkle-resistant shirt, quarter-zip, and slip-on loafers for comfortable holiday travel.
Dressy and Formal Thanksgiving Outfits
If your Thanksgiving plans include something more upscale, build your outfit around a sport coat or a full suit in a fall-friendly shade, like brown, olive, or charcoal. A dressier take on Thanksgiving still leaves room for personality, though. Swap a solid tie for a piece with a warm pattern, and add a pocket square for a dash of visual interest.
Pro tip: Keep the formality but add autumn flavor by choosing a textured sport coat in tweed or corduroy instead of a standard suit jacket.
What To Wear to a Formal Thanksgiving Dinner: Quick Checklist
When dressing for a formal Thanksgiving dinner, run through this list for the essentials:
- Suit or sport coat: Choose a fall-appropriate color and a fabric with some texture.
- Dress shirt: Pick a crisp button-down shirt in white or a soft neutral — it works with almost anything.
- Tie: Pick a warm-toned fabric for a seasonal touch. Keep in mind that ties aren’t guaranteed to be a dress code requirement.
- Shoes: Opt for classy leather loafers or oxfords.
- Outerwear: Add a wool overcoat if it’s cold out. It should slide easily over your suit jacket to prevent wrinkling the sleeves underneath.
Nailing the Thanksgiving Dress Code
While dress codes can seem a little confusing, you can usually determine it by examining the event’s host, location, and time of day. A family afternoon at home may call for dark jeans, a sweater, and boots. A restaurant dinner or first holiday with your partner’s family deserves tailored trousers, a collared shirt, and dress shoes.
If you aren’t sure, ask the host and dress a notch above what you’re expecting. It’s always safer to be slightly overdressed than to be the only one in casuals at a table set with fine china.
Find Your Thanksgiving Look at Men’s Wearhouse
Whatever your Thanksgiving plans call for this year, Men’s Wearhouse can help you dress for it. From casual sweaters and chinos to crisp suits and dress shoes, we carry what it takes to help you assemble a striking holiday wardrobe that adapts to any dress code.
If you need a closet refresh or simply advice to elevate your outfit, talk to our teams. Our experts can help pick out pieces, match textures, and align colors, so you can put your next look together confidently.
Whatever’s on the menu, Men’s Wearhouse has the fit, fabric, and finish to make you the best-dressed guy at the table.
FAQ
Can You Wear Jeans to Thanksgiving Dinner?
Yes, if the gathering is casual or smart casual. Choose clean, dark-wash jeans without distressing, and pair them with a collared shirt, sweater, or a sport coat. For a formal dinner, wear tailored trousers or a suit instead.
What Do You Wear to Friendsgiving?
Friendsgiving usually calls for an outfit that’s more relaxed than a family dinner, but it should still be polished and intentional. Aim for smart-casual: a flannel or Oxford shirt with dark jeans, or a sweater over a collared shirt with chinos. Since Friendsgiving often means an active night that runs later than a family dinner, choose versatile holiday looks that can move through dinner, drinks, and a night out.
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