Packing for Thanksgiving
The week of Thanksgiving is really the kickoff to the holiday season, in my opinion. The triumvirate of Thanksgiving, Christmas, and, to a lesser extent, New Year’s Eve (my birthday!) never felt very close together growing up, but once I went to college and was traveling home from school, I realized how much of a whirlwind this period of time can be. We’ll be having a bit of a whirlwind ourselves this year, so I’m gathering some reliable outfits together to carry me through the traveling. I started packing for the Thanksgiving long weekend today, since we’re going out of town and away from sunny South Florida. Ok, it’s not like we’re going to the great white north, either, but Atlanta definitely has more of a winter than we do, so I’m trying to plan accordingly. I decided to gather two pairs of versatile jeans and a handful of tops that I can layer with a heavier sweater or jacket.
Two Basic and Versatile Jeans
While I’ll probably throw in a pair of leggings, too, I try to pick jeans that are different from one another — one light wash and one dark, for example — that don’t stretch out after one wear. This leads me to my Madewell 10-inch High Rise Skinny Jeans and 7 For All Mankind B(Air) Denim Ankle Skinny Jeans in black. I’ve had both pairs of jeans for a coupe years now and they’ve held up well. I’ve definitely gotten my money’s worth out of both — but especially in regards to the Madewell jeans.
I love the Madewell option because they’re a lighter wash but still pretty rich in color (a darker wash is available here). I think the color is very versatile, because I can wear them with a lighter shirt, like the light gray James Perse tee pictured above, or a darker option, like a dark plaid button down from Frank & Eileen.
Old and New Favorite Tees
Even when I’m going somewhere cold — for example, when I went to New York City for Christmas last year — I like to pack light layers since indoor heaters can be pretty intense. I’m obsessed with this super oversized Free People leopard print tee right now. It is so comfortable and so flattering, and it’ll go great with either pair of jeans I’m planning to bring. Similarly, the light gray James Perse Sheer Slub Casual V-Neck is a go-to style of mine, and the color is a fantastic neutral that still has a bit of character to it.
My newest find in regards to t-shirts, though, is the Madewell Tilda Cat Dot Tee, which I picked up a couple weeks ago on a whim (it’s now on sale at Nordstrom!). I sized up in the t-shirt, which was a good call; it’s a boxier fit and a tiny bit cropped, so I found that sizing up was just more comfortable all around. This tee is pretty neutral while still having a bit of whimsy in it in the form of subtle cat faces throughout. It’s basic but not boring — just how I like my t-shirts. Plus, at $45, the price point isn’t bad.
Sweaters and Button Downs
I’m a huge fan of Frank & Eileen’s button downs. I think I have seven of their tops, now, and am really impressed with how well the fabric and structure stands up over time. This green, yellow, and black plaid top was a splurge of mine the other day, so I’m excited to start to get good use out of it on our trip. Normally, my go-to styling for this button down would be with the lighter jeans, because I think that’d make the plaid pattern pop more, I’m probably going to wear it with the black jeans and a lighter boot for a dressier look.
Besides the Frank & Eileen button down, I’m planning on bringing my favorite J.Crew Tippi sweater in navy with gold stars. I got this sweater probably about a year ago now and it’s still a favorite of mine. I love the Tippi style but, beyond that, the color is just so rich and wonderful. Like I mentioned, the pictured sweater is an older style, but this Crewneck Sweater in Super Soft Yarn is a similar design and has some great colors.
Don’t Forget the Accessories
I like to wear fun jewelry and accessories, but I’m not the best at remembering to wear them. I tend to wear different pieces more often while traveling because I actually pick them out ahead of time and have them on my mind. We’ll see if this works when I’m packing for Thanksgiving this year.
This trip, I’m thinking of bringing my new favorite J.Crew tartan headband (which I found thanks to Carly!) and a little Madewell scrunchie I bought the other week. I’m planning on packing my green Madewell bandana (similar style here) to tie onto a purse or around a bun depending on the weather. The necklace and earrings I’m planning on packing are older 8 Other Reasons pieces, but Bloomingdale’s has a bunch of similar styles from Robert Lee Morris Soho and Aqua.
Are you going out of town for the holiday?
What are you packing for Thanksgiving?
