While the centerpiece of Thanksgiving is always an abundant meal (with lots of leftovers, of course!), the surrounding days often include much more than a hearty serving of stuffing, mashed potatoes, and cranberry sauce. For many of us, Thanksgiving spans an extra-long weekend filled with family, friends, and some early Christmas shopping. As you prepare for Turkey Day, a busy weekend means you’ve got lots of outfits to pick when it’s time to pack. Luckily, we’ve made it a little easier to prepare for the holiday with a roundup of five essential outfits for Thanksgiving weekend. Now all you have to worry about is setting the table and digging into some pumpkin pie.

 

On the Road: Thanksgiving is famous—or maybe infamous—for being the busiest travel weekend of the year. When you hit the road before the big dinner, you might be dreading lots of traffic or long lines at the airport. To keep your cool while you’re on the move, it’s important to choose a comfy and practical travel outfit. If you’re planning a road trip to Turkey Day, start with a loungewear staple: leggings. To add a little style to your travel look, go beyond basic black with a unique color or a luxe fabric (we love the velvet leggings trend!). Pair your leggings with a cute oversized sweater, some sneakers, and a beanie to be the best-dressed traveler of the day. If your trip home includes a flight, we recommend layering up. Airports and planes are notorious for uncomfortable temperatures, so we like to combine comfy jeans with a t-shirt, slouchy sweater, and vest for options that adapt to your environment. Finish your travel look with an infinity scarf, which can double as a pillow in flight or during a road trip.

 

Hometown Hangout: If you’re headed to your hometown for Thanksgiving, you might be planning to partake in a popular holiday tradition: the Wednesday night reunion. This event is a chance to catch up with your high school friends, reminisce about the old days, and show off your killer style now that you’ve grown up and moved to the big city. We recommend keeping things relatively casual while fully embracing the latest trends for an of-the-moment look. When dressing for this year’s hometown hangout, try layering your favorite leather jacket over a chic jumpsuit, or walking on the wild side with 2018’s hottest pattern: animal print.

 

Morning Workout: In preparation for some serious eating on Thanksgiving Day, many families add a pre-dinner trek through the great outdoors to their holiday agenda. Whether you’re headed on a hike with your parents or participating in a “Turkey Trot” 5K, you’ll need to perfect your athleisure look for the inevitable family photo. If you’re feeling especially sporty, try out a pair of colorful joggers with a cropped sweatshirt. For a more casual look, repurpose your travel day leggings with a soft hoodie. No matter your outfit, you’ll feel like you earned that extra helping of sweet potato casserole.

 

Holiday Hostess: The turkey is in the oven, the table is set, Grandma is pulling into the driveway—it’s time to get dressed for the main event! The perfect outfit for Thanksgiving dinner can take many forms, and depends largely on the vibe of your celebration. If your family is the laid-back type, keep things casual with dark jeans and a festive, flowy top (this is not the time for a form-fitting look!). A little black dress is a no-fail pick if your Thanksgiving takes a more formal, fine china approach. And then there’s the most nerve-wracking option of all: celebrating with your significant other’s family, especially if you’re meeting the parents for the first time. If that’s the case, keep things cute and conservative in a casual maxi dress paired with neutral suede ankle boots.

 

Black Friday: Once dinner is over and you’ve had a few hours to veg out in front of a football game, there’s one more tradition that’s essential to Thanksgiving weekend: Black Friday shopping! If you’re planning an early wake-up call to score some serious deals, your wardrobe picks should be comfortable and practical. Start with simple canvas sneakers and boyfriend jeans, and then add a lightweight top for hassle-free try-ons. Our final tip: skip the bulky handbag in favor of a wristlet that holds your credit cards and coupons while keeping your hands free to wrangle all of your Black Friday scores.

 

What are your wardrobe essentials for Thanksgiving weekend? Leave us a comment and share your seasonal style tips!