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What to Wear to Thanksgiving (Men): Relaxed, Warm and Put Together

A Thanksgiving outfit for men: dark jeans or chinos, a soft sweater and leather boots, with changes for a formal dinner, a restaurant and a warm climate.

The base Thanksgiving outfit is a sweater over a collared shirt

Start here and change only what your family's table calls for.

Trousers. Dark jeans with an even wash and no rips, or chinos in khaki, stone or olive. Choose a pair with a little room in the waist. You will be sitting for a long time, and it is a big meal. Our guide to the best chinos for men covers the fits worth buying.

Shirt. A light blue or white oxford with a button-down collar. Cotton breathes well in a warm house, and the collar keeps a sweater from looking like loungewear. An untucked shirt tail under a sweater looks sloppy, so tuck it in or wear a shorter one.

Sweater. A fine-gauge crewneck in merino or cotton, in gray, navy, burgundy or forest green. This is the piece that makes you look dressed. A bulky shawl-collar sweater keeps you warm outside, but it is too much in a kitchen with the oven on.

Shoes. Brown leather or suede chukka boots, or a plain leather loafer. Keep your belt close to your shoe color and wear dark socks. Many homes ask you to take your shoes off at the door, so bring socks without holes.

Keep the outfit to three colors. More than three colors in one outfit starts to look busy (a common image-consulting rule). A navy sweater, a white oxford and khaki chinos make one easy combination, with the brown leather staying out of the count.

A home table takes the base outfit, a restaurant takes one step up

Think about who is cooking and where you are eating. It tells you more than any dress code.

At a relaxed family dinner, the base outfit is right as it is. If everyone in your family wears sweaters and jeans, a clean T-shirt under a fine, plain sweater is enough.

If the table is set formally, or if you are meeting your partner's parents for the first time, go one step up. Wear wool or dark chino trousers, a white or light blue dress shirt, and a navy blazer or a sport coat. Skip the tie in a home unless the family wears them. Our guide to business casual explains the level you are aiming for, and it is the safest choice when you don't know the family well.

A restaurant, a club or a hotel buffet usually sits at that same level. Look up the restaurant's dress code before you go, because some ask for jackets. Dark jeans are fine at many places and wrong at a few, so wear wool trousers if you're not sure.

Cold, mild and warm parts of the country change your layers

Most of the outfit stays the same across the country. What changes is what goes over it.

In a cold climate, wear a wool overcoat or a dark field jacket for the walk from the car, and pick a thicker knit if you will be outside for the turkey fryer or the game. Skip anything too heavy to take off comfortably when you get inside. Houses at Thanksgiving tend to be warm, and you don't want to be stuck in a thick layer next to the oven.

In a mild climate, a light jacket in navy, khaki or olive is enough. A cotton sweater replaces the merino without looking summery.

In a warm climate, drop the sweater and wear an oxford with the sleeves rolled, or a clean navy polo, with chinos. Add leather loafers rather than sneakers. In a warm place the shirt is what people see, so make sure it is pressed and the collar lies flat.

Football and chores call for a change of clothes before dinner

Many families have a game in the yard, a long drive or a morning of cooking. You don't need to dress for dinner at 9 a.m.

Put on a T-shirt, a sweatshirt and old jeans for the morning. Bring your sweater and clean shirt in a bag, and change before people sit down. If you are helping in the kitchen, an apron beats gravy on merino. For wet grass, smooth leather boots with a rubber sole hold up better than suede.

This is also the day to leave your best clothes out of it if you carve the turkey or hold a baby. Wear a darker sweater, since a spill shows less on navy or burgundy.

Five mistakes that stay in the family photo

• Sweatpants and hoodies, unless your family really does it that way. People keep these photos for a long time.
• A novelty turkey sweater works only as a known family joke. If you do wear one, keep the rest plain.
• Tight waistbands. You'll know why by 4 p.m. Pick trousers that fit when you sit.
• Worn running shoes. Clean leather sneakers are fine in a casual home, but running shoes look like you forgot to change.
• A heavy cologne. Your host has been cooking all day, and people want to smell the food. Keep it light.

Frequently asked questions

Can I wear jeans to Thanksgiving dinner?

Yes, in most homes. Choose a dark, even wash with no rips, and pair the jeans with a sweater or a collared shirt. Wear chinos or wool trousers if the table is formal or you are meeting the family for the first time.

Should a man wear a blazer on Thanksgiving?

Only if the dinner calls for it, such as a formal table, a restaurant with a dress code or a first meeting with a partner's family. If you are not sure, bring one and leave it in the car. A navy blazer goes over a collared shirt in place of the sweater.

What colors work best for Thanksgiving?

Warm, muted tones feel right: burgundy, forest green, rust, navy and brown. Pick one of them for your sweater and keep the rest neutral. Avoid head-to-toe orange, which looks like a costume.

Text your host today to find out where you are eating and whether the table is formal, then lay out your sweater and trousers the night before.