Thanksgiving and Easter are my two favorite holidays. I’m not sure why, either. This isn’t to say I don’t love Christmas, I do! I think I just get exhausted every Christmas season and Thanksgiving and Easter are a little less stressful.

To be honest, I think one reason I like Thanksgiving and Easter best is because my family gets dressed up for both holidays. I know clothing isn’t the important part of either holiday, but it sets the tone. Dressing up says, “This is a special day and a special opportunity to slow down and just be with the people I love.”

Being in retail has made me a bit of a “Thanksgiving orphan” most years. If you are reading this article, you know that the doors of our stores open at 6am for our Black Friday sale, so traveling out of town isn’t an option. I am always here in Alexandria for the holiday. Our family starts our Thanksgiving the same way each year, with mandatory exertion in the Del Ray Turkey Trot. If you don’t do it – you should – even if you don’t want to run five miles. I have evolved into a Turkey Trot walker most years. But, I still enjoy it and it gets me moving. I also love seeing all the families outside their homes. It really is one of my favorite Alexandria traditions!

My family used to come every other year and work alongside me. The last few years have been different, however. I am fortunate to have a friend, Alison Lynn, who is willing to take my family in. She really is just like family!

Alison has a big family and it is always a special day in their house. Her husband is a wonderful cook so we eat all day, have a few glasses of wine, and enjoy conversation that doesn’t have the urgency of small talk. It is always one of the best days of the year.

The Lynns always dress up for their big meal. I am not much of a planner, but this year I have actually started to think about what I’m going to wear. I thought I would share some of our favorite looks for Thanksgiving, although they would look great for any day. Dressy doesn’t mean “wearing a dress” either. Annette’s go-to look of a Sabina Savage shirt and dark denim is probably my favorite. The colors of the shirt make it perfect for the holiday. I just have to see if my size is left!

We threw in some casual options as well, if your family is more laid-back or if you need some comfortable Black Friday shopping looks. Bishop Boutique also created a great post last week with holiday outfits. In case you missed it, here is the link.