Many years ago my mom and I started a fun (just between us) tradition of planning the perfect Thanksgiving table for her annual Thanksgiving brunch. Over the years we have done tables and themes with pumpkins, buffalo plaid, cotton, leaves, copper, and so many more. Sadly, this year her house is under construction and the brunch has been canceled. This would be super sad, except this is my first year hosting the family Thanksgiving dinner and I’m all too thrilled to keep the Thanksgiving table tradition alive. While I’m over the moon excited to host one of the biggest family gatherings of the year (hello big league), it comes with lots of stress and anxiety of wanting it to be just right for my family and guests. In a matter of minutes, I had tons of tablescape ideas running through my mind along with the usual dilemma of what to wear.

If you are doing the prep and work yourself, then the perfect outfit for hosting a dinner party looks way different than any old thing you would wear to attend a party because of the additional hazards, demands, and extra movement. Those voluminous, billowy sleeves that are so trendy right now are a sure-fire way to have your local firemen added to your Thanksgiving guest list. You’ll be careful at first because you don’t want them to get stained or catch on fire when you reach across to light that third candle, but as you get busier and it comes closer to your guests’ arrival time, you’ll be more worried about not burning the biscuits and, OOPS! you’ve burnt your blouse.

In the midst of all these things running through my mind, I thought, I couldn’t possibly be the only first-time host dealing with this so I wanted to bring you all my guide on how to dress your table and yourself this year. Full disclosure: this is probably my longest post to date but hang with me. You won’t want to miss anything. I’m sharing three full tablescapes (formal, semi-casual, and fun casual) and my three tips on setting the perfect table to cover you no matter how your family likes to dine along with my top three tips for choosing the perfect outfit that I’ve picked up from my experience over the years.

Formal Table + Choose a Seasonal Centerpiece

An easy way to make your Thanksgiving table come to life is to add a centerpiece of some sort. This can be anything from flowers, fruit, candlesticks, glass pumpkins or anything in autumnal colors. I always start with my centerpiece then plan the rest of the table around it. When it comes to centerpieces, you want to be mindful of what you choose and how much you choose. You don’t want your statement to be so grand that your guests cannot see or chat with one another across the table. I recommend choosing items that are tall and slender or shorter and wider, that way, you’ll be able to offer a great conversation environment without sacrificing the impact of your table.

For the formal Thanksgiving table, I opted for these luxurious gilded pears. I found them at the end of last year and immediately fell in love with them – something about a gigantic pear just spoke to me. Even though pears aren’t traditional Thanksgiving items, the bronze, warm gold tone made it perfect for this time of year and really pulled together the gold/ green/ white table I created. The metallic finish of the pears paired with the beautiful monogrammed scalloped linen napkins from Monogram Mary really made the table feel refined and polished. For me, nothing says formal or elegant dining like an embroidered cloth napkin and the quality of this set is to die for. They come in several colors and are completely customizable. If you like traditional holiday or seasonal icons for your centerpiece, the glass pumpkins or acorns with candlesticks (shown below) are a great seasonal option that also read less formal on the table. All that being said, I’m 100% about making it your own so mix the acorns with the pumpkins if you choose and have a ball! At the end of the day, it should be fun and festive for your fete!

My family isn’t too big on traditional formal dining and most Sundays I show up to dinner in Spanx and a sweater but boy do I LOVE getting dressed up. Sometimes I wish dinner and family gatherings required formal dress the way they did in the Downton Abbey days. Well, maybe not evening gowns every night but you get what I’m saying. For now, I’m going to live out my “formal” dining dreams on here for all of you in case your family does go to a club or nice place for Thanksgiving. So…Can we talk about this look from Paul Simon Women? I’m more than obsessed with each of these Hunter Bell NYC pieces and especially love them together. I normally mix prints in the same color family or pattern family (dots with dots, stripes on stripes, etc.) but when I saw these two pieces together, it felt right. Once I tried them on and found the perfect shoes to go with them, I knew it was perfection. If you’re like me and a huge fan of Hunter Bell and are local to Charlotte, you must stop into Paul Simon Women to find your Thanksgiving outfit. They are always getting in new pieces and generally keep a great assortment of Hunter Bell and other great brands like Marie Oliver, Lafayette 148, and Lilla P that offer very versatile pieces (like mine) that are great for holiday gatherings. If you are, by chance, going for a full-on Downton Abbey dinner, they’ve got you covered for that too. They have the most beautiful selection of evening gowns full of glitz, glamour and holiday pizazz.

Why I Love This for Hosting

The blouse and the skirt make a bold statement without a lot of fuss. the prints do all the talking so you don’t need to add much else. I added a cocktail ring for flair and small, understated hoops because I cannot go without earrings but it doesn’t need any jewelry if you’d rather go without. The sleeves are loose but have a generous cuff so nothing gets in the way of you working with your hands while you prep food or serve it. The skirt is full but the midi length keeps your path clear so you can focus more on not burning the bread and less on tripping over anything. Flats are a no-brainer for me when hosting. I need to be able to mix, mingle and move without fear of blisters or crippling pain from sky-high heels. I keep this in mind while shopping throughout the year and choose bold, feminine flats like these. Flats do not and should not be boring! Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.

Shop the Table

monogram scallop napkins c/0 Monogram Mary // gilded pears – similar here // grandmother’s gold dinner plates – similar here // grandmother’s gold salad plates – similar here & here // gold flatware (c/o Joss & Main) // fowl feather placemats (c/o Joss & Main) // edge wine glasses // wood place card holder // assorted fresh eucalyptus and berry greenery

Shop the Outfit

Hunter Bell NYC floral blouse & stripe skirt c/o Paul Simon Women // bow flats

Semi Casual Table + The Perfect Place Setting

Once I’ve decided on my centerpiece, I like to focus on the place settings. For me, these are as equally important as the centerpiece, but easier to do after the centerpiece has been set. When it comes to place settings, I am a more-is-more kinda girl and details matter. Don’t be afraid to layer up the plates. Most place settings use 1-2 plates for use and effect, but I like to use three when it makes sense (see formal table above) and always have a seasonal or theme appropriate placemat to define each person’s space.

For the semi-casual Thanksgiving table, I pulled out my woven square placemats (good for summer and fall) and white everyday dishes but topped them with a gold-edged bowl from one of my fancier sets to give the table a high-low feel. Because the base of each place setting was so neutral, I wanted to add in some color. I used beautiful amber wine glasses and the most adorable turkey embroidered napkins from Coley Home. I layered in fresh eucalyptus greenery to add balance to all the warm colors on the table. The mixture of the pumpkins and the turkeys along with the harvest colors makes this table the most traditional themed Thanksgiving table but less formal than the first.

My second look is semi-casual but so much fun. Can we talk about this faux leather jumpsuit? I never knew I needed one until now but I’m completely obsessed with this one and love how it is not only flattering but it’s beyond comfy. To keep it fun and semi-casual, I paired it with a bright jungle cat patterned blouse and some easy kitten booties.

Why I Love This for Hosting

What I love about this outfit as a whole is how it’s a little more fitted and cropped in length. There are no sleeves to get caught, no hems to trip over and a kitten heel basically feels like a flat but offers just enough height to give you the confidence of a heel. Not that I really strive to match my table, but I also love that the colors all coordinate and aren’t too busy with my regular home decor. It’s casual yet polished and most of all- WARM!

Shop the Table

turkey embroidered linen napkins (c/o Coley Home) // assorted glass pumpkins // woven placemats // lastra melamine dinner plate (c/0 VIETRI) also in stone // gold rim bowl (c/o Joss & Main) // amber wine glasses // pumpkin candle holders // gold flatware (c/o Joss & Main) // hester & cook gratitude cards used as place cards

Shop the Outfit

faux leather jumpsuit // jungle cat blouse // hoop earrings // booties (c/o Enzo Angiolini) // GG ring

Casual – Fun Table + A Personal Touch

My third Thanksgiving table is the most casual and perhaps, the most practical for many of you. This table is all about fun colors, delicious touches and using what you (or your mom) have at home and layering on from there.  For the centerpiece of this casual-fun table, I kept it super simple. Two tall candlesticks and a cluster of extra-large acorns mixed with a little blue eucalyptus I got from my grocery store were just enough to dress up the table but keep it casual. Remember what I said about keeping taller centerpieces lean? This is what I meant: these candlesticks are pretty tall could obstruct conversation if there were too many. But the slender base and use of two makes it easy to look between or around them while keeping the height on the table. The low lying acorns and blue eucalyptus help fill the table so there’s not too much negative space left over.  I chose to add in a runner here to break up the table and add that extra layer that the greenery provided on the other two tablescapes.

The simplicity of the centerpiece in this casual-fun Thanksgiving table is complemented by the bold patterns and fun colors of the place settings and the perfect personal touch. Whether it is a formal place card, a gratitude card (both shown above) or a pumpkin pie cookie, that personal touch is necessary and goes a long way. Adding a personal touch is my favorite part of setting a table. There are so many fun and creative ways to welcome guests and each one lets them know how much they are appreciated. If you choose an edible treat like these cookies, they know they have something sweet just for them to look forward to or to take home.

Remember way up at table and look number 1 how I told you Paul Simon Women has the best selection of Hunter Bell and versatile pieces to wear to Thanksgiving? I wasn’t kidding and here is another. This blue plaid bow blouse is absolute perfection and the perfect option to wear to your casual-fun dinner. If I’m being honest, this look is my speed. A great pair of cords or jeans and a super feminine blouse is my go-to formula for family functions and I’m so in love with this blouse. I live for white year-round so I have no shame in pairing it with my white cords and favorite new booties.

Why I Love This for Hosting

When you’re comfy, you’re happy. When you’re happy, you’re a good host and that is what matters! For me, this look is all kinds of happy. The sleeves are big enough to make a statement but not too big to be a hazard (you probably don’t want anything more full than this sleeve) and these corduroy pants fit like a glove. I can sail through my kitchen and home without fixing, tugging or adjusting and just be in the moment.

You definitely want to be mindful and aware of your outfit choices when hosting, because things happen- I should know. In my experience, those voluminous, billowy sleeves that are so trendy right now, they will catch on fire. Something will spill on your white anything; I should know, I always ruin white pants no matter what. Chic chunky knits and flowy skirts will have you sweating your butt off in the kitchen within minutes of being dressed and those killer heels you’re just dying to show off will have you crying before you make your fifth trip to the kitchen. I’ve learned a lot about what not to wear when hosting a dinner party over the years. But the most important thing I’ve learned is that ultimately, you should be happy, confident and comfortable in what you wear.

Shop the Table

hester & cook paper printed placemats // blue dinner plates // leopard accent plates – also love these // gold flatware (c/o Joss & Main) // white linen napkins // woven napkin rings – similar here // edge wine glasses // gold candle sticks: large & small // large acorns // Maya Rita Bakes pumpkin pie cookies used as place cards // fresh blue eucalyptus

Shop the Outfit

Hunter Bell NYC blouse via Paul Simon Women // white corduroy pants // textured booties – get them here & here // gg belt // flower earrings

Which Thanksgiving Table is your favorite?

Cast your vote and be entered to win a prize package curated by yours truly.

The table and giveaway winner will be announced on Thanksgiving Day.