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What to Wear on Turkey Day — Guest or Host?

Updated: 1 hour ago

ALL ARE WELCOME ..
ALL ARE WELCOME ..

What to Wear on Turkey Day — Guest or Host? Read Me

Audio cover
What to Wear on Turkey Day

While the Bird’s in the Oven, and the Table’s All Set . By VSG — Kimberly Suggs, Verified Style Guru

Thanksgiving is that rare American holiday rooted in gratitude and dressed in layers of history—some sweet, some complicated, all stitched together with flavor and family. It’s also one of the few days when the table becomes our runway and our history lesson. Whether you’re the guest arriving in shimmer and grace or the host running the show, the day deserves comfort with a touch of celebration—ease, elegance, and heart.

A Little History with a Side of Truth.

The first official Thanksgiving proclamation came from President Abraham Lincoln in 1863, at the height of the Civil War—an invitation to pause for gratitude and unity. But the story goes deeper than pilgrims and cornucopias. It is a table seasoned by every hand that built this nation, including the enslaved Africans whose foodways, labor, technique, and artistry shaped what we now call American cuisine. From collard greens and okra to sweet potatoes, the holiday menu carries the fingerprints of West Africa, the Caribbean, and the American South. What we call “yams” are cousins to the nyami, the tuber that traveled in memory and practice; today it rises again as sweet-potato pie—sugar, spice, butter, and brilliance. Enslaved cooks taught the slow simmer, the perfect roux, the balanced seasoning; they took what was available and made it unforgettable. That is the original art of style and adaptation. This is our inheritance—how the Motherland met the Otherland and made something enduring: My Americana, flawed and all.

The African American: Another Lincoln Project, 1863.

This Week in History — Another Table, Another Story

This week, another table is setting history: the G20 summit convening in Johannesburg—

The first G20 ever held on African soil. The United States has chosen a full boycott, leaving its seat at that table deliberately empty. At a table built to solve global crises, that absence is loud. It tells a story about who is seen, who is ignored, and who still believes they can step away while the rest of the world does the work. From the global summit table to your Thanksgiving table, one truth holds: who has a seat shapes the story.

Guest Dressing — Effortlessly Polished Comfort

You’ve got the bottle, the smile, and perhaps a side dish. Now, the outfit that whispers “put together,” not “trying too hard with dazzle.”

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Guest Look Formula — With VSG Picks

Top Cowl-neck Embellished studded knit Tank or fine ribbed short sleeve mock in Black and Blush.

VSG picks:

Layer any of these over the VSG Plus Size Black Studded Cowl-Neck Tank Top, 1X–3X for a hint of “guest sparkle”

Bottom

Pull-on ponte or stretch midi skirt—smooth waist, no fidgeting.

VSG picks:

Layer

Cropped blazer, sequined mesh cardigan, or relaxed topper—just enough polish.

VSG picks:

  • VSG Classic Black Techno-Crepe Shawl-Collar Blazer – 1X-3X

  • VSG Hunter Green Unlined Shawl-Collar Soft Blazer – 1X-3X

Accessories

Hoops or a statement cuff; keep sparkle close to the face.

VSG picks:

Shoes

Chic flats or block heels that can stand for hours without complaint.

VSG add-on: Pair with legwear from the VSG Legwear sections (think sheer shimmer tights or wide calf Knee Hi's )https://www.vsg-verystylishgirl.com/product-page/jet-black-women-s-2-pair-pack-silky-sheer-curvy-knee-highs to keep you comfortable from first pour to last plate.

Guest rule of thumb: Dress like the camera’s already rolling—but keep it breathable enough to hug, help, and eat in.

Host Dressing — Power & Practicality in Motion

You’re the maestro of the meal and the mood. Your clothes must breathe, bend, and still look intentional when you finally sit.

Host Look Formula — With VSG Picks

Top Luxe knit or draped blouse with enough movement to cook, serve, and still sit pretty when you finally make it to the table.

when the apron comes off.

VSG picks:

Bottom

Wide-leg trouser with stretch or an PU wide leg trouser pants —room to move, bend, and reach without tugging at your waistband.

VSG picks:

  • VSG Crepe Wide-Leg Belted Trousers – 1X-3x

  • VSG Double-Layer Tank Catsuit – 1X-3X (your secret base layer for all-day comfort under a duster or tunic)https://www.vsg-verystylishgirl.com/product-page/tank-catsuit

  • VSG Liquid Gold Two-Piece Pant Set (when you want the comfort of a knit and the drama of a full look)

Apron/Wrap (Your Hostess Armor)A statement hostess “apron” that’s really a kaftan, duster, or wrap you can answer the door in and keep on through dessert.

Feet Supportive flats or low wedges that respect the miles you’ll walk between oven, sink, and table.

VSG picks:

  • Wide-calf VSG knee-high sheer hose and legwear from the Legwear categories—easy to layer under trousers for a smoother leg line and extra comfort

  • Pair with your favorite flats, loafers, or low wedges so you can plate, pour, and pose for photos without thinking about your feet

Host rule of thumb: look photo-ready even while stirring the gravy or cutting cranberry jelly .


Southern roots: Cornbread stuffing, mac & cheese , pineapple on cloved baked ham, slow cooked collards.
Southern roots: Cornbread stuffing, mac & cheese , pineapple on cloved baked ham, slow cooked collards.

From the Motherland to the Otherland: Passing Down the Goodness : Collards simmered in smoked broth. Okra stews. Sweet potatoes kissed with brown sugar and spice. Every family’s hand shows up in the seasoning—more nutmeg here, less sugar there, a splash of bourbon or a thread of lemon zest. These small edits are our biographies. Add your family’s recipe in the comments. Next week, I’ll post the three most common recipes shared—a living document of flavor, love, and legacy for our new generation of cooks. Let’s keep passing down the goodness, from our elders’ hands to our daughters’, from memory to the next meal. Because style isn’t just what we wear—it’s what we preserve.

It’s every woman stirring, setting, and serving with grace.

It’s the rhythm between gratitude and greatness.

Pie crust secret: Ice-cold butter, pass on whipped cream and just have the Ice Cream for Mr. Cralle.
Pie crust secret: Ice-cold butter, pass on whipped cream and just have the Ice Cream for Mr. Cralle.

Sweet-Potato Pie & The Scoop Heard Around the World

The humble sweet-potato pie tells a global story. The yam/nyami crossed oceans enslaved, yet survived in memory and method. Sweetened, spiced, and reborn as pie, it became a symbol of creativity and comfort. The ice cream that crowns it? That’s innovation, too. Augustus Jackson—often called a father of American ice-cream craft—revolutionized production in the 1800s using salt-and-ice freezing to stabilize texture. And that elegant, one-handed dip that makes serving look easy ? Thank Alfred L. Cralle, who patented the ice-cream scoop in 1897, changing how desserts is shared forever. So when you cut the pie and top it with a scoop, you’re layering centuries of invention and intention.

VSG Tip: I use heavy cream (not milk) and fresh vanilla beans in my sweet-potato filling—silky, fragrant, and proudly heritage-meets-haute.

Final Toast

However you dress the day—sequins or soft knits, gold hoops or good humor—remember: you are part of the legacy that makes gratitude look good. Celebrate. Remember. Enjoy. Keep making this Otherland reflect the richness of the Motherland. From my table to yours savor who is seated. Cheers!


Wear your joy. Feed your people. Pass it on. — VSG, Verified Style Guru

 
 
 

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