Thanksgiving has always been my favorite holidayānot because of the food (though mashed potatoes deserve their own award), but because of the ritual. Every year, Iād go to my grandmaās house. It was warm, chaotic, and full of love. That house held so many versions of me, and my outfits tell the story better than any journal entry ever could. So hereās my little time capsule: a lookbook of Thanksgivings past, stitched together with flannel, thrift finds, and a whole lot of heart.
š 2015: The Walmart Trifecta
This is the oldest Thanksgiving look I haveā10 years ago. It haunts me for reasons I wonāt unpack here (maybe in a future rant post), but the outfit? Iconic in its own way. Jeans, tank top, and flannelāall from Walmart. It was my first time with dyed hair, and I felt rebellious and cool. That photoā¦ Iāll never be that close to Em or Sarah again, and honestly? Iām okay with that. This was the beginning of me claiming space, even if I didnāt know it yet.
š 2017: Thrifted & Thriving
This was the year I started figuring out how to dress for me. I found this dress on an online thrift store and wore it everywhere. For Thanksgiving, I paired it with a purple cardigan from Target (still have it!) and white wedges. It was cute, affordable, and felt like a small win in a year full of confusion. I was learning how to feel pretty without needing approval.
š„§ 2018: Meeting Cameronās Family
This Thanksgiving was specialāCameron came over and then after we met his family. I wanted to look amazing, and I did. Black leggings, $12 boots from JCPenney (I wore them into the ground), and a dark green sweater from Torrid layered over a bralette. My hair was half-up with a bow, and I felt like the main character. It was one of those rare days where everything felt aligned.
š 2019: Crop Top Confidence
Megan had just moved down, and this was her first Thanksgiving here. I discovered crop tops and started dressing for myself, not for anyone elseās comfort. I reused my black leggings and boots, added a green halter crop top, and threw on a yellow flannel from Walmart. I felt powerful. I was learning to love my body and my voice.
š¼ 2020: Skating & Thrift Magic
The world was shut down, so I spent Thanksgiving with Izzy. We went skating and explored the new thrift store next to her place. My shirt was thrifted, jeans from Ross, and yesāa Walmart flannel. This look was peak āmeā and still reflects my style today. Cozy, layered, and a little chaotic in the best way.
š¤ 2021: Bralette Boldness
This look was so fucking cute. Maybe the most daring one I ever wore to Grandmaās, but I loved it. It was like a grown-up version of my 2015 outfit. Old Navy jeans that fit like a dream, a black bralette as a top, and a gray flannel. I wasnāt feeling like myself that year, but this outfit helped me fake it ātil I made it. And honestly? I did make it.
šø 2024: Softness & Safety
Weāre skipping a few yearsā2022 was chaos (I hosted, no pics), and 2023 was heartbreak. Grandma got sick and passed, and the family started unraveling. But in 2024, Izzy and I made our own Thanksgiving. We watched the parade, cooked together, and it felt safe. I wore my pink Popflex jacket, gray bralette, leggings, and eventually swapped into PJ shorts. It wasnāt about the lookāit was about comfort, joy, and reclaiming the holiday.
āØ Final Thoughts
Looking back, my Thanksgiving outfits werenāt just clothes. They were armor, expression, rebellion, softness, and growth. From Walmart flannels to thrifted gems, each look holds a memoryāsome painful, some beautiful, all mine. And this year? Iāll be with Izzy again, probably in something cozy and chaotic. Because thatās who I am now: soft, strong, and stitched together with love.
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