Dear BX,

My boyfriend invited me over to Thanksgiving dinner at his family’s house. While I’m touched they are inviting me into their home, now I’m panicking over what to wear. Is a dress too formal? What do I do?

-Fatima Mujtaba

Take your cue from former family feasts

First off, you should remember that you can’t expect his family to feel good about you if you don’t feel good about yourself. This occasion is the perfect opportunity for you to give his family a sneak peek into the person you really are — and no, I don’t mean by literally exposing your bare chest, but I don’t mean hiding it under chunky knit mountains of a turtleneck sweater either.  Keep these tips in mind when you’re getting dressed:

• Stick with a hue you’re used to. You already know if you love the way leopard prints bring out your eyes, or hate the way purples suffocate your skin tone. Your date thinks your style is already superb — he wouldn’t have invited you if he didn’t — so fight the urge to reinvent yourself today, because it’s ultimately about letting his family get to know the girl he’s head-over-heels for (and eating delicious food), and the last thing you want to do is show up feeling like a different person.

• Now is not the time to break-in the catwalk if you haven’t already done so. If you love heels, wear heels! But if you’re not used to towering in four inches of platform, this isn’t the best day to learn how to walk all over again. You want to be able to stay present in conversations and appear approachable to his family members, and groaning in pain every baby-step you take to the couch to pout about your new blisters doesn’t exactly scream, “Come welcome me into your family!” Flats are always an alternative, and you can find some with a slightly elevated heel height to accentuate your lengthy legs without making you topple over.

• Ask him what he wore last year. A suit and tie? Khakis? Jeans? Sweatpants? We’ll give you a few outfit ideas that will keep you covered even if the dinner turns out to be a bit more or a tad less formal than you suspected, but if his family’s Thanksgiving feast is an annual black-tie bonanza, you need to know.

A couple of combinations you can’t go wrong with:

“Tall, Dark and Denim”

Skip the debate over whether or not leggings are appropriate — to be on the safe side, opt for a pair of dark skinny jeans instead. Yes, jeans can be fancy too…you just have to choose the right pair. With the correct size and length, a dark wash of denim with plain back pockets can be your trendy alternative to black trousers. A statement necklace will dress up your ensemble and act as a great conversation starter, too!

Short Sleeve Drape Cardigan – Piperlime, Black Skinny Jeans – Topshop, Tall Boots – Zappos, Necklace – Shopbop

“Wrap It Up”

A three-quarter sleeve wrap dress emanates sexy, sophisticated and practical. The style hugs your good features and hides your less favorable ones, and the sleeve length gives an extra little peek-a-boo of skin so you don’t feel completely covered up. An embellished headband gives you the opportunity to be playful with your hairstyle and draw attention to your face. A subtly textured pair of tights will help you feel a hint of sexy in your chic attire.

Wrap Dress – Old Navy, Black Pump – Banana Republic, Gold Leaf Headband – Shopbop, Lace Tights – Urban Outfitters

Photo Credit: Thanksgiving dinner – Flickr User VancityAllie