What to Wear to Friendsgiving

Friendsgiving is the dinner where you can wear the pieces that would feel a bit much at a formal family table. Start with a jacket that has real texture: Altuzarra's suede, Studio Nicholson's Bowe or Nili Lotan's leather bomber all set the mood before anything else gets decided. Toteme's waxed cotton jacket and Frame's utility suede lean more practical, which helps if the evening involves a walk or a backyard. If you would rather take the jacket off at the table, let a good knit carry the look instead. Khaite's Nora cardigan, Éterne's waffle-knit and Róhe's burgundy wool sweater are soft enough to sit in for hours and still look considered. Pick one textured piece, then keep the rest quiet.

A grounded shoe is what makes a textured outfit feel relaxed rather than dressed up. Tod's Gomma Chelsea boot and Khaite's camel Clive boot both sit neatly under a bootcut or straight jean, while Legres' lace-up boot leans a little more outdoorsy. If the night is more couch than dining room, swap in a suede sneaker like Bottega Veneta's Shot or Golden Goose's Soul-Star, or adidas' Taekwondo ballerina for something lighter. For denim, Khaite's dark Conforti bootcut and Agolde's 90's Pinch Waist are the cleanest choices, and the barrel legs from Nili Lotan, Róhe and Citizens of Humanity give a looser shape that still works with a cropped jacket. Finish with one accessory, either Nili Lotan's burgundy croc-effect belt or Burberry's checked silk scarf knotted at the neck.

We would not buy a novelty piece just because it announces the holiday. The better buy is a jacket or knit with a strong shape and enough character to wear again long after the dinner is over. Delicate shoes are not the move for a crowded apartment, so a suede boot or a sturdy sneaker earns its place over anything fragile. Denim holds up better than it gets credit for, especially next to real texture, and it is the piece most likely to survive the whole evening. If you take one thing away, start with the jacket and dress everything else down.