Three Days of NFL Thanksgiving Football, One Outfit? Here’s How to Dress for It

Article courtesy of Joshua Coenen, co-founder at Game Bibs

Thanksgiving football is getting bigger. The NFL’s first-ever Thanksgiving Eve game, the Thursday tripleheader, and Black Friday add up to a three-day football marathon, and plenty of fans will be in the same outfits for most of it.

That’s a lot of hours in one outfit, yet most fans dress for how they want to look at kickoff, not for how they’ll feel hours later.

Joshua Coenen, co-founder at Game Bibs, a game-day apparel brand, shares what fans get wrong about game-day dressing and how to get it right from the first kickoff to the final whistle.

1. Dress for how you’ll feel, not how you’ll look at kickoff

“I think the biggest mistake fans make is dressing for how they want to look at kickoff instead of thinking about how they’re going to feel six hours later. Thanksgiving is a marathon. You’ve got football, a big meal, sitting around with family, and maybe a little backyard football. Those tight jeans or that perfectly fitted jersey might look great when you walk through the door, but they’re probably not your best friend after a couple of plates of turkey and stuffing.”

2. Use the sit, celebrate, relax test

“If you can’t comfortably sit down for Thanksgiving dinner, get up to celebrate a touchdown, and relax on the couch afterward, you’ve probably picked the wrong outfit. A great game-day outfit should show your team spirit while keeping you comfortable all day. Make sure your clothes allow you to move easily, and prioritize comfort over just looking the part.”

3. Layer for the kitchen and the backyard

“Layering is key for Thanksgiving, especially in the Midwest where temperatures fluctuate. You might go from a warm, crowded kitchen to tossing a football outside in the cold. I recommend starting with a button-down or lightweight sweater, adding a quarter-zip and keeping a jacket handy for outside. This lets you adjust your temperature without losing your game-day look, which is why colorful fan apparel can help you show your team spirit while keeping your outfit practical for the day.”

4. Go all-in on team spirit, with one standout piece

“Football fans should have fun with what they wear. Walking into Thanksgiving dinner fully decked out in your team’s colors is a great statement! A bold pair of striped bib overalls or a great sweatshirt does the trick. My advice: pick one standout piece, keep your layers simple, and stay comfortable. Sports are supposed to be fun, and your outfit should reflect that.”

5. Leave room for seconds (and thirds)

“The biggest Thanksgiving wardrobe fail? Pants that fit at noon but feel like a vise by dinner. We have all been there! My one piece of advice: Wear something comfortable, rep your team, and leave room for seconds and maybe thirds. The only thing that should be uncomfortable on Thanksgiving is watching your team lose a big lead!”