Who Knew? Thanksgiving Comes With A Dress CodeThanksgiving is usually the holiday you don't need to worry about too much. Your only jobs are to navigate familial minefields and eat hearty — neither of which really requires a special uniform. But according to fashion scribe extraordinaire Vanessa Friedman, there is indeed a Turkey Day aesthetic: "Puritan Chic." And sadly, it doesn't seem to involve elastic waistbands.Apparently some people put a ton of thought into Thanksgiving looks: the founders of Juicy are sporting, according to Friedman, "Martha Stewart-tastic" and "Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire" looks, respectively. As Friedman points out, despite the holiday's devotion to gluttony, "it has an oddly ascetic edge, having been initiated by the Pilgrims, who tended to come to the table in their white collars and buttoned-up black dresses." Since we now know that turkey, pumpkin and corn may not have in fact had anything to do with the first Thanksgiving, dressing in John Smith costumes seems unnecessary. As does, for that matter, the purchase of the Miu Miu dress at which the author arrives — "round-necked, with a little white collar; mid-calf, but vaguely cheongsam in silhouette, with narrow three-quarter length sleeves; all in batik-like print." However true that "a suit seems too professional, but a cocktail dress is too party-ish; jeans and trousers are often too casual, and so on," it seems like unless you're at one of those hyper-fancy catered Thanksgivings surrounded by professionally- crafted wheat sheaths (which screams "skirt and sweater"), you can wear whatever you want. Maybe nothing revealing - relatives! - and maybe nothing too fancy - cranberry sauce! - but for the most part, who's judging? Besides, if your house is anything like mine, it is freezing, your mom will be in sweats, and your very sweet elderly relatives will arrive with a dubious Laura Ashley outfit that you end up having to wear anyway. (The self-sacrifice of which is nothing if not Puritan chic.) Friedman feels that the puritan look is appropriate for the current hard times. You know what else is: not thinking about clothes! So, for the most part, give thanks for not having to worry about it: that's what the next six weeks are for. Give Thanks For Puritan Values [Financial Times]