BySusan Blakey Hours Style

Effortless Holiday Hosting Style: Elegant, Comfortable & Travel-Ready ✅

What to Wear When You’re Hosting the Festivities

If you’re hosting Thanksgiving or any holiday gathering, you want to look festive, but that doesn’t mean your outfit needs to feel like you’re ready for the red carpet. Think relaxed refinement, fabrics that move and breathe, and pieces that can be repurposed for travel or weekend escapes.

Effortless Style Meets Comfort

A matching set takes the guesswork out of getting dressed, and this pleated top and pants prove that comfort and elegance can coexist beautifully. The softly textured fabric adds polish, while the relaxed fit means you can move, mingle, and serve without feeling restricted. It’s the kind of outfit that looks intentional but never fussy, perfect for hosting at home, dinner with friends, or packing for a holiday getaway.

Susan B. wears a chocolate brown pleated top and pants from Ruti.
TOP | PANTS | SHORT NECKLACE (SIMILAR) | LONG NECKLACE | SHOES (SIMILAR)
(Click on text in red to shop.)
My sizes: Top – Small, Pants – Medium

Details That Make the Difference

The pleated fabric gives this top a nice drape and a fit that skims but doesn’t cling. It’s lightweight, and doesn’t bunch up when I move or need constant readjusting. I’m wearing the Cocoa color, which is a dark brown (Spring & Autumn palettes). It’s also available in Black and Deep Burgundy. Runs true-to-size. Save 15% sitewide at Ruti for a limited time!

The matching pants are a perfect example of elevated casual: a wide-straight leg, elastic pull-on waistband and the same plissé fabrication as the top make them comfortable yet polished. I sized up to a Medium for more ease in the waist. Also available in Black and Deep Burgundy (Winter & Summer palettes).

Easy Elegance, Wherever the Season Takes You

And if you’re traveling for the holidays, these pleated pieces are packable, lightweight, wrinkle-resistant and washable. Wear together or mix and match; the top will layer nicely under a jacket, and the pants would look elegant with a sweater or silk blouse.

For more Festive Casual looks, check out Holiday Outfits in Chic Neutrals, and I’ll be sharing more easy holiday outfit ideas in the coming weeks

More Holiday-Ready Picks

Click on the image to get your shopping started! If you’re reading me from your mobile phone, keep scrolling down the list to see all the items.

And Don’t Forget This Essential Item…

For holiday party prep and cleanup, an apron is your best friend! These have festive prints, but aren’t holiday-specific, so you can use them year-round.

1 – Woodland Berries | 2 – Mod Floral | 3 – Cat Lovers | 4 – Tartan

Do you have a go-to holiday hosting outfit?

This article was previously published on December 12, 2024, and has been updated to provide current product selections.

Susan B. sits on a wooden bench wearing a brown knit jacket, blue jeans and colorful bracelets.

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44 Comments

  1. Your outfit is certainly much more glamorous than mine will be. We are expecting a hot (100 degrees F) Christmas Day, and as I am hosting aka doing the cooking and everything else, I will wear a simple red cotton dress and slides, oh and an apron (or pinny) is an essential. Wishing you all the best for this holiday season.

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  2. I also plan to wear the “wide ish” pants from Ruti in black. They always lay nicely, and with their flowy fabric, they look polished while not too hot. I am wearing a ridiculous ugly holiday sweater on the top, so at least 1/2 of me will be cool, LOL. Cheers and happy holidays

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    1. I think that might look odd by interrupting the straight lines of the pleats. And it’s not that long on Susan – I think it looks just right untucked!

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    2. Hi Greetje, thanks! I tried it both ways but prefer how the top lays untucked. With a different pair of pants and accessories, I might tuck it.

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  5. I agree with Greetje on half tucking the top :). the pants are so fun! Wishing you a wonderful holiday season filled with love and joy!

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  6. Oh yes…I’ve learned the hard way about wearing an apron…have ruined a top once or thrice…
    Happy hosting Susan xx

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  7. I’ll probably wear a lightweight fitted sparkly black and silver turtleneck ($10 at H&M) tucked into black wide-leg trousers. Super comfortable . . . and punches above its weight style-wise, I hope.

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  9. I know those pants are very in now but i just cant like them. they are probably one of the most unflattering garments i have ever seen people wear… and i am not just referring to you. trinny woodall has some too and despite being 5ft 10 and skinny they make her look dumpy.
    i am a big believer in people wearing what makes them happy but i just dont understand what everyone sees in those pants that is passing me by.

    Reply

    1. Hi noreen, we all have different tastes and preferences, and that’s OK. I will add, if by “dumpy” you mean “larger” or “wider,” that doesn’t bother me. Looking smaller is no longer a major style priority for me, and I love how I *feel* in this style of pants. I think they express a playful attitude.

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      1. Hi Susan, i didnt use dumpy in the sense of larger but more in relation to proportion. feeling good in your clothes is the number one rule though so if they work for you then thats great

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  11. I love your outfit and I’m one that loves wide legs! I have many! Much better than looking like I just rolled out of bed or came from exercise class! Not many seem to know how to dress anymore.

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  12. Susan, I tried to order the top and pants but they wouldn’t accept the 15% off code you have in your blog.

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    1. Thanks for letting me know…they’re having 15% off sitewide, and apparently the code isn’t applicable on top of the other discount. I’ll ammend the post to reflect this.

      Reply

  13. This is a perfect look for hosting Thanksgiving at home! Do you find the sizing runs a bit big? PS I like the top out!

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    1. Hi Carlene, thanks! I find that Ruti tops generally run true-to-size or slightly large, and bottoms run slightly small (mostly in the waist).

      Reply

  14. Susan,
    A bit unrelated…

    I think I’m *finally* ready to order your beloved Ruti barrel jeans, but I can’t remember your size (I’m usually one up from you).

    Also, do you think the slouchy twill pants run the same as the jeans?

    Many thanks,
    Linda

    Reply

      1. That’s very helpful, thanks!

        And I’d like to thank you you for your content, writing style, and demeanor. Your posts always inform, inspire, and brighten my day.

        Linda

        Reply

  15. Sorry I’m off the holiday topic but must say that I always appreciate your education efforts. I am so indoctrinated to the ‘must look long and lean’ image- making despite the fact that I am not tall and have wide ribcage/ shoulders. It is so hard to undo decades of marketing. What is that about? will never look like the models so must keep buying? sheesh.

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  18. Fab outfit for the holidays and travel. You made it look so chic with the shoes and the gold jewelry.
    Greetje

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  20. I love this outfit – looks very classy (yet comfy, a rare and lucky combination). And in no way are these ‘dumpy’ (which would indicate a real dreary low wideness), but all those vertical lines in those tiny pleats gives height to the wearer, in addition to the long vee lines created by the long necklace!! All in the same column of color multipies this effect to make our eyes believe this form is super tall. (Perfect for a petite wearer if you ask me!). Looks sleek, swishy, fun and fabulous!

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  21. Love this outfit on you, and am considering it…..but concerned that the pants might be too long, and they aren’t offered in petites. I would need to size up to large in the pants and it would cost a fortune to have them hemmed.
    By the way, I tried the plisse pantsfrom EF and found they ran really big and I didn’t love the way the fabric felt.
    Oh, well…….

    Reply