Taking coast to coast flights while I was in college helped give me a good idea of what I should and shouldn’t pack for every break both during and in between semesters. Thanksgiving is usually the first one that you’ll be traveling back home for, so you might not be sure what to pack. Well I’m here to help you figure that out!
During your Thanksgiving break, you’ll need a cute outfit for Thanksgiving dinner, such as a cable knit sweater, high waisted blue jeans, a faux fur pom hat, a comfy scarf, some hoop earrings, a pendant necklace and some knee-high boots. You’ll also need casual clothes, hygiene products, school supplies and electronics.
Since this is your first break away from school and it only lasts a week, it’s easy to accidentally over or under pack. To keep from doing either, you need to think about what you plan to do while at home and be realistic about what you’re actually going to need. Here’s what I recommend for seven days:
Casual Clothes and a Cute Outfit
When it comes to packing clothes, you only need enough to last you a week; maybe even less than that if you do laundry while you’re at home. Here are the bare basics of what you’ll want to consider bringing:
1. A nice outfit and jewelry for Thanksgiving
2. Six sets of casual outfits
3. One set of pajamas
4. A jacket (if it’s cold)
5. One set of loungewear
6. Bras and underwear
If your family is having a Thanksgiving party, then you’ll want to pack a cute outfit for the event. If you have no idea what to wear, then I’ll help you put an outfit together. First, let’s talk about clothes that are always cute to wear during the fall season.
Tops
A few tops that serve as fashion staples during this time of year are oversized sweaters, cute blouses, cardigans or vests and a coat/ jacket. Here are a few cute options for each type of top:
Oversized Sweaters
Off-the-shoulder sweater:
For a trendy and stylish appeal.
Turtleneck sweaters:
For added warmth and a classic silhouette.
Cable knit sweaters:
A touch of texture and sophistication.
Cute Blouses
Satin blouse:
Elegant, luxurious, eye catching and adds sophistication to your outfit.
Ruffled blouses:
Feminine, chic and adds a romantic flair.
Printed blouses:
Go for blouses with fall-inspired prints such as florals, plaid, or geometric patterns for a festive look.
Cardigans or Vests
Drop shoulder cardigan:
Cozy and comfortable, perfect for a casual Thanksgiving look. Look for styles with oversized buttons or pockets.
Embroidered vest:
Adds a touch of glamor.
Coat or Jacket
Wool coat:
A classic wool coat in a neutral color like camel, gray, or black is a versatile choice. It adds sophistication to any outfit and and can keep you warm outside.
Trench coat:
For a polished and timeless look.
Teddy coat:
This comfy coat adds warmth and texture to your outfit.
Pants
When it comes to pants, the best kind to wear during this holiday are high-waisted jeans and leggings.
Dress
Some dresses that fit the Thanksgiving vibe really well are wrap, shirt and knit dresses. Here are a few cute options for each type:
Wrap dress:
Flattering and versatile. Look for a wrap dress in a fall-inspired color or pattern, like plaid or floral.
Shirt dress:
For a casual yet stylish look.
Knit dress:
Cozy and chic. Look for a knit dress with interesting details like ribbed texture, cable knit patterns, or button accents.
Accessories
The second to last fashion staples you’ll want to tie the outfit together are a scarf, a hat, cute earrings and a necklace. Here are some examples of cute ones that you could wear:
Scarf:
Hats:
Cute Earrings:
Hoop earrings:
Drop earrings:
Stud earrings:
Necklaces
Shoes
The last fashion staple you’ll need to complete the entire look is shoes. The best ones for Thanksgiving are knee-high boots, ankle booties and comfortable flats.
Knee-high boots:
Ankle booties:
Comfortable flats:
Here are three different ways to pair a few of these fall fashion staples together:
Colors
When it comes to a general color palette, the ones that scream fall are earth-toned colors like rust, mustard, olive green, or burgundy. Orange is also very autumn.
Hygiene Products
As you’re packing up the hygiene products that you’ll need, treat it like you’re packing your clothes: don’t go overboard. Bringing too much of anything can take you from feeling prepared to feeling burdened fast. Especially if you’re rolling your bags through the airport. Trust me, I know the feeling because I used to be guilty of this. I used to bring my entire toiletry bag when I really only needed a couple items from it to last me a week. Look at all of the products that you have at school and really think about what you’re likely going to use while on break.
Use this list to help you think of what you need to bring:
1. Toothbrush, toothpaste and floss
2. Face wash
3. Body soap
4. Lotion
5. Shampoo and conditioner
6. Necessary hair products
7. Shower cap
8. Deodorant
9. Shaving Razors
10. Shaving cream
11. Pads & tampons
12. Brush & comb
13. Flat & curling iron
14. Hair dryer
Health Items
One of the reasons why we made sure you didn’t overpack your clothes or your hygiene products was to leave room for what really matters, your health. Don’t get me wrong, bathing and brushing your teeth are very important (which is why I hope you packed soap, toothpaste and a toothbrush), but you need more than that to stay healthy. Don’t be afraid to pack whatever you need from this category. Don’t put your health at risk to make your luggage a little lighter. Remember to bring these things:
1. Medicine and Vitamins
2. Contacts or glasses
3. Anything else that you’ll need to stay healthy
School Supplies
Thanksgiving break is great, but let’s be honest, it’s in third place when it comes to the best ones (behind summer and winter). That’s because it takes place before the semester is over. “You mean I still have to work over the holidays?!” Yes, unfortunately you probably do. Every year I could always count on having to bring home a project/paper or two thanks to the upcoming finals. Since you want to pass your exams, finish your assignments, and eventually get your degree, you’ll have to bring some school work home with you too. Here are a few things you might need:
1. Textbooks
2. Assignments
3. Any items needed to complete the assignments
Electronics
Okay, if we’re talking about things that have the potential to bulk up and significantly weigh down your luggage, electronics are the king of that. If you’re a real tech-girl and feel the need to have your electronics with you at all times, then take this opportunity to practice some self-restraint. Let’s be honest, as busy as the holidays are, would you even have the time to use everything that you bring with you?
Not to mention, the semester isn’t over, so you don’t have to bring every form of entertainment imaginable. Think about this realistically and get ready to pick and choose what actually comes home with you. Consider only bringing these:
1. Phone
2. Laptop (or a tablet if you’re more of a tablet person)
3. Chargers
4. Headphones
5. One handheld gaming system (like a switch, steam deck, or Nintendo DS if you still have one…I do)
Packing Tips
1. Only Bring A Small Suitcase And Backpack
Whether you’re flying home or driving home from college, you don’t need to bring a lot of stuff. If you’re flying, I suggest skipping the checked luggage and only packing your things in your carry-on and a backpack. This will save you time in the airport and make traveling easier. If you’re driving, I suggest grabbing your smallest suitcase and a backpack to take with you. Everything that you need should fit in those two bags.
2. Keep Your School Supplies In Your Backpack
Since you were probably assigned projects and stuff to do over the break, it’ll be easy to keep track of your work if it stays in the place that it already lives. It’ll also help you pack faster since it’s already in the bag. You can pack other stuff in the backpack too, like anything you’ll need on the plane if you’re flying home. Speaking of flights, that would be the perfect time to get a head start on your holiday homework; so, packing your school supplies in here makes even more sense now.
3. Roll Your Clothes
In order to fit everything that you’ll need for the break in your small suitcase, you should make your clothes take up as little space as possible. Ideally, if you had small vacuum seal bags that turn fabric into paper-thin sheets, then I’d say use those. If you don’t have any, like most of us, then you should lay each type of clothing on top of each other (pants on pants, etc.) and tightly roll them like sushi. After that, tuck them in your bag.
4. Pack Some Things You Don’t Use Anymore
If you’re down to free up some space in your dorm room, and your bags aren’t completely full, then here’s something you could do. Look around your dorm room for any items that you don’t use anymore and toss them in the bag to take home. This’ll help lighten the load of move-out day, even if it’s just by a little bit. You can do the same kind of space-freeing technique while packing for winter break too.
Here are some things to consider leaving at home:
- Clothes you don’t wear anymore
- Decor that you don’t want
- Supplies from any classes that you already finished
- Cleaning supplies that you won’t use
- Shoes you don’t need
