Black Friday Basics

It is hard to believe that we are close enough to Thanksgiving that it's time for a Black Friday fashion post. Although I am so ready for the holiday season (last night my roommate and I made ornaments and decorated our house), but it feels unreal that it is finally here! My family is not one of those ambitious families on Black Friday that gets up at 3am in order to get the special doorbuster deals. This is because 1. we don't want to be trampled, 2. we like to sleep, 3. we like to enjoy shopping. Going out in the pre-dawn hours on Black Friday seems like a joy-killing shopping experience and we'd much rather go out in the afternoon with the rest of America.

The name of Black Friday in reference to post-Thanksgiving Day shopping originated in Philadelphia in 1966, but began to become part of everyday jargon around 1975. The holiday came about in part because of an unspoken rule amongst big retailers to not begin Christmas deals until after Thanksgiving. This was largely due to the advertisements that came out during the annual Thanksgiving Day parades. While they all upheld this rule, shops began to complain that the Christmas shopping season did not last long enough. In 1939 FDR announced that the food-filled holiday would be moved back a week to the delight of the major department stores. It was from here that modern Black Friday emerged.

If you are going out this Friday to get some deals, I have a few recommendations for your shopping attire. My philosophy on this is you want to wear pieces that can easily work with several outfits so that you don't have to keep finding pants to pair with the shirt you are trying on. Essentially you want to wear items that are easy, comfortable, and convertible and allow you to try on pieces outside of the dressing room. That is why I always wear slip-on flats (don't want to waste time tying and untying shoes!), comfortable skinny jeans, a button up shirt (because you can try on many things over this essential piece), a blazer, a cross-body bag (to be easily carried), and a circle scarf (for warmth and it won't get hooked in your purse). You may want to pull your hair up in an easy messy bun so that its out of the way and you won't waste time fixing it over and over when it gets staticky on sweaters.

I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

black friday basics by historyandhighheels

Madewell / Michael Kors jacket, $1,350 / Abercrombie & Fitch skinny fit jeans / Madewell teddy shoes / Sophie Hulme tote handbag, $850 / VILA infinity loop scarve, $32