By the time the pie comes out, the jeans that felt fine at noon have usually become the problem. The most comfortable Thanksgiving outfits are built for an afternoon of sitting, a house warmed by an oven that's been on since morning, and a second helping, while still looking like you made an effort for the photos.

Comfort comes from fabric with some give, a waist that doesn't dig in, and a layer you can take off.

Easy options for women and anyone who likes knits

A wrap or knit midi dress

This is the Thanksgiving outfit for women who want to look dressed up without wearing a waistband at all. The tie or seam sits where you choose, and a knit skirt moves when you sit cross-legged or chase a toddler.

A true wrap can gap at the neckline when you lean over the table and fall open at the knee on a low sofa. Before you commit, sit down in front of a mirror and lean forward. If it gaps, a faux wrap that's sewn closed, or a small safety pin hidden inside the neckline, fixes it.

Pull-on wide-leg trousers with a fine-knit jumper

Pull-on trousers suit anyone who'd rather wear trousers and anyone on their feet hosting. Wide legs hide the fact that the waist is elasticated, and a light jumper looks finished with them.

The limit is how the waist reads: a fully shirred elastic band looks like loungewear. A flat front with elastic only at the back looks tailored and still gives. Squeeze a handful of the fabric for a few seconds; if it stays deeply creased, it'll look rumpled after two hours in a chair.

A jumper dress with tights and boots

In cold places, or if the afternoon includes a garden football game, a jumper dress keeps you warm with one piece. Wear it with opaque tights and flat or low-heeled boots.

Its limit is heat. A thick knit in a crowded dining room can be too much, and the waistband on some tights pinches. Check the fibre label: wool and cotton breathe better than an all-acrylic knit, and tights with a wide, soft waistband are worth looking for.

Comfortable choices for men

Stretch chinos with an untucked shirt or quarter-zip

For families who treat the day as smart casual, chinos with a little stretch and a shirt worn out are hard to beat. Nothing is tucked, so nothing tightens after dinner.

Chinos with a lot of stretch can bag at the knees by evening, so a modest stretch blend holds its shape better. Check the shirt length too. As a rough guide, a shirt cut to be worn untucked ends around the middle of the fly; one that covers your back pockets was made to be tucked in and will look sloppy out.

Dark jeans, a collared shirt and a crew-neck jumper

This is the dependable Thanksgiving outfit for men who travel to a relative's house and don't know how formal it will be. With the jumper on, it looks polished; without it, it's relaxed.

Rigid denim is the weak point, because it doesn't give after a big meal. Choose jeans with some stretch, or ones whose waist is comfortable when you sit, not just when you stand. Make sure the shirt can stand on its own once the jumper comes off, which means pressed and properly sized.

Dressing for pregnancy or a long day at the hob

A stretch knit dress or maternity trousers with a long cardigan

Thanksgiving outfits for pregnant women work best when nothing presses on the bump through a long meal. A jersey dress that skims the bump, or maternity trousers with a full over-the-bump panel under a long cardigan, covers that.

The limit depends on the panel. Under-bump bands can roll down when you sit for a long time, while full panels can feel hot in a warm room, so pick based on which bothers you more. Check your shoes: many people's feet swell later in pregnancy, so wear flats or a low, wide heel you've already worn for a few hours.

A fitted top, straight trousers and sleeves that push up

Whoever is cooking needs an outfit that survives steam, gravy and a hot oven. A dark or patterned knit top with fitted sleeves, straight-leg trousers and closed-toe shoes does the job and still looks right when you sit down to eat.

The limit is drama: there's no room for bell sleeves or a flowing scarf, because loose fabric can catch fire over a gas hob or drag through a pan. Check that the sleeves stay put when pushed above the elbow, and keep a clean top nearby to swap in before guests arrive.

Checks that apply to every outfit

A few minutes of testing at home saves an afternoon of tugging at your clothes.

1. Sit for five minutes in the full outfit, then lean forward as if reaching for the potatoes; anything that pinches now will be worse after dinner.
2. Read the care label. Gravy and cranberry sauce are likely, so something machine-washable is easier to deal with than a dry-clean-only piece.
3. Plan for the temperature in both directions: a cold drive or porch, then a hot, crowded room. A layer that comes off is better than one thick piece.
4. Ask whether the house is shoes-off. If it is, bring socks without holes or soft slippers, and make sure trousers aren't hemmed so long that they drag.
5. Find out how formal the table is. A quick text to the host settles whether jeans are fine or a dress shirt is expected.

If you're unsure where to start, lay out the outfit the night before and do the sitting test then, while there's still time to swap the waistband that fails it.