Style Tips You Can Learn From Pilgrims

This Thanksgiving, aside from honoring family, football, and stuffing our collective faces, we also take a moment to celebrate the collaborative spirit of the Native Americans and the Puritan Pilgrims as they shared both food and knowledge while surviving the cold-as-fuck New England autumn and winter.

The Pilgrims for sure wouldn't have been able to survive a stretch of long Massachusetts winters without survival tips from the resident Native American tribes. Turns out, you might be able to pick up a few unlikely style tips from the Puritanical Pilgrims. Sure you may think it's all buckled hats and conservative religious beliefs, but our forefathers may have a thing or two to teach us about dressing today, kind of. These are Style Tips You Can Learn From Pilgrims.

Black is obviously one of the most stylish colors to rock, and the Pilgrims subscribed to this golden rule since day one. Sure, they kept it murdered out mainly for religious reasons, but that doesn't mean you can't opt for a monochromatic wardrobe. Whether cruising through your hometown over Thanksgiving weekend or struggling to grow crops as you begin a religious colony in the early 17th century, all-black-everything is always a strong move.

Whether you're attempting to reverse layer your rare hemlines or are simply battling Massachusetts winters, even the Pilgrims knew that you need to layer up if you want to prosper in colder climates.

A stereotypical Pilgrim is nothing without the bright buckle adorning his hat, and while their Puritanical and conservative religious values suggested that Pilgrims shy away from anything gaudy, even they knew that adding a little shine to your outfit is definitely worth the trouble. When considering a modern day equivalent, a little jewelry can go a long way—just don't go full Migos.

You could say that with the oversized linen collar, the high stockings, and the large felt tophat, the Pilgrims were some of the first Americans to play with proportion. Keep in mind that while you might look a silly with a giant, white, bib-like collar and enormous garter-held stockings, you should be aware of how your outfit is proportioned—and fits your proportions as well.

Even the Pilgrims new that sometimes the most fertile opportunities lie across the ocean. While we have some excellent product that's produced right here in the states, don't be surprised if the pieces you're most excited about are born beyond the borders of the ol' U.S. of A.

As noted earlier, the Pilgrims liked to keep their clothing minimal and simplified. However, the giant linen collar (bib) and the tall felt hat prove that adding something that stands out may be the best finishing touch as long as the rest of your kit is subdued.

The Pilgrims benefited from their cooperation with Squanto and the Wampanoag tribe, who shared both food and knowledge on how to survive in what is now Massachusetts. If you see your homie about to brick his outfit, show him the error of his ways, share your knowledge, and you will both benefit as a result.

The Pilgrims traveled for about four months before they finally got to their destination—and that includes heading back to England to drop off a ship for repairs and dealing with Atlantic storms. Remember this the next time you camp out for a drop and decide to bail halfway through.

What you don't know might kill you, and without the help of Native Americans who had already been living in North America for hundreds of years, the Pilgrims would have died out. If someone offers a style-based opinion on something, give their advice a chance before letting your pride get in the way. Keeping an open mind and receiving advice from others will eventually make you more informed and better equipped.

Don't get it twisted: not all of your friends will care about style as much as you do, or why you're willing to drop money and spend all your energy on clothing. But some pilgrims were also non-believers, and some weren't able to tough out the misery that precedes flourishing.