If you, like I, have been pulling out the same beloved but embarassingly stained tablecloth for every special occassion for the past decade or so, it's time to make a change.
There is still a week before Thanksgiving—plenty of time to get a new one on which to promptly spill some cranberry sauce or greasy gravy.
Lincoln Park's Tabula Tua, always a great stop for tabletop accessories, just got a shipment of fabulous 100 percent-linen tartan tablecloths by Libeco Home. One of these will allow you to celebrate Thanksgiving in high British style, which might sound odd, but will be very on-trend. Starting at $295.
In Oak Park, at Careful Peach, Le Jacquard Francais's 2013 collection of linens are 20 percent off, so if you don't mind being so-last-season, now is your moment to invest in some beautiful pieces made in France. Starting at $72.50.
More modern-minded, are you? The local company Unison Home has a great selection of bold-patterned cotton sateen table linens and, as long as we are keeping tabs, they are made in the U.S. Starting at $122.
If you just want to keep things simple, and like the look of a more heavyweight linen, the local company Sarah Drake Design carries a thick Belgian-linen tablecloth that comes in a range of rich, attractive colors (she also carries the more traditional linen). Starting at $240.