Let’s face it- flying can be overwhelming! From booking a flight to packing your luggage, it’s hard to know where to begin. The last thing on your mind? What to wear on the plane!
Follow these travel outfit tips to stay stylish and comfortable during your next flight.
1. Dress for your destination.
When traveling on an airplane, don’t forget that the weather at your destination might not match the weather at home. It’s important to dress appropriately for the weather at the location you’re flying to, not the location you’re traveling from!
Also, keep in mind what your plans are after arrival. For example, if I’m flying for work and I’m expected to meet with colleagues or clients when I land, I’ll wear stretchy slacks, a comfortable blouse, a blazer, and sneakers. I also pack a pair of work-appropriate heels in my carry-on. Once my flight lands and I pick up my luggage at baggage claim, I swap my sneakers for heels. That way, I can dress work-appropriate and stay comfortable during my flight.
When flying for personal reasons, my post-flight plans vary. Sometimes when visiting family or friends, I’m expected to attend dinners at fancy restaurants directly after being picked up from the airport. In that case, I’ll wear a stretchy dress and boots. Other times, I’ll take a late flight and head straight for a hotel. On those flights, I wear sweats and comfy shoes like Uggs or sneakers.
2. Make comfort your top priority.
Whether you’re wearing sweats or a mini dress, make sure to choose something comfortable!
Even when flying in “dressy” clothes, comfort is always my top priority. Make sure your travel outfit isn’t too snug or constraining. You’ll want to choose something that you can sit comfortably in for several hours, including travel to and from the airport.
3. Wear fabrics that don’t wrinkle.
If you need to attend a social or work event after you land, choose a travel outfit made of fabric that doesn’t wrinkle.
Wool, polyester, cashmere, and denim and a few choices that are comfortable and wrinkle-resistant. On the other hand, cotton, linen, and rayon will crease and wrinkle quite easily.
4. Wear layers.
Both airports and airplanes can be freezing cold! Flights are not the best time to wear a tank top and shorts. Even if you’re flying to a warm destination like Arizona or Mexico, bring a sweater or jacket with you for the flight. Once you arrive, you can take your layers off and throw them in your carry-on if you need to.
5. Wear your heaviest clothing on the flight.
If you’re traveling to a destination with cooler temperatures, wear your heaviest jacket on the flight.
Now, I’m not talking about heaviest as in warmest- I’m talking about heaviest clothing item by weight. For example, when flying to Kansas City last November, I packed a couple of down vests and a puffer jacket. On the plane, I wore my wool coat. While my wool coat wasn’t necessarily the warmest jacket I brought to Missouri, it weighed more than the other jackets I brought. By wearing my wool coat instead of packing it, I was able to lighten the weight of my packed luggage to avoid paying an overweight bag fee.
On that note, I also like to my heaviest pair of shoes when I fly. If I plan on packing a pair of flip-flops, a pair of sneakers, and a pair of combat boots, I’ll wear the combat boots on my flight! Of course, I always make sure that those boots are comfortable and easy to walk in.
