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Flying in style

JuniperGreen

Veteran

Angie's posts featuring her travel outfits and new sneakers have me wondering what I can do to add more polish for an upcoming international trip to Milan. I'd like to be *a little* more dressed up than my usual leggings, tunic/sweatshirt and sneaker combo.

I was considering the Michael Stars pants (haven't bought them yet), paired with a simple white shirt and sandals... but I'm stumped for a topper! A scarf wouldn't be enough, I need something for an extra layer, hopefully something that would work for my other vacation outfits (lots of dresses, wide leg crops, and midi-skirts).

A flowy cardigan? A blazer? Is my denim jacket too casual? Any thoughts, or are there travel uniforms you'd recommend that serve you well when you like to look polished?

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Wide Leg Pant Michael Stars

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Michael Stars | Anthropologie Michael Stars Ballerina Top

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Sam Edelman Gertrude

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Dressing

22 replies

Latest reply was from LaPed

bj1111

Veteran

I run cold so would wear closed shoes. Hate tsa so easy on/off shoes. This means fashion sneaks or skater shoes.

My summer travel outfit is black ag jeans rolled to show ankle and a summer top that I can put on a packable down puffer over with sneakers. I pack the down puffie and a huge cashmere shawl in my carry on. I have shorts in the outer zip of my carry on to change into at my destination if appropriate.

Comfort first.

The Cat

Veteran

Lovely pants! A flowy cardigan sounds great--easy to wear and pack and will look great over a multitude of bottoms, tops, and dresses.

LaPed

Veteran

What about a tie-front cardi that you could wear open or knotted at the waist? Would look great over the wide leg pants and also over dresses/skirts.

The Cat

Veteran

My own travel uniform for when I like to look polished:
● long pants
● closed-toe refined footwear (e.g. ballet flats, loafers, chic booties or sleek boots --not sneakers or flip-flops)
● nice thin wool or cotton socks
● short-sleeved pullover or nice T-shirt
● cardigan
● soft scarf or shawl
● perhaps necklace or earrings
● sleek outer jacket
I like to dress in layers, and to be able to easily remove some of them (depending on the temperatures) while still looking chic.

Cardiff girl

Veteran

Nice trousers!I personally always favour a denim jacket but if you are looking for a little more polish perhaps a soft linen jacket would be suitable.

Runcarla

Veteran

Despite outside temps, the internal temperature of the plane could be stuffy hot or Arctic A/C so layers are the way to go. I have travelled in sandals, however I packed warm socks in my carry-on and once in the plane took footwear off and donned socks.

Like Angie, I find jeans comfortable for travel and often wear white. A tank or t-shirt with a chambray shirt worn as a topper is a good summer travel uniform. I'm also a fan of slip on sneakers or loafers. (See pics below for warm weather travel.).

Instead of a sweater or cardigan, you could try a heavier shirt like a chambray or flannel.

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Molly Mac

Veteran

My travel uniform for both work and pleasure is the same: Jeans in winter and wide legged chambray pants in summer, a sleek t-shirt, a flowy cardigan, a scarf, and cool sneakers. This keeps me comfortable and covers any temperature extremes.

Anonymous

That looks comfortable for traveling, and easy on off shoes for tsa! Id personally choose a wrap or cardigan instead of a denim jacket for comfort. Denim is stiff, especially with pockets and buttons and stuff. Just not cozy to relax in!

cjh

(website)

Veteran

I don’t fly, but have taken several long (llloooonnngggg) train trips, on which I “sleep” in my clothes. I don’t aspire to looking extra fashionable, but I do like to be a bit polished, matching and appropriate. My outfit of choice in warm weather is elastic waist (cropped length, woven, yoga/sport) pants, short sleeved knit top, light weight, coordinating, zippered knit jacket or hoodie, and Converse tennis shoes. I have a small fleece blanket in my carry on bag. In cold weather, it’s basically the same, but longer pants, long sleeve shirt, add a scarf, and booties instead of tennies.

The slacks are lovely and would be a great choice IMO if they are not fussy to manage with your other garments. A colorful knit top, silk scarf, soft cardigan and sophisticated travel handbag would be good accompaniments. A floaty cardigan is a nice idea for cuddly comfort but if it’s very long, would annoy me and get in my way when changing positions in my seat, keeping it out of the way when going to the restroom, and getting my things up and down from the overhead rack. I would not choose sandals - don’t want to sound freaky, but articles on travel safety long ago convinced me to always wear close toed, fairly sturdy shoes as a “survival need” when traveling by air or train (in case of accidents.) This also would preclude any options of tank tops, shorts, or sundresses for me.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Honey pie, you need closed toe shoes for longer flights.

Denim jacket for topper.

Jessikams

(website)

Veteran

My only rule is, it must all be washable. I can’t tell you how many times my seat mates or the stewardess has spilled some food or drink on me. It was the end for a light gray suede jacket.

kkards

Veteran

yes to the denim jacket....and i do the same a Runcarla, closed toed shoes for take off and landing....nice heavy socks for in between (usally i wear socks with treads)

SylvanElegance

My usual uniform is jeans, boots or flats with socks (I usually wear my bulkiest pair of shoes, and do sometimes stow them under the seat and just wear socks on the plane), long-sleeved tee, cozy topper, and a wrap or scarf. I prefer stretchy rather than stiff toppers, but it often works to take your jacket off and use it as a blanket over your knees. I would think a denim jacket would work well for this.

For me, the wrap is most important. I have a thinner one for warmer weather (still warm on a chilly flight) and just bought a really thick blanket scarf to bring in wintertime. So much nicer than those staticky plane blankets!

The Cat

Veteran

Agree with Jessikams. I have witnessed too many "accidents" of the sort she mentions, and don't understand how anyone dares to wear white clothes when flying ... My only exception would be a white TOP, which, in case it should get spots from coffee, coke, food, etc., could be hidden behind a big scarf or shawl. (Besides, I always keep an extra top and some underwear in my hand luggage, just in case my checked-in suitcase should be delayed ...)

SylvanElegance

Oh, a couple more thoughts:
-Yes to closed-toed shoes. It can be annoying to take them off and on at TSA, but really, that only adds 30 seconds to your time through security.
-I recently did an international flight in a maxi dress, tights, a chambray shirt, and wrap. That worked quite nicely, actually, and was plenty warm. You just have to find a dress that doesn’t cling to the tights. But I second Runcarla’s suggestion that a chambray shirt might work well.
-I remember Angie mentioning once that she saves the outer bags that come with her purses and uses those to cover them on flights. I’ve started packing light-weight tote bags to perform the same task. Lovely purses can get so grimy under the seat!

A while other interesting thread would be: what do you pack in your purse? Moisturizer, lip balm, and sprayable hand sanitizer are musts for me.

This is a really interesting conversation! Thanks!

Elizabeth P

Veteran

A denim jacket would look great with that outfit, if you find them comfortable. I personally prefer knits to travel.

Please wear closed toe shoes! So easy to stub a toe, have someone run a suitcase into/over you, etc. I wouldn't worry so much about "survival", after all you're a gazillion times more likely to have an "accident" in a car than a plane or train

I also always wear clothes that are okay to be spilled on It's only happened once, but you never know. No white, and I often something that can be spot cleaned in a washroom if necessary.

Windchime

Veteran

I love those pants, Juniper Green! I’m just back from a trip to the other side of the country and enjoyed noticing airport style. (It really runs the gamut from very casual to very dressy!)

I get cold sooner than a lot of people, so for me, black jeans, a cotton shirt with 3/4-length sleeves and a summer-weight cardigan, WITH a lightweight jacket tossed over, blanket style, kept me warm in the plane. I wore mules coming home, which were super easy for going through security. Flying out, I wore dressy lace-up black sneakers. I noticed the majority of people wore some type of slip-on shoe, presumably for ease of going through security. I suspect it’d be different in winter.

Have a wonderful trip!

JuniperGreen

Veteran

Thanks all! Great options - was thinking I’d switch to thick socks on the plane but I’ve been convinced to wear sneakers. Can I pull of the Eccos with those pants? They are slightly cropped.

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Wide Leg Pant Michael Stars

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Ecco 'Soft 7' Cap Toe Sneaker (Women)

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Bijou

Veteran

I like to travel with a jacket and scarf. A denim jacket would look great with this outfit - I really love how elegant your cropped pants look and I think they work with the white sneakers.

shiny

Veteran

I think you can wear sneaks with those pants.

I prefer lace-up shoes for flights, as my feet swell. I have TSA pre so I don't have to take off my shoes. Tuck some sandals in your bag so you can switch into them once you land.

I usually do wear my jean jacket on the plane, as it is one less thing to cram into my luggage. But I also pack a soft and comfy topper and a scarf in my carry-on. I like machine washable toppers due to the spill factor. So this topper may not be as "nice" -- it could be one of those super soft jersey cardigans from Athleta. But nobody really sees you on the plane anyway, or so I figure. And then when I land the topper is used as a robe over my jammies.

You could also pack silk long johns in your carry on, in case you get cold on the flight. These are my travel pj's but they have come in super handy on very cold flights.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

OF COURSE, you can wear those Eccos with the pants. Super cute, and very 2018.

LaPed

Veteran

Hmm, this is interesting; I'm not on Team Denim Jacket for this particular scenario because all the buttons make them a bit too poke-y to use as a pillow. I like whatever I wear on the plane to be soft enough that I can smoosh it between the window and my head (Uniqlo puffers are very good for this!). Of course I might be the last person in the universe without a travel pillow.