Help with stying an airport outfit!

Carla

On a whim I booked a last minute one week Caribbean vacation with the departure 3 weeks from now. I’m sorted for what I plan to pack (I think!!!) but I’m fussing about my ‘in transit’ outfit.

Although I live in a small town 100k from Toronto and the Big Airport - I figured out that I don’t have to really experience winter weather from the moment I catch the train at our local station until I get off the Mega Bus at the end of our trip! There will be lots of walking, though:

Board train for 1 hour trip to Union Station
Walk about 1k and catch the UPS (Union to Pearson AirPort Express train)
Walk through airport tunnels to Hotel (where we will spend the night)

Walk through tunnel from Hotel to airport where we will be processed
Board plane and 5+/- hours later deplane in the Caribean!

For the return, the trip is reversed, with the exception that the flight is shorter, and once we land back in Toronto….
Catch the Mega Bus at the airport for the 1.5 hr ride to the drop off point in our home town.

We will likely have snow during the first half of February, and temps will likely be in the -10 to 0degC range. I want to travel light, and this includes enroute. I figured thick soled ‘dad sneakers’ (see below) will work well, since I often wear them through winter if the sidewalks and parking lots are clear of snow - and probably a short puffer. But, what to wear when I’m essentially transitioning from below freezing temps to 28degC/82degF? Linen pants? Athleisure joggers? A button down shirt with a light sweater (that can be removed).

What would you wear?

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1 day ago

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16 replies

Latest reply was from Carla

Carol

(website)

Veteran

I am not big into airport outfits, and this type of thing I usually keep simple. A single, light, long-sleeve layer that you can scrunch up the sleeves if you need to, like a cotton-tee or light sweater...no other layer underneath. It gets hot. Then removing the parka as needed, carrying, tied around the waist, etc.
Pretty much any bottoms that aren't totally stuffy, and for me doing hot/cold that would be jeans or corduroys. Really it's all about keeping my top half cool. Even better, you can wear a regular tee instead of long-sleeved tee if you run hot in airports, and your parka is warm enough.

1 day ago

Irina

Veteran

We are leaving for a short Caribbean vacation in a couple of weeks from the same airport. Uber to the Union station, UP train, plane.

I’m planning to wear light track pants, a white t-shirt with short sleeves and a lightweight Uniqlo puffer, light merino scarf, socks and sporty shoes. I will pack away the puffer and a scarf on the plane. I wore a similar outfit last year when we went to Curaçao in January. Instead of a puffer, I wore a thin merino cardigan and a puffer vest. Worked well.

Can’t wait to escape the winter!

1 day ago

Lisa

Veteran

My standard airport travel outfit is a knit set. Your dad sneakers will be great for lots of walking.

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Caslon Double Breasted Knit Blazer

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Caslon Stretch Cotton Blend V-Neck T-Shirt

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ASICS Women's Gel-1130 Sneakers

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Caslon Straight Leg Sweatpants

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1 day ago

JAileen

Veteran

Because I run cold on planes, I always take a lightweight puffer, a Patagonia Nanopuff. I like them because they stuff into a pocket. For the rest, I wear things that would work on my trip, usually nylon hiking pants, a long sleeve tee, and a scarf. I don’t bring any special shoes for the flight, but wear shoes I need for the trip - I make them work.

1 day ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Actually, it's not an issue that the weather is hot on the other side. You wear what is comfy for the commute to the airport and on the plane and leave it at that! It's cold on planes. Socks and ankle coverage are important. Layers too. Packable puffer over a cotton layer and camisole is handy. I'd wear comfy jeans.

We've traveled from a cold and wet Seattle Winter to a HOT Dubai. There is a/c everywhere on the other side. It all works out better than you expect

Have a wonderful trip!

1 day ago

unfrumped

Veteran

If you’re taking any kind of LS button front for sun protection/ pool wear, you could layer that. A scarf can be head coverage for heat loss in airplane — even a more tropical linen or silk, or tissue wool you could wear in a restaurant. I agree the puffer though light will do most of the heavy lifting instead of too many layers, but I’d have trouble with what pants , as plain woven cotton or linen would not be enough. I might have to wear silk longjohns under lightweight pants. Something I might wear as jammies in hotel room a/c. And definitely socks- no fashionable bare ankles on plane for me.

1 day ago

MsMaven

Veteran

I run much colder now, so getting to the airport, Uber, and bus travel must keep me warm enough. Based on my last 2 trips, 10 days in US and 22 days abroad, the typical airport/plane outfits are track, pants, sweats, joggers, casual jackets and so on. And layers. Layers for cold weather using items you can wear as a single layer at your destination. And keep checking the weather where you are going! I doubt the weather will suddenly change, but I've been caught twice now for thinking the forecast had to be wrong. Is it hurricane season yet?

Imagine finding that early summer in New Zealand was colder than early winter in San Jose! One item I wish I had taken was a pair of lightweight gloves for the bus tours.

The best advice I can give is layers for the cold, flexibility, watch the forecasts AND BELIEVE them!

I envy you--hope you have a wonderful time.

1 day ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Sounds like a great trip, Carla. I like Lisa's suggestion and Irina's.
I'd wear lightweight knit pants probably...or similar.

1 day ago

Rock

Active Member

We just spent two weeks in Japan in December in very cold weather and then flew to Hawaii for a week before returning home. Our layover going to Japan was also in Hawaii. For the flight, I wore the same outfit both ways. I wore Spanx AirEssentials pants that were lightweight but provided full coverage, a lightweight tshirt, a sweatshirt, and a puffer. Once we reached Hawaii, I removed the puffer and the sweatshirt. I have a carabiner on my backpack and clip the locker loop on the puffer and sweatshirt to the carabiner to free up my hands. I also wore compression socks and Adidas.

Because we had to wait in the cold at Haneda airport for our transfer to our hotel, I was very grateful to have all the layers, and especially the puffer.

Your dad sneakers look like they will be a great pick. I would also give a thumbs up to the puffer.

I hope you have a wonderful trip. It sounds lovely to have some time in the sun at this time of year.

1 day ago

Veteran

I’d wear a long skirt with leggings under it for the cold and take the leggings off when I land. Clearly that is not what you will do, but I think I’m also making a quick trip to the Caribbean in early April (when it will probably still be cold here) so it’s what I will do! Have a great trip. (I suspect one experiences the actual weather more in the Caribbean than Dubai.)

16 hours ago

UmmLila (Lisa)

Veteran

I was going to make the same suggestion as Cookie, regarding the skirt, but it wouldn’t work with the chunky trainers.

13 hours ago

Star (Lise)

Veteran

I too have considered a dress with removable leggings when this situation calls. It hasn't yet.

12 hours ago

Karie

(website)

Veteran

I’m traveling to the Caribbean Saturday, and it’s been very cold here. The airport is only 20 minutes away, and it’s a direct flight from there, but I will be wearing a packable puffer coat and pretty much the same outfit Lisa posted above - same sweats and blazer, different tee (long sleeve). Airports and planes are notoriously cold and direct flights from our local airport are horrifically early in the a.m., so warmth and comfort are big priorities for me when traveling.
Have fun!

11 hours ago

Jenni NZ

Veteran

Won’t you get cold walking from Union Station to UPS? Or is that underground as well? It sounds cold to walk 1 km outside …
Obviously I have never had to contend with Canadian winter weather travelling, although we did once fly back from Saskatoon to NZ in early January 2010, I think we got dropped at the airport so not much being outside. I do get cold in planes so if going from an NZ winter to say Fiji or Tropical North Queensland I wear long pants, socks, sneakers, camisole under long-sleeved top, outer layers. When I get there if necessary I can take the top half down as far as the camisole or tank. It’s possible that at least once I put shorts or jandals in the carryon, for the Pacific Islands the airports are more primitive and not always air conditioned so you need to adjust for the heat as soon as you get there. It’s a while since I did that so I can’t fully remember, but I do remember changing at the airport in Fiji at least once!

11 hours ago

Dee

Veteran

Oh how wonderful to escape all this winter weather. My suggestions would be yes to your puffer and dad runners. I'd also likely wear athleisure joggers or the Lululemon pants, a long sleeve tshirt with a zipped type runners jacket (perhaps in fleece) as a topper. Maybe wear tights with socks underneath the pants if necessary, then take just the tights off at the airport and stuff them in your bags until your return when you land back home. Also some light gloves and a beanie too. Good luck.

11 hours ago

Carla

Veteran

@ Jenni NZ - Union Station is sprawling and now encompasses train, subway, and the UP stations. There’s also the underground PATH that stretches for miles underneath Toronto downtown!

8 hours ago

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