The sweet spot of airport outfits mixes comfort, practicality and personal style. Here, a frequent flyer shares her advice for what to wear to the airport. Spoiler alert: It starts with soft, breathable fabrics, adds layers for keeping warm in chilly airplanes and tosses in a bit of flair so you feel put together and pretty even while you’re running to make that connection.
Airport Outfit Highlights
- Best travel shoes: Supportive, hands-free sneakers that accommodate swollen feet
- Best travel pants: Wide-leg or relaxed pants with stretch and pockets
- Best airport layers: A long cardigan and oversized wrap
Editor’s note: This is an updated version of a post written by fashion editor Kara Blakeslee.
I’m in airports at least a half-dozen times each month. If there’s one thing I understand, it’s this: comfort is the key to a stress-free travel day. But I never want to look like I rolled out of bed straight to the gate. So style matters too.
Here, I tick off the list of airport outfits that take me from security to sightseeing with barely a blip.
What NOT to Wear to the Airport
Let’s just get this bit out of the way: There are a few things that should never be part of your airport wardrobe, including:
- Spiky heels: Yes, they’re hot and sexy but, no, they are not the right footwear for long walks through big airports when you’re rushing to make that tight connection. Pack these in your checked bag. Same goes for flip-flops, slip-ins and other footwear that isn’t made for running.
- Anything with metal: I once wore the cutest tank top adorned with chains. I nearly had to strip to my bra to get through TSA. Same goes for that underwire bra.
- Tight jeans: Yes, you look great in them. But, no, you don’t want to wear them during that six-hour flight in economy. Same goes for any other clothing with a stiff, tight waistband.
- That super cute jumpsuit: Unless you’re positive you won’t need to use those impossibly tiny lavs on the plane, don’t wear the jumpsuit. It’s very hard to get off and back on if you do need to avail yourself of the facilities.
The Easiest Airport Outfits
There’s a simple formula to planning a great airport outfit. The trick is to start with your base and incorporate versatile layers.
If you have an upcoming trip and aren’t sure what to wear to the airport, this is for you. Plus, since we’re focusing on buildable layers, these outfit ideas can be easily mixed and matched.
These airport travel outfit ideas will get you to your gate feeling comfortable, confident and ready for takeoff.
Accessorize Smartly for Easy Travel Days
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Comfy, Easy Fabrics Make the Best Airport Travel Outfits
Athleisure is a crowd favorite for all things travel. It’s comfy, loose and something you can wear on the plane and throughout your trip.
Opt for soft knits, stretchy fabrics, cotton blends and wrinkle-resistant materials.
Travel pants should allow you to sit comfortably for hours, bend down to reach your under-seat personal item without flashing the guy in the middle seat and walk quickly to the gate.
For tops, I prefer a comfortable crewneck T-shirt, tank, or long-sleeve tee. A fitted basic works well under a cardigan or pullover, but it shouldn’t be so tight that you spend the entire flight adjusting it.
The Right Travel Pants
If you’re like me, you’re thrilled with the trend toward wide-leg pants. Sure, joggers and full-length yoga pants are plenty comfortable. But they lack the style I get from a more tailored wide-leg pant. Look for pants with a slightly stretchy waistline and pockets.
And, the lesson I learned the hard way on a 15-hour flight to Kenya: You must get the inseam length right. Pants that skim the floor look great at home, but you don’t want them dragging along the filthy airport floors or — much worse! — the wet airplane bathroom floor.
Opt for ankle-length whenever possible and don’t let them drag in the lav!
These are my favorites:
Quince French Terry Wide-Leg Pants
Quince Ultra-Form High-Rise Wide Leg Pants
Add a Comfortable Tee
A soft T-shirt is always one of the hardest-working pieces in my travel wardrobe. A crisp white tee looks best. But I rarely choose white. Why? Because white is an invitation to drip coffee or spill something on myself. So I opt for dark colors that hide my mistakes.
Minetom Women’s V Neck T Shirts Casual Half Sleeve Tops
Zeagoo Women’s Casual Long Sleeve Tops
Matching Sets Make Airport Dressing Effortless
Matching sets are my new go-to airport outfit. They look totally put together on the travel day. Plus, they’re stretchy enough for comfort on a long flight, cute enough for first class and ready to go straight from the airport to my favorite restaurant for dinner.
Auciccoo Plus-Size Wide-Leg Matching Set
Versatile Layers
I love a long cardigan! It adds warmth with a touch of class and it’s long enough to cover my legs on a chilly flight. Front pockets are useful for keeping a phone or boarding pass nearby, although valuables should go back into a secure bag before boarding.
And, since I’m almost always cold on a plane or in the air-conditioned car, I never go anywhere without a cashmere travel scarf.
Velanio Cashmere Knitted Wrap Pashmina Shawl
GRACE KARIN Essential Solid Open Front Maxi Long Knitted Cardigan Sweater
PRETTYGARDEN Women’s Cable Knit Button Long Cardigan Sweater
Quince 100% Organic Cotton Oversized Cardigan
ANRABESS Cardigan Sweater for Women
Simple Shoes
While it’s smart to wear your heaviest shoes on the plane to save space in your suitcase, don’t go so heavy that they trigger TSA to make you take them off to clear security. And always lean toward comfort.
O’Hare International in Chicago is my home airport. I always know that I’ll log at least 2000 steps just to get to my gate. And if I’m running late, I might need to run. So comfy shoes that stay on my feet are a must.
These are some cute but still comfy options. And remember: Airport days are not the right time to wear those new shoes that pinch a little!
Frequently Asked Questions
A comfortable airplane outfit consists of relaxed wider-leg pants with a stretchy waistline, a breathable tee, a sweater or wrap that can be layered on and off as the plane temperature requires and supportive shoes.
Yes. Many women still wear leggings on planes. They are comfortable and practical, particularly when paired with a longer top, oversized cardigan, or sweater. Wide-leg pants are the trendy alternative for travelers who want additional room or a more polished look.
Choose supportive shoes that you and run in when the flight connection is tight and that leave enough room for your feet to swell on long flights. Hands-free sneakers, slip-on walking shoes and supportive loafers are better choices than heels, heavy boots, or unsupportive slides.
Avoid restrictive waistbands, stiff fabrics, complicated bodysuits or jumpsuits, floor-skimming hems, uncomfortable shoes, and anything that requires frequent adjusting. Your travel outfit should make it easy to walk, sit, use those tiny airplane lavs and adapt to changing temperatures.
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