what to wear to the airport

The No. 1 Airport Apparel MUST

finding the perfect airport outfit

[trip style = any] 

Do you have an autopilot airport outfit? If not, you NEED to get onboard with the concept!  

Every frequent flier I know AND follow has a travel-day uniform, yet it was initially Mr. Trip Stylerwho can pack and get out the door in 30 minuteswho inspired me to select my "getaway getup." Think: A neutral outfit comfortable enough for a 14-hour flight and classy enough for a last-minute upgrade.

Autopilot Outfit
WHO has time to figure out a new set of threads for every trip, especially seeing as airports and airplanes usually have similar temperature ranges, anyway?!? Plus, having a consistent wayfaring wardrobe shaves a ton of time off the packing process, and is one LESS thing to think about as you're rushing to the airport. With so many variables at play on a travel day, it's the one thing you can put on "autopilot." 

The Swap
Because every trip style is differentie: urban, sun, adventure, spaMr. Trip Styler and I always wear a similar base {see photos below}, and swap our jackets, shoes or sweaters depending on the season or destination. For example, we both wore our warm coats to Sweden, instead of the jackets shown below, to save space in our bags.

What We Wear to the Airport

Women's airport outfit
airport outfit inspo

For most trips I beeline for black or blue jeans and a white T as my travel uni base. Depending on the trip's "fancy-factor," whether the little stylers are in tow, or my immediate plans when I arrive, I'll add jewelry. I never leave home without a scarf, and often pack a small sweater depending on where I'm headed. For shoes, it's always booties as for their easy-on, easy-off design. Socks are a must, too, so my bare feet don't touch the ground at security. On top, it's usually my leather jacket, which goes with everything in my suitcase.

men's airport outfit
man + what to wear to the airport

Mr. Trip Styler also likes jeans as his base. On his feet he goes with a smart pair of lace-up booties, making sure he wears his biggest shoes to create more suitcase space. On top, he dons a white V-neck T, a button-up shirt, and a cashmere sweater, which he can add or subtract depending on the climate. For outerwear, his favored coat is his trench because it doesn't wrinkle and has lots of pockets to stuff airline tickets.

Trip Styler Tip: Find more packing pointers, check out my guides in the Expedia Viewfinder: 7 essentials for carry-on cool, 10 packing tips for blending comfort and class, and How to get from the plane to the pool, pronto!

[photos by @tripstyler]

Jetset Style :: Comfort Class

[trip style = any]

Have you ever noticed the celebrity travel uniform? If you don't count Rihanna's affection for street-wear onesies, it consists of sunglasses, jeans, light jacket, fantastic bag and hat {not required but recommended}. These savvy stars know that the key to airport style is layers, and while the price tag on their travel uniform may be higher than the average traveler's, they've nailed a look that's both comfortable and classy. There shouldn't be a divide between first class and economy in airplane fashion, so we've coined a new term: comfort class.

Celebrity travel uniform trends

  • Bomber jackets
  • Black & white color palette
  • Striped tees
  • Short crew-neck sweaters
  • Structured handbags
  • Black or white sneakers
  • Brimmed hat
  • Jeans or black pants
  • White tees
  • Blazers

Always looking outfit inspiration, we spotted these stylish high fliers rocking the comfort class look.

Bomber jackets are a stylish & smart layer

Bomber jackets are a stylish & smart layer

Hats aren't just for incognito travel 

Hats aren't just for incognito travel 

Black & white is a classic color combo

Black & white is a classic color combo

Cropped cashmere & structured satchels will never go out of style

Cropped cashmere & structured satchels will never go out of style

This post is written by Trip Styler's Assistant Wayfarer/Editor Heather.

Related
Dos and Don'ts of Airport Wear
Fashion Friday :: Runway Style
Fashion Friday :: Celeb Travel Must-Haves
Fashion Friday :: Airport Style

[images sourced via elle, in style, marie claire, glamour, and collages by @heatherlovesit]

Dos & Don'ts of Airport Wear

[trip style = any]

Sometimes my travel faux pas turn into teachable moments. This is one of those times.

But first, some questions to set the mood: When you're about to take a flight, do you think about the overall impact of the items you're wearing? How long will it take to partially disrobe before security---think jacket, scarf, sweater, shoes---and do your pants have too many zippers? And will those pants be comfortable on a six-hour flight?

A few weeks ago I traveled to BC's Wine Country, and in a Speedy Gonzales packing session, I planned my outfit based on fashion, not function.

On the way there, the culprit was a brown leather belt connected by metal bobbles. True, I could have removed it in line, but I forgot, so I took 1.5 mins to weave it out of my belt loops while everyone in the security line behind me grunted with frustration. On the way back, the culprit was a dark jean shirt with 12 metal snaps. As I was about to walk through the metal detector I sighed, knowing I'd made the wrong shirt choice. As expected, the beep called out my shirt {and 6 am outfit choice} and a touchy-feely body search ensued.

It had been about a month and a half since I'd been on a plane and my airport skills were rusty. Don't make the same mistake I did; airport attire is one of your most important packing decisions because you have to sit with your choice while traveling to the airport, going through security, waiting for your flight, putting a bag in the overhead bin and sitting for however many hours in your seat.

Good Airport Wear
- loose tops and blazers and jackets
- pants with some sort of give
- skirts
- a scarf/pashmina for warmth
- flats

Bad Airport Wear
- zippered anything
- snaps
- metal
- jewelry
- crocs or uggs
- juicy couture-like tracksuits

More Travel Fashion
Runway Style
Travel Staple :: The White Shirt
Like a Virgin
Celeb Travel Must-Haves
Airport Style

[graphic by @tripstyler with photos sourced online]