The first year I lived in New York I flew back to San Francisco once a month for work. That was also the year my company held their annual sales and marketing training in the Dominican Republic, a staff retreat in Costa Rica, and offered me the chance to visit our program operations in Australia. On top of that, I was traveling every month with my dance company to events around the country.
It was an incredible year of exploring new places! A year during which I spent almost as much time in airports and on airplanes as I did in my Brooklyn apartment. Along the way I learned a few things about what to (and not-to) wear for long flights and multiple airport layovers. Below I’m sharing the three rules I use whenever I’m deciding what to wear on an airplane.
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Make Sure You Have Pockets
Pockets are immensely useful in airports and on airports! Especially as I’m going through security or waiting in line to board the plane. After I check in at the airport kiosk, I stash my phone, boarding pass, ID, and iPod headphones into the pockets of my leggings. That way I can easily grab them at any point, and I avoid slowing down the entire line by opening and closing my bag and searching for them. I also keep small items I know I’m going to want during the flight, like chapstick and hand cream in my pockets. That way I don’t have to reach underneath my seat to get them throughout the flight.
I literally wear these leggings them every time I head to the airport! The pockets are deep and the material is super soft, stretchy, and breathable, so they’re comfortable to wear in a variety of temperatures.
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Keep It Comfy
I am all about comfort when I travel, especially if I’m getting on an early morning or late night flight. I like to wear loose fitting clothing so that I can get up and stretch during the flight (yes, I am one of those people that stretches in the aisles). My rule of thumb when choosing travel clothing is this: if it’s comfy enough to sleep in, it’s comfy enough to wear on an airplane. I usually stick to loose cotton t-shirts in neutral colors and opt for sneakers or other flat, slip on shoes. A few items that I like are linked below!
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Layer Up
The most frustrating part about flying for me is the drastic change I experience in temperatures! I’m usually cold in the airport, hot while walking from security to the gate and waiting in line to board, and then cold again mid-flight. (I prefer sitting near the window because I think it’s the easiest place to fall asleep—but the window seat also gets colder than the aisle or middle seats.)
Because I know I’m going experience several different temperatures, I like dress in layers. I usually wear a long sleeve shirt over my t-shirt, a jacket on top of that, and finish it off with a long scarf that can double as a blanket or pillow on a flight. In the winter, I bring a beanie too. I like having lots of pieces I can easily put on when I get cold, and then shed right before the plane lands and it gets hot inside the cabin again.
Do you have a go-to airplane outfit? Share it below!
P.S. One thing NOT to do on an airplane and four ways to feel better after you land.