shoes for long haul solo flight with 18 month old to go with this dress?

[willowstar]

Hello

I am flying to the US next week, first flight is 8 hours, a quick zip through security then another 2 hour flight.

I have practically nothing to wear as I am still much bigger than prepregnancy, much to my shame. So, today I bought my first ever maxi dress and it looks much better than I thought it would www.monsoon.co.uk/all-dresses/butterfly-printed-maxi-dress/invt/85326447/

I can't wear trousers at the moment because of this huge belly I seem to have. Anyway, any suggestions for shoes I can wear that will slip on and off easily as my daughter will no doubt be clung to me? They need to be comfortable enough to wear to walk around for a few hours at a time as well.

shite, the bloody link didn't work, here it is.

www.monsoon.co.uk/all-dresses/butterfly-printed-maxi-dress/invt/85326447/

White Birkenstocks were a Godsend during my pregnancy and would be my first choice for you!

Some nice flats here and some jeweled ones on previous pages.

Just make sure you wear round the house first. I have huge blister on big toe from wearing new sandals on Saturday

For flight to Australia I wore fave gold "tennis shoes" (v comfy) but took on board some warm socks and some hotel type slippers. Ie v thin design so didn't take too much room in bag. Planes can get cold or hot depending on air con as can airports depending on when you arrive etc... The slippers were perefct for kicking on or off and vital for entering the on board toilet!

'a quick zip through security'
And through customs and immigration.
With a toddler
Hollow laughter.
:)

I think the monsoon dress is pretty and a great style for travelling in but viscose would crease horribly on a flight with a toddler on your lap even for short periods. Is there something similar in a heavy jersey - still patterned so spills and creases don't show as much.

Definitely Birkenstocks - depending on the dress how about some gold/ bronze Gizehs.

I always wear dresses when I fly but like bloocow says a heavier and more patterned one. I would be freezing in that! I usually wear a dress and those thick tights. Like school tights. Cotton tights are they called? You need shoes you can shove on and off quickly.

All that matters on a flight is that you are comfortable. That dress looks pretty, but I hope that you are going to take something warmer too, as I find planes can be quite cold. For shoes you need to have something fairly loose fitting as your feet may swell. I really wouldn't buy something new unless you generally find new shoes comfortable.

Oh, and I hope that you have a fair amount of time between your flights, I'd expect to spend at least an hour doing security and immigration depending on the airport (smaller ones can be quicker).

My in-flight dress code is always comfort over style.

Soft trews, t-shirts, soft jumper, pashmina, socks and soft shoes, or an extra pair of thick socks to wear if I take my shoes off.

Note emphasis on SOFT. Also warm as planes can be freezing.

Don't wear new shoes on a flight, you'll get blisters as when feet swell they get tender and you risk getting cut to ribbons (esp with Birkies that can be hard in the beginning) - do you have anything worn in at all? I normally travel in very old fit flops or an old pair of cowboy boots when I go back to the UK. Take warm socks as flights can be cold and in-flight socks are bleurgh. Also a cardigan / pashmina - I normally have to lend mine to the DCs as blankets....

that dress is too nice to travel in, and your daughter is likely to spill something on you. It wouldn't keep me very warm either. I always travel in leggings and plimsoles, with a tunic and cardi. i also take a spare tunic or longer top and pair of leggings in my hand luggage, they roll up small, my children always manage to soil me.

Oh god an 8 hour flight with an 18month yr old - please tell me you have managed to afford a seat for them as well.

Sorry but that dress and birkies are highly impractical for a plane ride. Buy a cheap pair of trackie bums, a comfy jumper and wear trainers, who cares what you look like. I would also take a pashmina as posters have said planes can get cold. Basically what nothingnatural has said.

Long haul flights are freezing. Long haul flights with a toddler in tow are purgatory. (I used to live in South America.)

I wear comfortable pants (yoga pants are the best), a loose top (usually black, stains less - I once had my child spill tomato on my white T-shirt while in transit from Northern Europe to Brazil), flip flops, clogs or trainers, plus a warm hoodie or cardigan. Never a dress. I take along woolen socks and soft slippers for the plane. Have a extra set of clothers for you and your child just in case you spill something or your child vomits. I would never ever otherwise wear gym clothes in public, but on long haul flights they are the smart option.

Nobody cares what you look like as long as you are able to keep your child quiet and entertained. You will look like hell anyway after the flight so you might as well stay comfortable.

Arriving in the US, there is no quick zip through security BTW. Be mentally prepared for at least 30-60 minutes of waiting to clear the INS line and to do confusing and pointless things with your luggage.

(Off to Miami next week. Without children.)

Looks lovely. I don't get why it's suddenly ok to wear sports wear on a flight... Wear a cardie to keep cosy and definitely flip flops on feet. Purely for the ease of putting them on/off at security as reqd with a clingy/bolting toddler in tow.

Agree mentally prepare yourself for the hell that is US immigration (used to live there...).

Good luck!

I think you'd be cold on a plane in that dress as well, would go for something warm and comfortable myself. It doesn't have to be 'sportswear' - though personally I think yoga pants or similar would be fine, and can't imagine getting dressed up in a Monsoon frock and buying new shoes to match just for travelling!

hello

thank you all for your thoughts. I haven't bought the dress just for travelling as I plan to wear it plenty over the summer. I really have very few clothes at the moment because I am still overweight from having my daughter. I can't find jeans that are comfy anywhere and I don't have gym clothes that fit either. I work 2 days a week and have 3 outfits I rotate for working and have one pair of leggings and a skirt that I wear and wash the rest of the time. it is a sad state of affairs!

anyway...I have a cardigan to wear over the top of my dress. I have flown long haul many times before and have been freezing and boiling, hardly ever just comfortable. I have some long sox and tiny slippers for on the plane so I am hoping that will be enough.

I haven't worn Birkenstocks for a while, I might try those. Failing that I do have some old flip flops I can dig out. My feet splayed when I was pregnant so lots of my many shoes no longer fit. I am only a size 14 but everything I own is size 12 which is a huge pain.