18 years on MN and people still asking what to wear on planes

[Amy89]

You’re not Joan Collins m8.
Why are planes such style issues on here but not in RL

Why the need to be unpleasant?

Instagram?

Ha ha! My mum used to pack us get our special plane outfit ready before we went on holiday. Just wear something with an elasticated waist and take a jumper because some nob will put their air con on.

Sorry for the garbled sentence....

Yeah, and the same posters are still starting threads dissing other women.
T'is the way of the world.

I think it must be people who don’t travel very often. It’s not rocket science.

I’ve never spoken of this in real life. Wedding outfits Etc Ofc. Never plane outfits 😀

Well in my real life no one flies business/first class but can imagine if they did it would feel like a special occasion and they would want to fit in with other passengers and/or make a big deal of it. If your real life involves people who always fly like this then they probably never give it a second thought because it is not a big deal and will look like they fit regardless of what they wear.

18 years ago the people asking the questions now obviously weren't flying.

Saying that the troll or person who has obviously never flown long haul saying they'd wear a crisp white shirt was comedy gold.

As someone who's rather new to Mumsnet, but who has done a fair amount of flying, I think that's a very valid question, actually.

I used to travel very light (carry-on luggage only), on a tight schedule, to professional events all around the world (often in non-English speaking countries)
I ended up always wearing the exact same set of clothes on a flight. Something comfortable and practical that would last me through the whole "day" (sometimes over 30 hours due to time zones!), yet would look decent enough as I'd navigate within and between airports (in particular, security and passport control, and endless corridors. You want durable shoes that are easy to put on and off), through public transport, and to the (sometimes rather posh) hotel. You want to not look entirely like a tramp when trying to check in an immaculate 5 star hotel in a foreign place with conservative cultural norms (you never know for sure if the booking went through OK till you're standing at the reception desk, or whether you'll have to get your credit card out there and then, and hope you don't look so dodgy they refuse service). Consider these will also be clothes you may have to wear in busy foreign streets before reaching your destination (if like me once, you couldn't claim taxis on expenses, and had to leave the airport by bus/foot), and shouldn't scream "mug/rape me" either.

Obviously my best clothes would be tightly packed in my carry-on, to have something nice and fresh to wear at the business event. But what to wear on and around the flight did require some thought (especially since they were clothes I may have to sleep in, if one of my flights got delayed and I had to spend the night in an airport!)

Obviously no such preps are required for a short holiday trip to the Mediterranean.
But good travel clothes is something any seasoned traveller will carefully plan in advance. Both in term of form (looking good is always a plus) and function (e.g.: do they dry overnight with minimal wrinkling after being washed in a hotel bathroom sink?)

I love a plane outfit thread! Makes me feel as if I'm going on holiday

I think it's practical thing, especially of you're taking off in freezing Gatwick, having a long flight on an air conditioned plane and landing in Dubai or something. Also you can't / don't want to take a lot through as cabin baggage. There are a few things to consider. It's usually practical advice people want, but I'd also enjoy one where someone simply wanted to look FABULOUS on board. Haven't seen one yet though boo

You're so rude.

@Amy89 i know the thread that made your roll your eyes. I didn't click on it but yeh, When I was 23 and flying to London in 1993, an elderly relative of mine said to dress well because I was an ambassador for Ireland when I was out of the country. I thought that was funny. On a Ryanair flight to London one of about 100 per week.

After a decade of short flights between Dublin and London, I do think i got a shock on a slightly longer flight to Turkey or Fuerteventura, how COLD the plane got, so I agree with the jumper advice

@Amy89 i know the thread that made your roll your eyes. I didn't click on it but yeh, When I was 23 and flying to London in 1993, an elderly relative of mine said to dress well because I was an ambassador for Ireland when I was out of the country. I thought that was funny. On a Ryanair flight to London one of about 100 per week.

I love this!

Ha ha. I do too. The answer is generally “take a jumper “.

It’s a very old fashioned attitude. Reminds me of my Granny (also Irish) laying out her peach two piece suit and pearls for the 1 hour flight to Dublin.

Comfort all the way. Layers. Shoes that come off and go on easily. Sorted.

@RobotValkryie - yes, it does take planning often. Fine if you are flying from a summery UK to summer day in Spain - but say, April holidays when you can leave the UK in the snow (often having to go outside to get on plane), to 30+ degrees at the other end.

For those who have never flown 1st or business class and don't want to stand out in the lounge, it might need thinking about.

I always remember shivering in sleet at Manchester Airport, waiting for our car to be brought back to us, having flown back from a hot beach holiday and not thinking well enough in advance to not have bare legs on the return.

@BlackSatinBand

It’s a very old fashioned attitude. Reminds me of my Granny (also Irish) laying out her peach two piece suit and pearls for the 1 hour flight to Dublin.

Comfort all the way. Layers. Shoes that come off and go on easily. Sorted.

So cute 🥰

[quote UserBot9to5]@Amy89 i know the thread that made your roll your eyes. I didn't click on it but yeh, When I was 23 and flying to London in 1993, an elderly relative of mine said to dress well because I was an ambassador for Ireland when I was out of the country. I thought that was funny. On a Ryanair flight to London one of about 100 per week.

After a decade of short flights between Dublin and London, I do think i got a shock on a slightly longer flight to Turkey or Fuerteventura, how COLD the plane got, so I agree with the jumper advice[/quote]
In fairness, depending on her age, she may well have been thinking of the suspicion Irish people were treated with when travelling to England during the Troubles — my friends and I were still regularly being pulled aside at airports or ferry ports in the 80s — or, if older than that, standard-issue anti-Irish prejudice, which might be combated by looking ultra-respectable.

It’s a very old fashioned attitude. Reminds me of my Granny (also Irish) laying out her peach two piece suit and pearls for the 1 hour flight to Dublin.

Ha ha! My grandma (not Irish) had the exact same travelling outfit. I once threw up all over it on a long coach journey.

[quote MargosKaftan]@RobotValkryie - yes, it does take planning often. Fine if you are flying from a summery UK to summer day in Spain - but say, April holidays when you can leave the UK in the snow (often having to go outside to get on plane), to 30+ degrees at the other end.

For those who have never flown 1st or business class and don't want to stand out in the lounge, it might need thinking about.

I always remember shivering in sleet at Manchester Airport, waiting for our car to be brought back to us, having flown back from a hot beach holiday and not thinking well enough in advance to not have bare legs on the return. [/quote]
Don’t want to stand out in the lounge?
It is jeans and joggers all the way even in BAs Concorde Lounge (1st class)

No dressing up required

My plane journeys tend to be longer and I change on the plane which some people on MN seem to have an issue with.

@Zazdar

My plane journeys tend to be longer and I change on the plane which some people on MN seem to have an issue with.

What is the issue ? Is it that people don't think you should undress on a plane? That's a very weird on to take issue with, even by MN standards.

My mum always dressed up for flying, theatre trips and 'days up to London'. I thought it was sweet.

There is a thread running about bizarre things from the last and there are lots of posts where parents have insisted on special or good outfits like Sunday best for planes so I guess it's the tail end of that being drummed in as a child.