Airport/ plane outfit

[Travellingislife]

I’m hoping you ladies can help! I’m 42 and I travel a lot, I’m sporty and usually wear leggings, hoodie and sneakers/ trainers for the flights, and a large sporty backpack as handluggage. However, I’ve got a new role and I’ll travel with colleagues and it’ll be a fairly business like dress code. I also don’t want to keep dressing like a teenager even when I travel on my own, I want to look stylish, put together and casual but elegant. Does that make sense?! I can’t keep carrying an old backpack either. Should I invest in a Rimowa?!
I’ve looked through the threads and a lot of you seem to suggest linen trousers but they don’t fit my physique. I’m quite muscular and 5’6, I look short and stumpy in those kind of trousers. I fit tight leggings and maybe cuffed type trousers like harem trousers, can they be stylish? Semi smart?!
So I need tips on a whole outfit and luggage please! I don’t like heels and some dresses make me look square..
Can a good quality lace up boot look smart?! Ahh so many questions, I’m really clueless.
I can stretch quite far budget wise as I rather buy a few quality items and keep for ages.

look at carrot fit trousers - smarter than leggings and kind of like harem trousers but definitely more business like. A shirt in a french tuck, or a good jumper and that’s a comfy and smart outfit.

https://www.zara.com/gb/en/share/-p02262520.html?v1=322126596&utm_campaign=productShare&utm_medium=mobile_sharing_iOS&utm_source=red_social_movil

Don’t wear lace up boots - you’ll have to take them off at security and spend your life taking them on and off.

Wear leggings if that is what you are comfortable in but coated or fine knit. Team it with an oversized shirt and a blazer and maybe a scarf. A nice life style structured backpack in a solid colour. And a fashion trainer or flat shoe/ brogue.
I work in the airline industry, and that seems to be the current travel uniform, and if not that the the primark SKIMS knock off, which is not a good look on anyone tbh

A blazer , plain long t and a nice scarf with whatever trousers you are comfortable in and plimsoles

If you're wearing the outfit all day and need to look 'smart' you'd want something comfortable and materials that don't crease too much, so wouldn't recommend linen unless it was a blend that wasn't too creasy. Perhaps slim ankle grazers that have some stretch (m&s mia trousers were great but sadly no longer available). Then a nice knit or jumper on top.

Wouldn't recommend boots for travelling unless they have a side zip. I like to be efficient when going through security and don't like faffing around with shoes. Ditto heels unless they can be slipped off and on easily.

Not sure if youre doing a day trip or stay overnight but a smart backpack like this would be sufficient for a couple of days:
https://bellroy.com/products/tokyo-totepack-compact?color=midnight&material=baida_ripstop

How long are these flights? I find it strange when people wear a 'travel outfit' e.g. tracksuits/leggings for a 2-3 hour flight, just wear normal clothes!

If it's long haul then I think anything comfy + blazer works!

St Bert's have some nice cashmere sets. I'd still pair with a smart backpack and trainers.

Thank you everyone!

I like this idea @Harp1977

Any suggestions on which brands for the / fine knit leggings/ blazer/ jumper/ over sized shirt combo? As well as suggestions on trainers/ flat shoes? Good quality items!

Of course lace up boots are silly at airports, I should know better haha. @HermioneWeasley

I really like these backpacks @AvoSourdough! Thank you ☺️

@mrsbyers do you mean a small, silk type scarf? How would you tie it? I’ll end up looking like aircrew 😅

@getofftheplane The flights will usually be 9-12h with connections.

Gosh on long haul I'd go for comfy clothes and change into business clothes at the airport if you need to be businesslike immediately. You'll be so creased by the time you get there, never mind the spillage possibilities!

Varley does lovely smart, good quality comfortable trousers and tops as well. In fact their clothes are ideal for travelling in.

Varley trousers

This ^^
DH used to regularly fly long haul, business class. He said that passengers were dressed for comfort, not business meetings.

Leather look leggings are a step up from plain ones but still comfy. And wipe clean! I've travelled all over the world in my Spanx Motos. Usually with a loose cashmere jumper and low profile leather trainers.

I think you might be over worrying about this OP. I travel long haul a lot for work with a professional company, nobody is going to expect you to do this is anything other than what’s comfortable.

Invest in some good quality leggings and hoodies if you’re worried but really I don’t think you need to be too concerned about this.

https://www.lululemon.co.uk/en-gb/p/lululemon-align™-high-rise-wide-leg-pant-regular/prod11570029.html?dwvar_prod11570029_color=29824

These! So soft, stretchy and look smart, especially with a nice white trainer.

I like to wear loose leg, elastic waisted, smart looking trousers with a loafer, they feel like pyjamas. I have slip on (mule style) loafers too.

Varley as a brand is a good place to look. They do smart leggings - these ones uk.varley.com/products/the-slim-pant-25?variant=41088197623923 may be too short but if you look at some of the others they are well cut but still stylish.

A brilliant tip from a friend who travels all the time for work on planes is to buy Lululemon ABC trousers from their mens range. They come in many colours. She gets them taken in and up as necessary. They are stretch, crumple-free... lightweight but keep their structure. Wash like a dream and smart enough to wear straight into a meeting with a jacket or can also dress down at the other end.

For luggage, I love my Rimowa but hell's teeth it is heavy. If you will be travelling with colleagues you might want something a bit more grab and go. Tumi is long lasting. I like their Blackberry colour. Stands out from the sea of black. They do decent cabin size stuff. Otherwise, the Eastpak soft shell carry-on cases are clever as you get more in without starting with a heavier shell.

Fine wool or cotton scarves/wraps that fold up small or can be shaken out and worn around your shoulders or over your knees on a chilly flight or as a quick cover up on warm evenings.

I have them from Kettlewell, White Stuff and department stores - some v plain, some prettier/more eveningy.

I'm honestly not sure where some of these views come from. Some suggestions are fine if you are on a genuinely long haul flight (ie a 12 hour doozy) but would be ridiculously casual for a work flight that was short haul. I travel a lot for work and have been all over the world in a professional role. Short haul I wear tailored black trousers, a black high quality tee shirt style top (either knit material or excellent stretch material) and a smart bright blazer. I usually wear flat lace up shoes.

IF long haul I substitute the black tailored trousers for straight wool yoga style pants (NOT leggings) which are close enough to trousers to look smart. Same top but then have a merino cardigan without buttons which is my go to (also in black). I usually also have a bright coloured pashmina or cashmere wrap. It can double as a blanket, a scarf, a headscarf if one is required and brightens up the black.

Honestly I travel with work (and work in travel) and we all go in jeans or similar (from the CEO down) for flights, our CEO has a nice selection of hoodies! Getting up at 2/3am the last thing you think about is what your colleagues think and just want comfort. We also then spend the flight sleeping.

If they're going for the day or going straight to the venue/conference they go dressed for the day.

I never understand the need to dress up for a flight.

Flew business class on my last flights for the first time and I admit I panicked about what to wear. I ended up getting some smart wool-type joggers from Zara, with a cuffed hem (I'm only 5'2" and they fit well), a fine knit cardigan also from Zara and a top from UNIQLO which has a built in bra - absolutely so comfortable and no wires sticking in during 18 hours of flying! Planning on wearing exactly the same when I fly long-haul next time, just with an added suede jacket or wrap/scarf as it'll be much colder.

.

@Gemma2003
thanks! What brands would you use? And what type of handluggage?

@SideshowAuntSallyx thats what I used to dress like and my colleagues too, but I’m a bit fed up with dressing like a teenager haha! My new role is more business like though and I need / want to look smarter