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Holiday season is upon us: it’s time to relax at the beach, explore cities and find new favourite restaurants.
But, if travelling by plane, the conundrum of what to wear for the journey to your dream destination gives even a seasoned traveller pause for thought.
You want shoes that get you through airport security – hopefully speedily – but also get you into a reputable restaurant. Bottoms that let you find a new position when one of your legs inevitably falls asleep in the cramped cabin, but that also don’t make you look as though you don’t belong at your hotel. Safe to say, it’s a balancing act.
Here, our top fashion experts reveal the outfits and hacks they will be using as they head off on their summer holidays…
Dinah van Tulleken
Dinah van Tulleken needs a comfy outfit for a short-haul flight to Copenhagen
This weekend, I’m ditching the family and doing a short hop to Copenhagen with a group of friends. So I need to find myself an airport-appropriate outfit for my first solo trip in as long as I can remember. The look I’m going for? Casual – but not so casual they wouldn’t want me in first (always live in hope of an upgrade).
It’s a short-haul flight, so I want an outfit that will take me straight off the plane and to lunch and then on for an evening of child-free fun. Comfort is key, but I’m building the look from pieces I’ll wear all weekend. My oversized, wide-leg stonewash jeans from Me+Em are the holy grail of denim – effortlessly chic and easy to dress up or down. Comfortable footwear is essential and these jazzy ballet pumps are perfect for hot-footing it through departures but still stylish enough for exploring the city.
In Scandinavia, while the weather’s looking good, layers are a must (for the inflight air conditioning if nothing else) – hence the cashmere jumper and my trusty khaki shacket. A white T-shirt is a non-negotiable: it’s a safe choice when I’m flying without my three small children and their grubby little fingers.
I never fly in contact lenses. I’ll be in my glasses instead – which are a statement tortoiseshell pair from Cubitts. Just the thing for disguising under-eye bags (which, let’s be honest, are about the same size as my carry-on after an early morning start).
Amy Kester
Amy Kester wants to blend in with the locals when she touches down in New York to visit pals
Gone are the days where I dress up for the airport, unless it’s a special occasion. I’ve learnt to take comfort over glamour, especially when it’s a longer flight. Each year I head off to New York to visit friends. While I may be departing from Terminal 5, I don’t feel the need to throw on a designer frock to blend in. Although I may look like I’m ready to hit the gym, I still think about the right labels to elevate my look and also blend in with the locals when I touch down.
My Adanola leggings in classic black are great for travel as they’re not restrictive yet they hold me place without worrying about any sagging. I’ll throw on my seersucker shirt from With Nothing Underneath because not only is it super lightweight but it sharpens up my look. And I would never travel without a trusty sweatshirt, because we all know at some point on the plane, they’ll be blasting out cool air. The graphic design by Rails gains style points and will also see me through cooler evenings when I head upstate to Connecticut.
And to finish off my outfit, it calls for one shoe only – my Adidas originals. I once walked from downtown Tribeca up to the Guggenheim on 5th Avenue (just over five miles) so they’ll come in handy throughout my trip as I get my steps in. I’ll throw in a pair of The White Company cashmere socks for getting cosy on the plane.
Beauty wise, Space NK have the perfect clear travel bags, handy for security, where inside I’ll have my mist spray, hand cream, eye mask and lip balm for staying glossy and hydrated. All of this will fit inside my trusty Dune tote along with classic items such as sunglasses, a baseball cap and – importantly – noise-cancelling AirPods. There’s also plenty of room to hold any list minute buys at duty free.
Katherine Spenley
Katherine Spenley is travelling to India on an overnight flight, so needs something to sleep in
Packing for your holiday is one thing, but working out what to wear on your way there is quite another. Enter the airport outfit. The most important factor, of course, is comfort, but it’s fine to want to inject a little style too. The second rule? Whatever you wear to swan through security (£12.50 Fast Track pass? Yes please!) also needs to work hard once you arrive. This summer I’m travelling to India on an overnight flight – I want to sleep onboard, and pass muster on arrival.
First thing: shoes. I’m a fan of a soft loafer – and a pair of warm socks stashed in my bag. I’ll be wearing an ancient pair of suede loafers so I don’t need to break anything in, but if I was buying new I’d choose these pistachio slip-ons from cult Parisian brand Bobbies.
Last year, I froze my way through a 14-hour flight to Singapore, so this time I’m armed with an oversized cashmere wrap from Rise & Fall who use good quality fabric at a lower price than you’d expect to pay for a better known brand. I’ll use it as an extra layer on top of the Joseph Cashair jumper I’ll chuck around my shoulders (expensive, yes, but worth it – I wait for the sale and snap them up then).
Comfy and chic trousers? I love the satin combats from Me+Em, paired with a long-sleeved T-shirt from Sunspel. I’m also tempted by this Zara co-ord that could pass as pyjamas, but, well, isn’t. (I know some people change into sleepwear on board but pajamas in public are not for me).
My outift also needs to see me through an internal flight to Udaipur, then a drive and, finally, a boat to a beautiful lakeside palace hotel. I’d like to arrive at Raffles looking unruffled – and hopefully this will do the trick!
When it comes to accessories, I’ll stash my passport, cards, moisturiser and lipstick in this APC crossbody, which I’ll bung inside my carry-on if they’re strict at the gate.
Good cashmere, classy shoes and a chic bag? I’ll be turning left in no time.
