February 1, 2011

How to Dress for Air Travel

Air travel is one of the hardest occasions to dress for, especially when it involves traveling between different climates. I recently made an overnight trip from Orlando to Washington DC, a temperature difference of more than 40 degrees. Here’s how I managed to stay stylish, all while adjusting to changing temperatures, in just four easy steps!

1. Select shoes for the cooler climate. The first step is selecting your shoes. You’ll need to remove them in the security line, so something that slips off easily is best. I recommend picking a shoe that works for the colder climate. You can suffer through having too-warm toes in the warm climate, but you don’t want to freeze in the cooler climate. I went with these boots, which are both easy to slip off and kept me warm while up north! 

























2. Select tops for the warm climate. The second step is to select some tops that will work in the warmer climate. Choose lightweight shirts that will balance out your warm feet and look cute with the shoes you already selected.


















3. Select some layering pieces. The next step is to pick more layers that you can add (or remove) as the climate changes. I laid some options on the bed to see if everything went together. It looked like this:































4. Try everything on. The last step is to quickly try everything on and make sure it fits and is comfortable. Your pants should be comfortable for sitting and you’ll want plenty of warm layers to pile on once you reach your destination. Here is the final result. Stylish on both ends of my flight - and in between! :-)

























Shirt: Forever 21, $15
Belt: H&M
Jeans: American Eagle, $33
Boots: Bakers, $95
Sweater: J.Crew, $27
Coat: LOFT, $50
Gloves: Filene's Basement, $20
Fur collar: H&M, $15
Watch: Michael Kors, Christmas present

























Shirt: H&M, $13
Belt: H&M
Jeans: American Eagle, $33
Boots: Bakers, $95
Sweater: Gap, $50
Coat: LOFT, $50
Gloves: Filene's Basement, $20
Fur collar: H&M, $15

What are your best fashion tips for air travel?

35 comments:

  1. Super useful post, thanks J. I always enjoy your OOTD but just recently I have noticed you branching out into more informative posts and I LOVE it :)
    Now that is perfectly fashionably acceptable to do the sandal/peep toe and sock thing, I sometimes do that instead of the boot.

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  2. I've never actually traveled between climates, but I usually wear the bulkiest shoes I bring, which is usually boots!

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  3. Great Tips.

    http://amyfashionblog52.blogspot.com/

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  4. Wow great post and very informative. Layering is key to mix things up and comfort.

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  5. Great tips! You helped me think of ideas for what to wear when I travel in a few months

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  6. Love this post, very useful, thanks J!!

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  7. Love this post, very useful, thanks J!!

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  8. Hey I've been meaning to say I appreciate how your posts are becoming more and more informative. You write great posts and I sure learn a LOT from you, thanks and please keep them coming!

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  9. That's a great tip! I meant to include that in my post actually! For this trip, these were the only shoes I brought so it was a bit of a no-brainer. :-)

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  10. Love this post! I'm traveling up to Seattle for work soon and this will be very helpful!!

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  11. Quick question. How does that grey oversized sweater fit under the blazer? It doesn't look chunky & bunched in your arms at all. Loveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee the second look so much. Totally my style.

    As for my tips? I usually just wear my uggs, lululemon pants, and a long sleeved tee, and a zip up sweater. Very laid back, very comfortable just like wearing pajamas lol. But I like yours better. Much nicer looking. I sometimes feel sloppy wearing what I wear on an airplane to stay warm (those plane's get chillayy!)

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  12. The best footwear I've found for travel within the US would be my cowboy boots--easy to remove and put back on and plenty of support for packing the carry-on around airports during transfers. I like the various stylings that move you from one climate to another.

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  13. When you put on a jacket, this sweater automatically moves up your arms and most of it hangs in front. There is definitely a lot of bulk in the front but with the fitted jacket it still looks slimming.

    I totally hear ya on looking comfy. I should have mentioned in my post that I once ran into my ex-boyfriend and his new girlfriend on the SAME flight as mine. I was hungover and wearing a Teletubbies t-shirt. So now I'm a real stickler about looking cute at the airport! :-)

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  14. I recently did the opposite: flew from Chicago to San Antonio. Like you, I wore my knee-high leather boots but my secret was a lightweight down vest (specifically this one in gray) and a scarf layered over a long-sleeved shirt and a long-sleeved sweater.

    I love your first outfit in this post, though. You know, I never used to like the "deconstructed" jeans but the ones you have on have really grown on me and now I wish I had a pair!

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  15. Huh. I see. I really do love that sweater. :)

    I literally hoot'ed and hollered at that comment of you running into an ex boyfriend with your Teletubbies shirt, ha!!

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  16. Those outfits are SO Cute! Oh my gosh. I especially love the outfits with the blue blazer over them. It just ties the outfits together so nicely. I'm about to go from 80 degrees to 40 degrees, thank you for the tips!!

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  17. Oh man - when I was flying over to France I had to wear a lot of layers just to keep my bags lighter! hehe. Also had to wear my biggest boots. However, even when I'm not traveling with my whole life in two bags, I layer it up because airplanes can be so cold! And I've been denied a blanket many a time! Cute post!

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  18. Great tips, I am crazy about those boots. :-)

    I read your 30x30 post and I totally support your choice. You are unique and the only fashion blog I've read since you commented on my site. Don't listen to the people giving you crap, this isn't high school and you shouldn't have to give in because people are acting like "mean girls". Keep up your amazing work doll!

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  19. Gah, I seriously need you to come help me shop, and pack!! lol

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  20. Great timing on this post!! I'm headed to Australia in a few weeks and I've been debating what to wear on the trip over. We're only taking carry on's (yikes!) so I'm going to wear the bulkiest shoes I bring, probably sneakers. I usually roll with leggings or yoga pants, a cute/comfy top and a pashmina to dress things up a bit- as comfortable but cute as possible! I wish I could pull off something like your outfits but I don't think I can do 14 hours in jeans :(

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  21. That is awesome!!!! You such a naturally pretty smile by the way. That feels creepy saying, but it's true. Whatever.

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  22. Wow, just wanted to say I really REALLY appreciate the effort you put into writing this post. This took some thinking and a lot of picture taking, thank you so much it is just beautifuly helpful!

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  23. That is so sweet of you, thank you!! I snapped these photos right before taking off for my trip. It's a tough situation to dress for, I hope I helped some people with this post! :-)

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  24. J, love your blog, lots of inspiration. I wear a simple,solid maxi dress with a dolman sleeved/off the shoulder tshirt, with a long chain necklace, scarf and boots. Carry on sandals, land in Ft. lauderdale, remove t'shirt and scarf and boots!

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  25. I really really really love those boots!!

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  26. In March I'll be flying from Boston to College Station TX for a week, and then road tripping back north. I'll need to keep this post in mind! Great tips as usual. :)

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  27. Ah I was so happy to see this post yesterday! I am from Texas and tomorrow I am traveling to Colorado, and I wasn't really sure what to wear on the plane! This post helped me out a lot thanks.

    Also I am a new follower and I love you blog!

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  28. Hey! I traveled to Africa this past summer and wore jeans for over 24 hours straight, and it wasn't bad at all! I made sure though that my jeans were loose fitting though, and I was pretty comfortable the whole way.

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  29. Very informative post and you piked very cute travel ensembles!

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  30. This is a great post! Do you remember the name of the boots?

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  31. The style name of the boots is Tate. Chinese Laundry also makes identical ones that you can find on Piperlime.com!

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  32. Those are very cool get ups. It would be great to wear those in airports and on your way to your hotel. Wherever country you may be.

    crown lanta

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