Breaking Down the Anatomy of a Perfect Airplane Outfit for Travel
When I recently traveled and realized that this was the perfect airplane outfit for travel, I figured I should share what made it so good.
Quote of the day: “I really think a champion is defined not by their wins but by how they can recover when they fall.” Serena Williams
And haven’t we all failed when packing for a trip or trying to figure out what to wear as our airplane outfit? Granted each of us truly wants and needs different things.
So I wanted to share why this airplane outfit worked so well for me, and the details you should consider. Of course, this concept can change depending on the season and where you are flying to and from. But the factors should still be the same.
I showed another option for a skirt for airplane travel in our outfits worn to Puerto Rico.
Or if you are road tripping, I have a capsule wardrobe I put to the test.
What Constitutes the Perfect Airplane Outfit for Travel?
Dress: BCBGeneration at Steinmart ~~Top: ~~ Shoes: Walking Cradles~~ Scarf: Amazon~~ Earrings: Pam Neri~~ Purse: Aldo~~ Luggage: American Tourist
Perfect is definitely a subjective description but for most of us, it involves comfort. Now for me, I like to include style with that comfort factor.
Comfort means that the clothing moves, that our clothes aren’t tight, and they don’t bind. For some of us that could also include some air circulation depending on how hot or cold a person runs.
That’s why I think layers are key. What you may not realize about my dress is that it’s sleeveless. I added a black t-shirt under it and packed another black t-shirt to wear on the trip back.
If it were winter, I could wear a long sleeve t-shirt or even a turtleneck under it.
Why You should Consider Wearing a Dress
A dress can be just as comfortable or even more so than leggings or jeans. Just think of the wonderful air circulation you can have with this item.
While most people will swear by their leggings as their airplane outfit for travel, I’m here to promote the right kind of dress.
There are 2 specific reasons why you should consider wearing a dress.
1-Just think about the bathroom issue. You don’t have to worry about your dress touching the floor.
2-It seems nicer. There is nothing wrong with looking chic when you’re traveling.
Now let’s discuss this specific dress. It’s a long, print, lightweight sweater dress. This worked wonderfully for me for these reasons:
1-A print hides any possible stains or wrinkles
2-Longer means it covers me when I need it, yet when I’m sitting I can hike it up if I get warm.
3-A knit dress or this sweater dress stretches so it feels comfortable.
4-Lightweight so I can layer over it/under it but not be too hot.
5-Straight silhouette so it’s not overwhelming when sitting.
Packing Tip
One thing that I put into effect when I’m packing is to basically wear the same thing to the airport coming and going. The advantages of that are:
1- I’ve basically got two outfits out of the way when packing
2-If the outfit going worked fine going through security, then it should be fine coming back.
3-I know what to keep out when packing to come home.
While I’ve used this trick for years, I haven’t always worn a dress. However, I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed having a dress on instead of pants, jeans, or leggings.
Other travel outfit posts:
My NYC Packing List and What I Did Right and Wrong
Packing For a Caribbean Cruise and My Number 1 Tip
What to Pack for the Holidays with Paradise Baggage
The Other Factors for the Airplane Outfit
Since I am usually cold, I always take a jacket or some kind of cardigan for the plane. This goes along with the thought that you should wear some of your heaviest pieces instead of packing them.
Not only do I carry a jacket, but I ALWAYS take a scarf (or two). Yes, this is also to keep warm, however, my scarf can serve another purpose. If I need a pillow behind my neck or back, the scarf is there for that.
Even as an accessory junkie, I do limit them and think about which ones I’m wearing when traveling. You can see I forgo a necklace for this airplane outfit.
Instead, I picked statement earrings that are lightweight since flying can be an all-day event. (These earrings are made by Pam Neri, and all of her pieces tend to be lightweight).
I did add a wrap bracelet but made sure it wasn’t metal that would set off the alarms in security.
Shoes and a Tote
Of course, comfortable shoes are a must for any travel outfit. Yet I also think about ones that are easy to get on and off in case I have to remove them at security.
This silver sequin pair is the Orleans from Walking Cradles. Since discovering this brand, I always have at least 1 or 2 pairs of their shoes with me since most travel means exploring and lots of walking.
If it were winter, I would most likely wear a pair of boots. One because they are warmer, and two because they take up more space in the luggage.
What you don’t see is my no-show Sheec socks. Before I found this brand, I wouldn’t mess with socks because they would inevitably end up annoying me. However, my Sheec socks stay put and help my feet from sweating. Then if I do have to remove my shoes going through security, I’m not barefoot on the airport floor.
If it were winter, you could consider wearing tights. The problem with tights is you lose the convenience of just pulling up the dress to go to the bathroom. But how about thigh-high socks instead? Something to consider.
And last but not least is my purse. I prefer a tote kind of purse when traveling meaning it’s bigger and easy to get into. I picked a metallic one for this trip to go with all of my outfits while we would be away.
How About the Luggage?
Rob and I have traveled quite a bit over the 17 years we’ve been married. What that means is we have gone through a lot of luggage. Sure, we might have been better off “investing” in better pieces at the beginning, however, then you don’t get the new improvements in the luggage.
What improvements? The newer wheels that spin in any direction are worth their weight in gold. Plus the newer suitcases are lighter in weight which means you can stuff more clothing in them!
Insider tip: It’s WORTH it to buy new luggage. We tend to get the best deals during Black Friday from either Macy’s or Kohls. I don’t think we’ve ever spent more than $100 on it.
I’ve had both the hard shell and soft side suitcases and I wouldn’t say I like one more than the other. BUT I will tell you that the packing cubes REALLY work. I know, I know, I didn’t believe it at first either. However, Nancy bought them for me for Christmas one year, and I’ve been a convert since.
The other luggage detail that I’ve been loving is my toiletry bag. It was less than $10 on Amazon and it’s SO much better than the more expensive variety I had for years from the Container Store.
It’s so good, that Rob bought one for himself too.
Thank you
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