What to Wear to the Airport: Comfortable but Polished

Getting dressed for the airport is one of those wardrobe puzzles that catches most of us out. You want to be comfortable for the flight, but the airport is the start of your holiday, and turning up in leggings and a hoodie rarely makes it feel that way. The answer is to combine comfort with a little structure, choose fabrics that will not crease, and layer cleverly so you can adapt as the temperature changes. Get those three things right and you will look pulled together from check in to arrival, without sacrificing any of the ease you need at 30,000 feet.

This is the approach we talk through every week in our Sunday Style Solutions Live, and airport dressing is the question that comes up again and again. Here is how to build a travel outfit that feels polished and stays comfortable, with easy formulas you can put together from pieces you already own.

The one rule: comfort with structure

The temptation when you travel is to reach for the softest, slouchiest thing in your wardrobe. The trick is to keep the comfort but add a little structure, because structure is what stops a comfortable outfit from looking like loungewear. A pair of joggers with a satin side stripe and a top with a defined shoulder will give you all the ease of your favourite tracksuit, with enough polish to feel like the start of something.

Our Perfect Side Stripe Joggers are the piece so many of you already travel in, and for good reason. They have a fully elasticated waistband and soft jersey for the journey, while the satin side stripe and trims lift them above an ordinary jogger. Worn with the Skylar Shoulder Pad T-Shirt, the removable shoulder pads add just enough definition through the shoulder to create a proper shape rather than something shapeless. They come in colours from biscuit and olive to navy and dark cherry, so you can keep it tonal and quietly elevated. For more ways to wear them beyond the airport, see our guide to how to style side stripe joggers.

Choose fabrics that will not crease

What you wear matters as much as how you style it. Sitting still for hours is the enemy of a crisp outfit, so the single most useful thing you can do is choose fabrics that simply do not crease. Jersey is brilliant for this, but so are a handful of others worth knowing.

Cheesecloth is a travel hero. You can genuinely screw it up in your hand and it will not hold a crease, which makes the Megan Cheesecloth Dress a lovely one and done option if you would rather not think about separates. There is no tight waistband to dig in while you are sitting down, and you can tie it at the front or back for a little more shape. Lyocell and cotton blends do a similar job with a soft, fluid handle, which is why the Tina Shacket and the Kate Cargo Trouser both travel so well. For an easy dress with stretch, the cotton elastane rib of the Izzy Jersey Dress moves with you and stays smooth. And if you prefer a skirt, the cotton voile Tia Tiered Cotton Maxi Skirt behaves a little like a jogger, with all the comfort of an elasticated waist and a soft A line shape that still looks considered.

The three layer formula

Temperature is always the issue when you travel. You might leave home in the cool of the morning, sit under fierce air conditioning on the plane, then step off into real heat. The way to handle all of that is to layer with intention. Our rule of thumb is three layers, each doing a different job: one base layer, one polished layer, and one warmth layer.

Your base layer should be close fitting and lightweight, so it sits neatly under everything else. The Maya Rib Jersey Vest is ideal, and it gives you a clean line at the neckline too. Over the top, add the layer that brings polish and structure. A jersey blazer like the Benedict Jersey Blazer is perfect here, because it has the comfort and give of a sweatshirt with the shape of a proper blazer, so it will not feel restrictive while you sit. A pair of fluid Joelle Viscose Linen Wide Leg Trousers works beautifully as a smarter base if you would rather not wear joggers.

The third layer is for warmth, and this is where a knit earns its place. We like to take a cashmere blend jumper like the Netty Notch Collar Cashmere Blend Jumper and wear it around the shoulders, almost as a shawl alternative, ready to pull on when the air conditioning bites. The lightweight cotton Polly Pointelle Jumper does the same job and doubles as an easy throw on over shorts once you are there. If you would rather not pack a knit, a soft sweatshirt around the shoulders works just as well. The key is to make every layer count, rather than piling them on for the sake of it.

If you prefer to travel in jeans

Plenty of us like the structure of denim for travelling, and that is absolutely fine, with one small caveat. A jean that is one hundred percent rigid cotton can feel uncomfortable after hours of sitting, so look for a little stretch or a softer blend instead. The Emmie Barrel Leg Jeans have a touch of elastane, which makes them genuinely easy to travel in. The Whitney Wide Leg Jeans are cut from a cotton and lyocell blend, so they have movement and drape, with a wide leg for extra ease.

If you like a more voluminous shape, the Billie Barrel Leg Jeans work too, in a lighter cotton that is far less rigid than standard denim. If barrel leg is new to you, our guide to what barrel leg trousers are and our complete guide to styling barrel leg trousers walk through the shape in detail. With any of these, build the same three layers on top: a vest as your base, a shirt or blazer for polish, and a knit around the shoulders for warmth.

Think about what you will do when you land

The other thing worth planning for is what happens at the other end. You might not be able to check in straight away, so you may go to lunch, or want to head to the pool the moment you arrive. The clever move is to build that into your outfit from the start.

For lunch, choose pieces that already combine comfort and polish, like the Joelle trousers or the Tia skirt, so you can step off the plane and straight into a restaurant. For the pool, a rolled up pair of Lottie Linen Blend Shorts takes up almost no room in your bag. Even better, wear them underneath your joggers or trousers, so if you have a long transfer you can simply slip the trousers off when you arrive. A Lulu Linen Blend Shirt rolls down small and works over your travel outfit and then later by the pool. And if you like the idea of a co-ord, the Bali Shell Top pairs back with matching pieces for an instantly elevated lunch look.

One and done, if you do not like separates

Not everyone wants to think about layers and combinations on the morning of a flight, and a dress or a single easy piece can be the most relaxed way to travel of all. The trick, if you are travelling in a dress and want warmth on the plane, is to choose a dress that reads like a skirt once you add a top or layer over it. That way your outfit still makes sense when you peel things off.

The Izzy Jersey Dress is a brilliant example. On its own it is comfortable and crease free, and with the Benedict blazer over the top you have structure and warmth without losing the ease. The Megan Cheesecloth Dress and the Tia Tiered Cotton Maxi Skirt work the same way, giving you a finished outfit with a knit or shirt added for the journey. If you are pulling together a wider holiday wardrobe, our guide to building a summer capsule wardrobe is a useful place to start.

Frequently asked questions

What should you wear to the airport to look put together but stay comfortable?

Aim for comfort with a little structure. Soft, elasticated pieces like joggers or a jersey dress keep you comfortable, while a defined shoulder, a satin trim or a structured layer such as a jersey blazer adds the polish that stops the outfit looking like loungewear. Pairing the Perfect Side Stripe Joggers with the Skylar Shoulder Pad T-Shirt is an easy formula that does both.

What fabrics are best for travelling?

Choose fabrics that will not crease while you sit. Jersey, cotton elastane rib, cheesecloth and viscose or lyocell blends all stay smooth, so you arrive looking fresh rather than rumpled. Cheesecloth in particular can be screwed up and shaken out without holding a single crease.

Can you wear jeans to the airport?

Yes, as long as the denim has some give. A jean with a touch of elastane, like the Emmie Barrel Leg Jeans, or a softer cotton and lyocell blend, like the Whitney Wide Leg Jeans, will be far more comfortable across a long flight than a rigid one hundred percent cotton denim.

What should you wear on a long flight to stay warm?

Layer with intention. Start with a close fitting base such as a rib vest, add a structured but soft layer like a jersey blazer or shirt, then keep a cashmere blend knit around your shoulders to pull on when the cabin gets cold. Lightweight, closer fitting layers give you warmth without bulk.

Is a dress a good airport outfit?

A dress can be the easiest travel option of all. Choose a crease free style such as the Izzy Jersey Dress or the Megan Cheesecloth Dress, and if you want warmth, layer a blazer or knit over the top. Picking a dress that still reads as a skirt once layered means your outfit looks intentional whatever the temperature.

For more weekly styling solutions like this, join Hayley every Sunday on Instagram for our Style Solutions Live, where we answer your real wardrobe questions and build outfits you can wear straight away.