Dos & Don'ts of Airport Wear

[trip style = any]

Sometimes my travel faux pas turn into teachable moments. This is one of those times.

But first, some questions to set the mood: When you're about to take a flight, do you think about the overall impact of the items you're wearing? How long will it take to partially disrobe before security---think jacket, scarf, sweater, shoes---and do your pants have too many zippers? And will those pants be comfortable on a six-hour flight?

A few weeks ago I traveled to BC's Wine Country, and in a Speedy Gonzales packing session, I planned my outfit based on fashion, not function.

On the way there, the culprit was a brown leather belt connected by metal bobbles. True, I could have removed it in line, but I forgot, so I took 1.5 mins to weave it out of my belt loops while everyone in the security line behind me grunted with frustration. On the way back, the culprit was a dark jean shirt with 12 metal snaps. As I was about to walk through the metal detector I sighed, knowing I'd made the wrong shirt choice. As expected, the beep called out my shirt {and 6 am outfit choice} and a touchy-feely body search ensued.

It had been about a month and a half since I'd been on a plane and my airport skills were rusty. Don't make the same mistake I did; airport attire is one of your most important packing decisions because you have to sit with your choice while traveling to the airport, going through security, waiting for your flight, putting a bag in the overhead bin and sitting for however many hours in your seat.

Good Airport Wear
- loose tops and blazers and jackets
- pants with some sort of give
- skirts
- a scarf/pashmina for warmth
- flats

Bad Airport Wear
- zippered anything
- snaps
- metal
- jewelry
- crocs or uggs
- juicy couture-like tracksuits

More Travel Fashion
Runway Style
Travel Staple :: The White Shirt
Like a Virgin
Celeb Travel Must-Haves
Airport Style

[graphic by @tripstyler with photos sourced online]

Travel Staple :: The White Shirt

[trip style = any]

The white shirt and travel meet very seldom. If fact, they are kind of estranged. Like two people living on different sides of the river, they want to be friends, but they're scared what their peers or parents might think of a relationship. We know how the rest of the story goes...

White shirt, meet travel. Tide Pen, meet white shirt.

The white shirt is timeless. The white shirt is unisex. The white shirt works in the morn, aft and eve. The white shirt goes with any trip style's ensembles. Contrary to popular belief, the white shirt SHOULD circumnavigate the globe; it should sip champagne atop the Eiffel Tower; it should play in the sun on Bondi beach; it should go shopping in NYC. After all, there's a reason 99.9% of hotel linens are white. White is easy to wash and easy to bleach, and for this reason is becoming a staple in my travel wardrobe, even after labor day!

How To Wear The White Shirt {for guys 'n gals}

• The close-fitting V- or crew-neck: great for any trip style where you won't get too hot or sweaty. Can be dressed up or down with ease and the right accessories. James Dean; need I say more?
• The loose T: good for travel days {who wants a tight top on the plane}, and versatile enough for a trip style = weekend morning, or a night on the town with dressy bottoms.
• The blouse {women}/The button-up {men}: best for day or evening wear {or even worn as a bathing suit cover-up}.

A Few White Garment Travel Caveats The White Blazer The white blazer has been a fashion staple for a while {mentioned in our recently published Airport Style Trends}, and I love it, but if you bring it on the road, make sure your trip style allows for a trip to the dry cleaner, or your wallet allows for a $40 hotel laundry bill. The thicker fabric used in blazers can be tricky to DIY spot-clean in your hotel room.

White Pants White pants look nice, until you sit on a chocolate chip or craisin leftover from your morning scone. If you're set on bringing white pants, bring them as an accent piece versus an everyday staple. Once you sit in seven consecutive chairs, you realize the world is a little dirty.

For the record, I like white Ts from American Apparel and blouses from Equipment.

More Travel Fashion {Airport} Runway Style NOT Packing For An Overnight-cation Like a Virgin {flight attendant} Celeb Travel Must-Haves Airport Style

[photos sourced on pinterest and instagram]

Overnight {Without The Baggage}

[trip style = quick weekend getaway]

Baggage weighs us down {in more ways than one}.

Lately I've been doing a lot of overnight-cations, a travel dance {of sorts} where two days tango with one night. Last week alone, I took two separate overnight getaways with only the clothes on my back. In other words, I didn't pack {except for any toiletries and undergarments that could fit in my purse or pocket}. In lieu of a multi-option travel wardrobe, I layered, downsizing my overnight duffel for a my purse.

Trip Styler Tip: maximize your trip style = weekend getaway {and your dollars} leaving early Saturday morning and returning later on Sunday night. Cutting out a hotel on Friday night means you just saved $150+.

I realize the no-pack overnight-cation sounds crazy. First we told you how to pack 50+ items in one carry-on, and now this? The self-imposed 'efficiency' challenge sounded a little nutso to me too, but once I tried it on for size, I realized it wasn't a challenge at all. Layering right meant I could go from day-to-night without the fuss of packing or lugging a bag!

In part, I drew inspiration from my artsy Grandma {aka, "Gram"} who used to pick outfits in two-day blocks. Once I asked her why she wore the same thing two days in a row, to which she responded "if I'm going to take the time to craft a great outfit, why wouldn't I wear it twice?" Sound advice from a well-traveled woman.

Making It Work :: Overnighting Sans Baggage:
1/ Choose your trip style, check the weather, and plan your outfit accordingly.
2/ Pick shoes and bottoms {pants, a skirt or a dress} that can go from day-to-night with ease.
3/ Layer your top half to 'reveal' a whole new look at night.
4/ Think of your clothes as the canvas and your accessories as the color.
5/ Want to bring a bathing suit too? No worries, throw it in your purse with some flip flops.

*When I was away, the weather hovered between a breezy 15 - 22 Celsius, so I chose a midi skirt and cashmere-blend sweater for day, accented by a scarf to combat the early morning and late night chill. In the eve, I ditched my sweater for a tank top, adding a belt and a necklace to switch the look.

Trip Styler Tip :: Believe it or not, as we move into fall, the no-packing weekend becomes MORE and MORE possible with the layering-potential cool weather affords.

More Packing Tips
Men's Packing :: The Go-Anywhere Chambray Shirt
A Sky-vival Kit
Packed :: A Summer Urban Weekend
Fashionable Flashpacking
Fitting 50 Garments Into A Carry-On
Q&A With “How To Pack Like a Rock Star” Author
Packing 103 // Packing 102 // Packing 101
Size Matters
Travel Essentials for Any Trip Style
High Rolling :: To Roll or Lay Flat?
A Summer Weekend Packing List
The Art of Carry-On TravelGoing Away? Packing and To Do List

[photo by @tripstyler]

A Sky-vival Kit

[trip style = any]

Flying two or three hours is no biggie. Between the water/pop service, one bathroom break and a magazine, you're almost there. Anything over six hours requires a sky-vival plan at 35,000ft. From head to toe, here's how to assemble to ultimate kit:

{See our full story Fodor's Travel including details on how each essential was selected and where to buy it.}

1. Dry Shampoo 2. Eye Drops 3. Sunglasses 4. Smudge-Free Eye Mask 5. Moisturizing Mist 6. Noise-Canceling Headphones {bonus: they double as ear plugs} 7. Collapsible Water Bottle 8. Portable Toothbrush 9. Scarf/Wrap/Blanket 10. Hand Cream 11. Sanitizer 12. Moisturizing Sox

Other Musts {not pictured above} - Pen for customs forms - Tide 'anti-stain' Pen for spot-cleaning that coffee spill - Gravol in case you encounter some bumps

[graphic by @tripstyler]

Men's Travel Style :: Summer-To-Fall Packing Inspiration

[trip style = any]

Dare I say the uber-versatile, chambray shirt is to men what the LBD is to women? And since I'm making bold statements, here's another: both garments are above seasonal wear {read: fall is coming "weather" you like it or not}, and provide a neutral enough palette to be dressed-up or dress-down as a key transitional travel piece.

Recently I saw this bout of outfit advice from Indochino, a Vancouver-based custom tailor for men, focusing on the timeless chambray shirt and the many ways to wear it. The visual mix and match translates perfectly into packing inspiration for men.

My husband has mastered the art of packing fashionably and light with the chambray shirt. There isn't one trip style we've taken, from long beach days in Thailand to winters in Portland, he hasn't packed his trusty chambray shirt. I'm not saying every man should dress like my husband---though if that were the case, it would be a well-dressed world---but the point is, it goes beyond trip styles and seasons as a go-to travel wardrobe essential.

Trip Styler Tip :: In addition to planning your travel wardrobe around your trip style's itinerary, choose a double-duty do-all piece to set-up/ground your travel wardrobe. Men, in case this isn't redonculously obvious, may we suggest chambray shirt?

Related Content Fashion Friday :: Shoulder Season Crush :: Clare Vivier Carryalls Celeb Travel Must-Haves Airport Style Seven Ways To Beach Chic Summer Style With Heidi Merrick Oh Mr. Sun

[photos via indochino]