Traveling on an airplane seems like no grand event these days. It is just another means of travel that get you to your destination quicker than a car, and can take you farther than anything else. But, the dress code of planes has changed dramatically in the past few decades. Did you know that when planes became an available means of travel for all individuals, women would wear their absolute best dresses and men would dress in their finest suits? Why, you might ask? The reason was simple. Riding on a plane was a big deal at the time, because it was a means of social status. If you could travel by plane, you could have, do, and see anything. This really meant that you and your family were going places figuratively and literally. In order to set yourselves apart though from everyone else in the pressurized cabin, you needed to really shine and look your best. Regardless of the thick haze of smoke that layered the inside of the aircraft (smoking on planes was legal then) you needed to really stand out. Women would wear more than their Sunday best; they would wear the frilliest dresses, with crinoline underneath, with perfectly quaff hair, and movie star makeup. The men would wear their luxury suits, the ones typically worn for special occasions, which enhanced their initial dapperness. After all of this hard work and preparation, they would then sit, for hours, in some of the most uncomfortable articles of clothing.
Fast forward to today, this is almost unheard of while traveling. The only time you see individuals all dressed up, is if they are in first class and have a meeting to catch in Hong Kong as soon as they step off the tar mat. In this day in age it is all about comfort while traveling, unless you are Lady Gaga, she tends to travel in outfits made of bubble and spikes. But, has the level of comfort gone too far? Just this past weekend I flew from Iowa to Nevada and then back, and in the two days of flying, the number of people I saw in sweat pants, pajamas, or other ragamuffin getups was too many to count. I understand we are out of the age of petticoats, shift dresses, with heels and pearls, but can I really be the last individual to believe we should still take a little pride in one’s appearance while traveling. After all you never know who you might bump into.
These days while traveling I think simplicity is key. There is no need for a full face of make up, your best threads, or a fresh blow out for your locks. Celebrities have been mastering the travel code for years. Instead of baggy sweats, bed head, and slept in make up they have upgraded to Cozy sweaters, clean swept back updos, and fresh minimal make up. The key is to look presentable as soon as you step off your flight. I know that we all aren’t movie stars that will have photogs snapping their cameras at us, but who doesn’t want to look their best. For example, I wore a pair of skinny black jeans from Urban Outfitters, a oversized black and sequin perfume t shirt from Target, Sam Edelman gladiator sandals in a pewter color, and tortoise shell geek glasses (they are really prescription glasses, and they are vintage).
I wore my hair in a high bun and kept the make up to a cream shimmer eye shadow, a swipe of mascara, and a little concealer with tinted lip balm. If I can bypass all the primping and temptations of pj’s, so can you ladies. So ditch the beyond comfy apparel and try out a nice slim fitting pair of jeans, a crew neck sweater, a bright colored scarf, with a pair of boots (check out Jennifer Love Hewitt). If you want a girly approach try a maxi dress that is belted at the waist or layered with a jacket, God only knows how cold it can get on flights (Check out Olivia Palermo).
Or say you want to be dressed to kill, maybe you want to get the cutie in 12C to look your way, try a sweet sundress that is made from a nice cotton and a pair of nicely worn in pumps, I recommend to bring a spare pair of flats though, just incase you will be needing to make a quick dash to you connecting flight (check Victoria Beckham). I also would recommend to all you ladies keep the jewelry to a minimum, because you really don’t want to have to take it all off for the sake of a metal detector. So my darlings remember, you don’t have to do all the frills, but you can be super stylish and turn heads, all the while your comfort comes first. So to my traveling fashionistas, may you go forth in contentment and look fierce.