I’m an NYC-Based Stylist Who Boarded Nearly 40 Flights Last Year—Here’s My No-Fail Comfy-Chic Airport Outfit

As someone who spends a lot of time at airports, I have opinions on airport outfits—and while I can waste hours clicking through aspirational ‘90s paparazzi photos of Cindy Crawford breezing through Heathrow or David Bowie and Iman arriving at LAX, I can assure you that I am not wearing jeans on a plane—I’m just not. Between work trips to Europe a few times a year, and family that are scattered everywhere from the Bay Area to Australia to New Zealand (which is about as far from New York as you can get), there’s always a flight queued up in my Delta app, so fine-tuning my travel outfit is a bit of an obsession.

A quick disclaimer: Flying is a whole thing, and you should absolutely wear whatever gets you through. For me, that means soft pants and versatile layers in forgiving colors (I am, unfortunately, a spiller) and fabrics that won’t emerge wrinkled after hours of sitting, comfortable flats that aren’t boring, and carry-on-friendly bags that I’m weirdly passionate about. As it turns out, this is essentially how I dress most days, so my comfy-yet-tidy travel outfits are really just a more utilitarian extension of my casual-but-polished everyday wardrobe. Whether it’s a quick little hop from Madrid to Mallorca, a red-eye to Paris, or the 15.5 hour direct flight I’m about to board from Auckland to JFK, you’ll spot me in some variation of this foolproof travel uniform every time I fly.

My 6-Piece Travel Outfit Formula

• The Perfect Tee to Layer: Gap Organic Cotton VintageSoft T-Shirt, $20 (Originally $25)
• A Machine-Washable Sweater: Zara Soft Knit Sweater, $60
• A Snug Little Crossbody Bag: Toteme Leather Shoulder Bag, $690
• My Favorite Carry-On: July Carry On Max Expandable, $325 
• On-Trend Flats: Mango Mixed Suede Trainers, $100 
• Secretly Stretchy, Tailored Pants: Lululemon Daydrift High-Rise Trouser, $148 

Gap Organic Cotton VintageSoft T-Shirt

$25

$20 at Gap

This classic tee is perfect for layering, and truly lives up to its “vintage soft” name. It’s also 100 percent cotton, which means it’s lovely and breathable if you’re treated to that weird period on the plane when it goes from being freezing cold to weirdly hot and stuffy. Fear not, if you’re also prone to coffee drips and smudgy pens, you can scoop up this top in 13 other colors.

Zara Soft Knit Sweater

$60 at Zara.com

I’ve mentioned before that I own this affordable sweater in multiple colors, as do several of my friends and my mother-in-law. It feels gently chic and slouchy without being too cool and oversized, apparently making it so popular that Zara brought it back for yet another season. Look, it’s not 100 percent cashmere or anything fancy like that, it’s a blend of wool, acrylic, polyester, and spandex, which means that you can just throw in the washing machine to get the plane smell off without a second thought, and it will recover its shape and softness every time.

Toteme Leather Shoulder Bag

$690 at Net-a-Porter

Don’t underestimate how great it is to travel with your “really can’t lose these” essentials (passport, phone, cards, lip balm) all in a chic little crossbody bag that’s completely separate from the shambles of books and noise-cancelling headphones and so on that are floating around in your tote. I have a soft spot for luxe purchases that are so practical you’ll wear them and use them non-stop, and Toteme continues to tempt me with many such things.

July Carry On Max Expandable

$325 at July.com

I’d be lying if I didn’t start with the fact that I just really appreciate a good looking suitcase that comes in a chic dark brown. But aesthetics and smooth little wheels aside, sign me up for a surprisingly roomy carry-on that can handle both my determination not to check a bag and my accidental vacation purchases. The inner pockets are weirdly skilled at compressing things, and if that’s not enough, it expands when you need more room. I also appreciate the handy tote, because I will inevitably need one.

Mango Mixed Suede Trainers

$100 at Mango.com

If you’re of the belief that the only reasonable shoe to wear at the airport is a sneaker, but you also aren’t trying to muck around with laces, then these are the flats for you. As comfy as they are, this online-exclusive style ultimately feels far more polished than your go-to Sambas thanks to a slick lack of branding and elevated suede finish. Your only job is choosing between camel and black.

Lululemon Daydrift High-Rise Trouser

$148 at Lululemon

I have hyped these exact pants before, and they deserve to be hyped again—even more so since they’ve been released in a perfect brown hue called “walnut crunch,” much to the excitement of all the die-hard fans of these highly rated pants who already own them in a slew of other colors. They’re a favorite style for a reason, for these aren’t just well-cut sweatpants: These are super comfortable for trousers so immaculately tailored (I’m talking pleats, belt loops, welt pockets, even a fake fly) in fabric that’s breathable and stretchy and wrinkle-resistant. Plus, they’re available in three lengths, so you can get the perfect pair to wear with travel-friendly flats without a trip to the tailor.