I’ve Perfected the Long-Haul Flight Travel Uniform—Here’s What I Wear

Supportive, comfortable shoes are the essential building blocks to my travel uniform. I rotate between a few different styles, but no matter the pair, they’re always sneakers I can rush around the airport in and wear socks with in case I need to take my shoes off in a security line. A podiatrist recently recommended I try a pair of shoes from Allbirds because of how lightweight and cushioned they are. I particularly love Allbirds’ Wool Runner Mizzles because they’re water-resistant, making them perfect for any terrain or weather I encounter when I land. I also love my stylish Vejas if I need a versatile white sneaker, as well as Kiziks, since they offer all the support of a sneaker but don’t need to be laced up—ideal for slipping on and off in the airport security line.

A basic pair of black pants provides a neutral base for my comfortable airport outfits that goes with just about anything I wear and doesn’t show stains or wrinkles after long travel days. My go-to travel pants are the Aday Turn It Up pants for a few reasons: They’re as comfortable as pajamas but are tailored, so they still look elevated enough to wear out to dinner upon arrival; plus, they don’t wrinkle, which is a huge bonus after sitting on the plane for hours. A similar look is Banana Republic’s stretchy Ponte pant you can dress up or down, as well as Everlane’s Easy pant. And while I previously swore off wearing sweatpants or athleisure to airports (call me old fashioned!) some particularly well-designed, sleek joggers have swayed me and are now in my rotation for long-haul flights—especially Cozy Earth CityScape sweatpants and the buttery-soft Vuori Performance jogger, both of which look great with a bomber jacket.

Probably the most used, versatile item in my wardrobe is a plain white tee. I love the flattering fit of this one from Madewell; it goes with everything in my suitcase—under a blazer, bomber, or on its own with jeans, joggers, or skirts, and it can easily be dressed up or down. Bonus: It also pulls double duty as a base layer for open-front cardigans and button-downs. Another particularly good tee I’ve tried is the Aday Made It T-shirt, which is wrinkle-free, stretchy, and provides UV protection.

I love wearing men’s jackets for travel—they’re just more comfortable and perfectly oversized. Case in point, I “borrowed” this one from my husband and have no intention of giving it back. I love that it’s roomy yet flattering and light, but still keeps me warm under the blasting AC of the plane; plus, it has a water-repellent coating. If you’re more of a traditionalist, you can’t go wrong with a classic women’s style like the oversized Lululemon bomber jacket or the sporty, water-repellent Athleta Jetset Bomber.

After a 13-plus-hour flight from Ho Chi Minh City to London left one of my legs swollen and uncomfortable this year, I vowed to always wear compression socks on long flights. With 5-20 mmHg of compression, Comrad’s socks are great for improving circulation and cutting down on the pain and swelling that can occur on long flights, and they’ve worked like a charm so far.