Fashionista’s Guide to Traveling in Style

It’s that time of year when we are all packing up our bags and traveling to visit loved ones. So for the fashionista in all of us, there is the question of how to navigate TSA, carry-on’s, and seat 32B in style. Well here is your need to know guide to be the ultimate fashionista (aka most stylish chick) at the airport.

–Plan Ahead – Make sure to check-in to your flight well ahead of schedule so you can choose your seat (and meal, if it’s a long flight). This will help avoid the unpleasant surprise of receiving your boarding pass day-of and learning that you get the middle seat next to the bathroom. Hello no sleep and unpleasant smells.

–Just Say No to Sweats – Let’s just get one thing straight, don’t expect to be stylish while wearing sweats. I get the lure of a cozy sweatshirt or track suit when you’re looking at a flight time of 6am (meaning your ass is out of bed by 3am). Trust me, I get it and have been there but let’s all agree that it’s just not a good look. That being said, please read on.

–Say Yes to Stretch – Instead of wearing anything that has the word Juicy on it, opt for a pair of your most comfortable dark wash jeans or ponte leggings. You will still have the comfort factor but will also look polished with dark colored bottoms. I prefer ponte leggings as they allow for the most stretch (ie allows me to twist into a pretzel while attempting to find a comfortable sleeping position) while being thick like a pant. None of that see through business here.

–Layers and Layers – The temperature is bound to vary from home to airport to airplane to destination, so layering is key. Start with a comfortable base like a basic tee or sleeveless tunic and work up from there. Depending on the time of year and final destination, I find that tee, sweater, scarf, coat tends to be a winning combination most of the time. TSA generally doesn’t have you remove sweaters and now with TSA pre-check (which I HIGHLY recommend you all sign up for. Go here, sign up now, and thank me later) you don’t have to worry about removing anything but the scarf and coat. No biggy, right? Blanket scarves are alway handy to have as they double as, you guessed it, a blanket in-flight but any large warm scarf would do the trick. Also consider the fabric of your base layers. Will they wrinkle the instant you put them on or will they still look fresh when you arrive at your final destination? You don’t want to arrive looking like you’ve been through the wringer (even if you have).

–Strategic Shoe Situation – What shoes you wear to the airport really does depend on the weather at your final destination but the general rule is to wear your heaviest, bulkiest shoes on the plane. New England in January? Yeah, wear your clunkiest snow boots on the plane to avoid packing them (that is valuable real estate for clothes not to mention added weight you’ll be paying for). However if you are headed from sunny home to sunny destination (lucky you), please consider wearing flats with some thin footie socks when going through security. Think about the nastiness of that floor touching your bare feet. Ew. Also remember we are going for style not just comfort so no flip flops please.

 –Beautiful You – Finding time for a full beauty routine at 3am when you’re rushing out the door is hardly going to happen so do the bare minimum at home and bring the rest in your handbag and finish your routine at the airport. To feel semi-human (and look socially presentable), I put in contacts and go through my skincare routine, concealer, and mascara but leave leave most of the beauty stuff for later. Hair is another story. Some gals look chic and cool with a topknot or messy bun but I prefer braided styles on myself. Hats are also always an option to hide your hair but look chic and perfectly accessorized at the same time.

–To Check or Not To Check – While sometimes checking a bag is unavoidable, if you are able to survive on carry-ons alone, I say do it. No need to pay an extra $25 for a long weekend away from home (frequent flyer tip: you can always have them check your bag at the gate for free is you don’t want to deal with lugging it through various airports and then pick it up at baggage claim at your final destination). With just your carry-ons you are able to avoid additional lines and wait times to drop off your bags and again at baggage claim. Plus it completely cuts off the possibility that they may loose your bags in transit. I like to use a hard shelled roller bag like this one and my largest sturdiest handbag as my carry-ons.

–In-Purse Necessities – There are certain things that need to be with you and handy throughout your travel time. Obvious necessities like any documentation, money, medicines, and valuables but also think about what you may need in-flight. As someone with ear problems, I swear by these ear plugs that reduce ear pressure and will not fly without them. Serious game changer! I also like to have a sleeping eye mask, a reusable water bottle to fill up after security, a pair of warm socks, a healthy snack, and book with me on every flight. Don’t forget to pack a pair of timeless sunglasses for when you arrive at your destination. If it works for celebrities, it can work for you!

And there you have it!

What is your strategy for staying chic in the airport? Share with me in the comments!