Air travel is often a mix of different climates. From a warmish terminal, to a hot tarmac, to an arctic air-conditioned cabin during the flight to a warm terminal again. And after that you have the local conditions at your departure point and then arrival destination to deal with. Then on the plane you may have to deal with an extended period in cramped conditions. With all these differing climates and different situations you will be asking yourself what on earth should you then wear while travelling on a plane? On any flight you will want to be comfortable and look stylish at the same time. Having flown all my life thanks to my dad who worked for an airline, I have learnt a lot about the art of being comfortable and stylish while flying. So without further ado here are my suggestions on what to wear on a plane so you will be comfortable and stylish.

The following items included in the post provide plenty of comfort and a touch of style, making them the best clothes and accessories for flying. Be the best dressed in the cabin with my guide to in-flight apparel. Please note if you purchase any of these items through Amazon, i receive a small commission without any extra cost to you.

7 Tips on In-flight Apparel to keep you Comfortable and Stylish while Flying

1. Wear Layers, Layers, Layers

My biggest tip is to wear layers of clothes when you travel on a plane. This way, you can take off clothes if hot and put them on if cold. Which in turn, helps you to maintain optimal comfort during your flight. You don’t want to freeze during your flight and end up arriving with a cold at the other end. Nor do you want to boil in too many clothes and be unable to cool yourself. Another advantage to wearing layers on your person means the less you need to pack in your luggage.

Your initial layer could be a pair of jeans or slacks or leggings with a t-shirt or shirt. Then add a layer of a jumper or sweatshirt or jacket. For added warmth maybe a shawl,  pashmina or scarf which can sort of double as a blanket or be folded up into a pillow.

2. Choose Clothes made from Breathable Fabrics

Try to choose clothes made from breathable fabrics. Cottons, linen or silk are great fabrics that breath. They allow air and moisture to pass through them providing you with more comfort. Basically if you wear fabrics that don’t allow air to circulate around your body they will hold sweat on your skin. This makes you feel dirtier and wetter faster and cause you to smell quicker. So breathable fabrics are a must during your flight to keep you comfortable. And you will stay stylish, unlike someone who hasn’t worn breathable clothing and gets off the plane all sweaty.

3. Wear Loose-fitting Clothing

Another thing to consider when deciding what to wear on a plane is to ensure you wear layers that are loose-fitting. Loose fitting clothing (pants, skirts and tops) help to reduce the risk of DVT (Deep Vein Thrombosis) by not restricting blood flow through the veins. On long flights you may spend a long time in a cramped seat so feeling comfortable in your clothing is a must. You don’t want tight clothing to impede your movement. Being comfortable can help you sleep better on long-haul flights.

Read More: 10 Tips To Get Sleep on a Plane

4. Don’t Forget Your Feet – Wear Comfortable Shoes

Comfortable, simple shoes that are flat and easy to get on and off are a must for your flight. You will be standing, sitting, walking, etc. before, during and after your flight and so your shoes need to be comfortable. And if you need to take them off to go through the x-ray machines you need your shoes to be easy to get on and off. This is why I prefer a slip-on kinda shoe. They are also easier to get off your feet on the plane. If you are restricted by seats around you, you cannot always reach your feet to untie or tie shoe laces. Slip-on shoes are just easier.

5. Wear Compression Leg Wear

Although I have said it is advisable to wear loose-fitting clothes on your flight, it is highly suggested to wear compression socks/stockings during long flights. The socks or stockings help to promote blood circulation which helps to prevent swelling of the legs and DVT (Deep Vein Thrombosis). Compression socks will also help to keep your legs warm. There are plenty of stylish compression leg wear out there, check out these.

6. Have Clothes with Lots of Pockets

As airlines can be very strict with their carry on luggage having clothes with pockets where you can store items for your trip can be useful. You could easily put your packet of tissues, lip balm, ear phones, etc. in to a pocket. This way you don’t have to keep accessing your carry on luggage for those little things during the flight. And if your luggage is weighed you may be able to avoid excess fees by having some things in your pockets. This is where cargo pants can come in really useful!

7. Don’t forfeit Style – Choose Something Stylish to Wear

Don’t throw all your fashion sense out of the window just because you are taking a flight. There are many functional clothes out there that are stylish and comfortable. And also loose fitting that you can wear on a plane. It is amazing by adding a scarf, some jewellery or a nice pair of flat shoes that you can be comfortable and stylish. And looking stylish can sometimes help you be upgraded. It won’t happen all the time but sometimes when flights have been overbooked staff are advised to look for stylish dressed people checking in to upgrade. True!

The Perfect Plane Outfit for Women

Check out these items and put together your perfect in-flight outfit. Add a t-shirt over a pair of leggings, jeans or skirt. Then add a shawl or cardigan with some comfortable shoes.

The Perfect Plane Outfit for Men

Put together your perfect in-flight outfit for your flight. Team a t-shirt or shirt with a pair of jeans or pants and add a light jacket or hoodie or blazer and some comfortable shoes.

Don’t forget a Bag for Your Personal Items

There are all sorts of bags available to carry your items. Many are now RFID security bags. Check out these.

One of my favourites!

Are You Ready to be Comfortable and Stylish when you Fly?

So there you have it, my 7 suggestions of what to wear on a plane so you are comfortable and stylish at the same time. I hope you have found them useful and will implement them next time you fly. If you have other suggestions to add to my list I would love to hear them in the comments following. Happy Travels.