In Defense of Comfortable, Put-Together Travel Style

A New York Times opinion piece published last week reignites the conversation around how we dress when we fly, and whether air travel now comes with an implied dress code. It poses a fair question: does anyone actually have the right to tell us how to dress on a plane?

Short answer: no. Longer answer: let’s talk about it.

Much of the push to “dress up for flights” is rooted in nostalgia for an era of air travel that no longer exists. Back then, there was room to socialize, stretch out, sip a cocktail, and treat flying as part of the experience. Planes felt glamorous. People dressed accordingly.

Fast forward to today and most of us are packed in like sheep, or more accurately, chickens in a truck. Knees are near our chests, elbows are locked in quiet combat over armrests, and personal space is treated as an upgrade.

In that environment, comfort isn’t a luxury. It’s survival.

Even in first class, if you’re on a ten or twelve hour flight, who wants to spend it in a suit or a sheath dress? If your answer is you, I admire your stamina. For the rest of us, comfort has to be part of the equation.

But this matters: comfort does not mean sloppy.

A dirty T-shirt and tired sweatpants aren’t a statement of rebellion or modernity. They’re just tired. Dressing comfortably doesn’t mean abandoning pride or respect for yourself, or for the shared space you’re occupying at 35,000 feet.

Thankfully, we live in a time where this is no longer an either/or situation. Performance fabrics have changed everything. You can look like you’re headed to a meeting while feeling like you’re wearing your favorite lounge pants. Stretch, breathability, wrinkle resistance: these aren’t perks anymore. They’re necessities.

Invest in pieces that work for you, not against you. Clothing layers that move, breathe, and forgive you for sitting longer than any human should, while still making you feel pulled together.

And here’s the part people often forget: you never know who you’ll meet while traveling.

Airports and planes are full of surprise encounters. Future clients. Collaborators. Bosses. Or that one person who somehow ends up sitting next to you on every flight. First impressions don’t take travel days off. You don’t need to look overdressed, but looking intentional always helps.

So no, I don’t believe anyone has the right to police how we dress on flights. But I do believe in striking a balance between comfort and looking put together.

Dress for the reality of modern air travel. Just don’t dress like you’ve given up. 

And as we navigate all of this, let’s remember to lead with kindness and compassion. You never know what someone else is facing on that journey.

Click to See More Linkedin Newsletters!