Fashion
Written By Liv Birdsall
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Heading to the airport can often be a hectic experience, but having the right comfortable travel clothes can make all the difference. Whether you're jetting overseas or hopping on a short flight, choosing the right outfit can make (or break) your travel experience. Outfits for the airport need to strike a perfect balance between style and comfort.
That's why we've curated a selection of top choices for you, from cozy cardigans that keep you snug and stylish, to leggings with pockets for convenience, to slides that are effortlessly easy to slip on and off. Get ready to travel in ultimate comfort and style with these essential travel wardrobe staples.
Price Reference (average price):
$ | Under $50
$$ | Between $50-$100
$$$ | More than $100
Cardigans
Cardigans are the best travel outfit companion. Effortlessly stylish, they are easy to slip on without disturbing your face, hair, or headphones. When not in use, they can be conveniently tied around your waist. During flights, I even wear mine backwards for a cozy blanket-like feel. Opt for cardigans with pockets, and you'll have extra room to store essentials. Versatile and practical, cardigans are a traveler's dream and they pair well with pretty much anything you’re wearing whether it’s tailored pants, sweats, or a dress.
Image: Old Navy
Oversized Fleece Button-Down Cardigan
Old Navy
Price: $
The cardigan from Old Navy is a cozy, versatile knit with a relaxed fit. It features a V-neckline, button-front closure, long sleeves, and rib-knit trim. It’s perfect for layering and adding a stylish touch to any outfit.
Why We Love It: The soft fleece fabric and pockets!
Image: Madewell
Space-Dye Long Cardigan
Madewell
Price: $$
This long cardigan is a worthy addition to your airport outfit. Made with a space-dye knit, it features a relaxed fit, open front, long sleeves, and two front pockets. It’s great for layering and adds a touch of warmth and sophistication to your look.
Why We Love It: The length means your behind is always covered.
Image: Everlane
The Oversized Alpaca Cardigan
Everlane
Price: $$$
This oversized alpaca cardigan is a cozy, chic knit. With a relaxed fit, it features a V-neckline when buttoned up, button-front closure, and is made from soft alpaca wool for ultimate comfort and warmth.
Why We Love It: It’s an investment that will keep you warm on any length flight.
Image: Amazon
Open Front Long Cardigan
Grace Karin
Price: $
This lightweight cardigan is perfect for traveling to warmer places, and it’s a fraction of the price of others on our list.
Why We Love It: This is great for anyone who isn’t ready to commit to a pricer version but still wants the functionality of a longline, open-front cardi. This style also comes in over 20 color options.
Breathable Shirts
Wearing a breathable shirt while traveling is essential for multiple reasons. The ability to stay cool will keep you feeling your best in humid climates and stressful situations. You'll also find that wearing a lightweight top makes for easy layering and seamless transitions between different climates (because we all know airports are unpredictable). Look for shirts made from breathable cotton or options that have moisture-wicking or odor-blocking properties.
Image: Lululemon
Hold Tight Long-Sleeve Shirt
Lululemon
Price: $$
Crafted from a ribbed modal fabric, this top offers exceptional comfort and a flattering silhouette. It even has convenient thumbholes for added coziness and warmth. A perfect base layer to have while on the go, it comes in four easy to pair colors: white, black, and two different shades of pink.
Why We Love It: It’s long enough to cover your waist, but also shows off your curves.
Image: Nordstrom
Mudra Long Sleeve T-Shirt
Vuori
Price: $$
This stretchy, moisture-wicking ribbed top keeps you dry and comfortable. It's designed like a crewneck with a defined collar and sleeve cuffs, but it‘ll still feel sleek whether layered over or under other items. Its modal rayon and elastane fabric blend provides a stretchy and luxurious fit.
Why We Love It: It’s like a crewneck without the bulk.
Image: Quince
Flowknit Breeze Tee
Quince
Price: $
Crafted from an innovative material, this lightweight tee not only offers comfort, but also boasts impressive performance features, such as moisture-wicking and odor resistance. It's made from Global Recycle Standard poly yarn, which helps reduce textile waste, so it’s also a sustainable option.
Why We Love It: You can wear this on a travel day as easily as on a yoga or running day.
Image: Allbirds
Allgood Cotton Tee
Allbirds
Price: $
This classic-fitting t-shirt is perfect for travel days. It’s made from 100% organic cotton, making it breathable and soft to the touch. It’ll keep you comfortable whether you’re breaking a sweat about making a layover or wrapping up in added layers.
Why We Love It: The cotton fabric is super breathable and will keep you dry.
Pocket Leggings
Leggings with pockets are a game-changer when it comes to comfortable travel clothes. Not only are they cozy and supportive, they also provide the convenience to keep your essentials close at hand. With a pocket to hold your phone or boarding pass, you can avoid rummaging through your bag every five minutes. These useful leggings can also be layered for various climates, making them a must-have for any traveler seeking both style and functionality.
Image: Girlfriend Collective
Compressive Pocket Legging
Girlfriend Collective
Price: $$
Made from compressive fabric, these leggings offer a flattering fit that both sculpts and supports. The added pocket provides convenient storage, making them perfect for workouts, everyday wear, and travel. They combine comfort and style effortlessly and come in sizes from XXS to 6XL.
Why We Love It: We love how well these leggings hold up over time, so you can trust them during your longest and most fraught travel woes.
Image: Vuori
Daily Pocket Legging
Vuori
Price: $$
These everyday leggings are an ideal companion for travel. With the added convenience of pockets, they offer a comfortable, yet stylish fit, perfect for long journeys or exploring new destinations with easily accessible essentials for on the go.
Why We Love It: In addition to pockets, these also have a drawstring waist.
Image: Quince
Ultra-Soft High-Rise Pocket Legging
Quince
Price: $$
Made by an affordable sustainable brand, these leggings are a great contender for your travel outfit. With convenient pockets available in four colors, they’re as comfortable while walking between terminals as they are in your seat on the plane.
Why We Love It: They’re made from recycled polyester and have deep pockets.
Image: Fabletics
On-The-Go PowerHold® High-Waisted Legging
Fabletics
Price: $$
Made with figure-flattering PowerHold® fabric and InstaBoost Technology, these pants securely hold your phone while also providing chafe-resistance, moisture-wicking, breathability, and UPF protection. Both the external and hidden pockets add convenience, while the four-way stretch ensures all-day comfort.
Why We Love It: These come in almost 40 different color combos!
Sweat Sets
Even if you rolled out of bed at 4am, a sweat set looks intentional and put-together, meaning they’re an excellent choice for travel. The beauty lies in their simplicity, as they can be easily put together, mixed and matched, or used to create monochrome outfits for a chic and effortless vibe. Plus, sweats are ideal for layering over cooler pieces like shorts, tanks, or swimwear. Stay comfortable and fashionable throughout your journey with these cozy travel companions.
Image: Revolve
Capri Top & Flight Pant
Year of Ours
Price: $$-$$$
We’ll admit the top of this sweat set isn’t the most practical, but we can’t deny that the ribbed jersey fabric made from tencel is comfortable. Layer the top under a cardigan for additional warmth and coverage, if needed. This sweat set’s pants are just as cozy, made from the same tencel and spandex combo that’s both breathable and soft.
Why We Love It: The pants’ wide, elastic waistband is supportive without feeling too tight.
Image: Lulus
Relaxing Essence Sweater & Pants Set
Lulus
Price: $
Unwind in style with a black monochrome outfit crafted from cozy sweater material. The top showcases an angled neckline, knotted bodice, and chic cutouts. Paired with matching sweater pants, you’ll love the high-rise silhouette because you’ll look taller and feel like you’re wrapped in a blanket.
Why We Love It: This duo is perfect for cooler temps like the ones you’ll find in heavily air conditioned airports and plane cabins.
Image: Nordstrom
Phoenix Fleece Crewneck & High Waist Sweatpants
Nike
Price: $$-$$$
We’d be remiss if we didn’t include a classic athletic sweatsuit combo on our list. This crewneck and fleece sweatpants pair comes in almost a dozen different colors—perfect for matching to your partner, friends, or a sports team. The crew neck has an oversized fit and a sleek look, while the coordinating sweatpants are baggy for a super chill aesthetic.
Why We Love It: Loose sweatpants are great for anyone who experiences tummy troubles during travel.
Image: Lulus
Grab Your Passport Two-Piece Jumpsuit
Lulus
Price: $$
This matching two-piece outfit is a carefree and comfy swim cover-up jumpsuit, but that doesn't mean that you can’t wear it while you travel. It comes in five different colors, including neutrals like black and tan, and brighter shades, like hot pink. Perfect for effortless style, this outfit combines a relaxed fit on top and bottom.
Why We Love It: The flowy style allows you to stay cool and go straight to the pool or beach when you arrive.
Compression Socks
Compression socks are a must-have for plane and airport travel days. Their tight, graduated compression promotes healthy blood circulation, reducing the risk of swelling, discomfort, and deep vein thrombosis (DVT). They provide relief for long periods of sitting or standing, ensuring that your legs feel refreshed when your flight finally lands. Compression socks also come in various heights, styles, and colors, which means you can travel in both comfort and style, all while prioritizing your overall well-being—and no one has to know.
Image: Amazon
Compression Socks
Fitrell
Price: $
Featuring seamless toes for reduced friction and thick cushions for shock protection, these socks offer all-day comfort. With five varying zones of 20-30mmHg compression, they support circulation and muscles, relieving pain and aiding recovery, making them perfect for extra long days in multiple time zones.
Why We Love It: The socks’ tall height helps keep calf cramping at bay, too.
Image: Nordstrom
Randomfeed Compression Crew Socks
Bombas
Price: $
These travel-friendly socks feature targeted compression for improved circulation. Made with a blend of breathable materials, they provide comfort and support, keeping you feeling fresh during long journeys.
Why We Love It: These socks have Bombas’ signature color blocking, so they’re cute and keep you under the radar.
Image: Amazon
Compression Socks
Charmking
Price: $
Experience optimal 15-20 mmHg compression all day long with this 3-pack of socks. Designed for any activity, they boost performance, enhance blood flow, and aid muscle recovery. These ankle-height socks are also the shortest on the list, so pair them with your leggings and slides for the optimal travel outfit.
Why We Love It: The socks have targeted compression zones to “provide varying levels of support from moderate to extra firm.”
Image: Comrad
TimberWool Compression Socks
Comrad
Price: $$$
This versatile 3-pack of socks offers 15-20 mmHg compression, perfect for travel. Crafted with a blend of merino wool and nylon, they provide odor resistance, moisture-wicking, and temperature regulation.
Why We Love It: The tall socks will help you feel comfortable and energized.
Slides
Slides are the perfect shoe choice for airport travel. With their open design, they make passing through TSA and security checkpoints a breeze, allowing for easy and hassle-free removal. Once on the plane, sliding them off is effortless, allowing instant comfort and airflow to your feet. Their comfortable fit ensures walking distances within the airport won’t be painful; though you might want a more sturdy shoe if you think you might be sprinting from gate to gate. Slides offer versatility because you can wear them once you reach your destination, whether it be poolside, at the beach, or around your hotel or villa.
Image: Nordstrom
Adilette Ayoon Sport Slide
adidas
Price: $$
The ‘70s-inspired design of these 3-stripe sport slides stands out with their textured straps. Designed for optimal comfort, they provide contoured footbeds that offer both support and a fashionable touch.
Why We Love It: We love the monochrome style no matter which color you choose.
Image: Amazon
Pillow Slippers
BRONAX
Price: $$
These slide sandals are the perfect addition to your comfortable travel clothes with their cloud-like comfort. Who doesn’t want to have plush slides underfoot on stressful travel days?
Why We Love It: They feel like you’re practically wearing slippers, ensuring a cozy and enjoyable journey.
Image: Nordstrom
Offcourt Duo
Nike
Price: $$
This pair of slides is low-profile, with two thick over-the-foot straps to keep them in place. The shoes’ foam footbed and squishy straps will keep your feet comfortable (whether you’re wearing socks or not).
Why We Love It: The solid white or black pair is classic and will emphasize your style outside of travel.
Image: DSW
Classic Clog
Crocs
Price: $$
Crocs are worn by people of all ages, and it’s no fluke. They’re easy to slip on and off, provide long lasting comfort, allow your feet to breathe, and don’t take up much space if you decide to pack them in your luggage on the way home.
Why We Love It: They’re Crocs! They’re easy to wear and easy to wash.
Sunglasses
Sunglasses are essential for travel. They provide a sense of anonymity, keeping you incognito and unrecognizable. If you have a window seat, they shield your eyes from direct sunlight. Moreover, sunglasses alleviate light sensitivity and eye strain in bright airport environments, saving you a headache or two. Don't forget to keep them easily accessible throughout your travel day.
Image: Lulus
Not Standard Tortoise Sunglasses
Lulus
Price: $
Oversized sunglasses can give you a bit of a disguise, making you unrecognizable if you’re worried about running into someone you might know. These tortoise shell shades are perfect for keeping your eyes covered, and we always say yes to a cat eye shape.
Why We Love It: The black tinted glasses will protect your eyes from bright lights.
Image: Nordstrom
Kingston Aviator Oval Sunglasses
Fifth & Ninth
Price: $
Yellow lenses are classic, and they’ll serve you well in the airport, on the plane, and once you reach your destination. These frames are durable, made from polycarbonate and have 100% UV protection. They come in three colors to fit your fancy.
Why We Love It: The timeless rounded shape is so trendy.
Image: Amazon
Trendy Rectangle Sunglasses
Mosanana
Price: $
The Mosanana Rectangle Sunglasses are a trendy and stylish choice. With a rectangular aesthetic, they add a fashionable touch to any outfit while providing UV protection for your eyes.
Why We Love It: They’re colorful, geometric, and balance out long face shapes.
Lifestyle
Liv Birdsall
