What do you wear on the airplane?
 

Any suggestions for a comfortable travel outfit for an overnight coach flight? No sweats, would like to wear it again in Italy. Thanks, Susan

ss: I am sorry to tell you that what I wear on an overnight coach flight isn't in any shape to wear again when I get there. Too gross.

Sometimes I wear something that I can rinse out on arrival, and wear again. But then, there is the wrinkle problem. If you will be someplace for several days, you could take the outfit to a laundry.

I just usually wear jeans and comfy top. The one time I purchased "active wear" pants to wear on a flight, we were hours late, diverted to another airport, and I felt that I looked like living Hades by the time we arrived in Florence, about 12 hours late. I ditched the active wear.

Now I see these really cute active wear outfits, with the hoodie tops. But I would feel like I had sweats on. I would be tempted, though...

If I can't rewear my plane outfit on the trip after arrival, I just fold it flat in the bottom of the suitcase.

I have a "travel outfit" that I always wear on long flights.

I wear those mid-calf length split pants - we call them "pirate pants" - in a stretchy fabric with elastic waistband. My faves are black with a very small grey and maroon print. I also wear a v-neck cotton top with just a touch of lycra - usually in maroon, to go with the pants. Three quarter length or long sleeves. Over that I wear a light black cardigan sweater, again with a touch of lycra. Once I'm settled on the flight, I usually remove my bra - ahhhh.

For shoes, I wear Keens - Sidney style, which is great for walking, but also fine later for restaurants, etc. with the above outfit. I bring along a pair of floofy socks to put on for the flight ... stash the shoes under the seat in front of me, but they're fairly easy to slip back on if I need to get up.

I really try to wear an outfit on the plane that is comfortable, but can also be worn on in nicer places.

I always go for comfort and wear travel outfits that look somewhat stylish but feel like I am wearing pajamas. Usually dark colored knit or crushed linen, to hide the wrinkles, pants with an elastic waistband, t-shirt and a jacket or cardigan sweater. I also always either wear a pashima or put one in my carryon to use as a blanket, just not entirely sure how clean those blankets provided by the airline are. Slip on shoes so I can take them off and on easily and a soft pair of chenille socks in my carry on to wear while sleeping (yeah, sure). An yes, at the first opportunity the bra is off off off. Men just don't know how lucky they are not to have to travel with a piece of elastic tightly bound around their chest.
I am always looking at sale racks for clothes that are marked down that would make good travel day outfits so I have a fairly wide variety at this point. I always take one outfit for travel, wash it after I arrive at my detination and wear exactly the same clothes on the flight home but I never wear it while I am actually at my destination, except from airport to hotel of course as the alternative would be horrifying to everyone around). Frankly, after enduring the long travel day I would not want to wear those clothes even after they are cleaned so I just wear them for the return trip home.

well anyway, the FAA says wear something comfortable that protects your skin and sturdy shoes for quick movement. For me, jeans, a long sleave oxford shirt and loafers...kind of boring, but if I have to move fast and I am in an exceptional event, I want to be in clothing I understand.

I have often pondered this question..I tried light colors...(no good).. and a long knit dress..(legs got cold)...The last time I bought a navy cotton blend knit hoodie jacket and pants set with contrasting top stitching..It was nicer than sweats and I could take off the jacket and I had a tee under it.If you are lucky all you have to wash is the tee.

.I wont wear jeans but I did see Mary Matalin (not a stitch of makeup) wearing them as I sat across from the family coming back from Gatwick last year.She looked comfortable..

I start with this long sleeve (nice) black cotton T shirt that I always wear on the plane. If I'm warm I can push up the sleeves. It's long enough that it covers my midsection when I reach into the overhead bin! On top a cardigan or a soft jacket. On bottom, always jeans or soft corduroy slacks - I like the pockets when I'm in the airport. (Because of my bad feet I am always in my hiking boots/orthotics, so there's a limit to how dressed up I can be.)

I tuck a pashmina in my carry on. I also have some freebie terry slippers with rubber soles that I save from hotel stays. I take the boots off when I'm seated and wear the slippers on the plane for walks to the bathroom, etc., and then toss them out or use a strong disinfect on them after the flight - those bathrooms are nasty. Sometimes I change into yoga pants on the flight for the 'sleep'.

Usually the T shirt ends up in the laundry bag immediately, but the jeans might get saved for the return trip, paired with whatever clean top is available.

i wear comfortable jeans and my heaviest shoes which are my sports shoes but pack my loafer/ moccasins for a dressier look

i plan trips for late spring and early summer so to me europe is still way too chilly to consider tshirts
i wear a long sleeve tshirt that wont ride up during the flight
and a fleece jacket and take a pashmina to snuggle...a black one ( shawl that is) and yes i know that black doesnt travel well with the lint issue but its the best for stains and we all know the catastrophe of
'would you like some orange juice" and you get it right in your lap! jeans can mostly handle those kind of stains
id love to travel in sweats ..but i think jeans just look better

Depends on the airline: http://tinyurl.com/2mdcjj :-D

Imaging sliding down the escape chute wearing your birthday suit :(

Okay, black is so much more slimming and all of that pink flesh... nothing more need be said.

Tshirt, sweater, a long twisty cotton skirt,

(tights and a scarf if the destination is somewhere cold)

...and boots. :)

My wife laughs at me, but ...

Except for shoes and slacks, I throw away everything I'm wearing as soon as I get there.

Shirt? My oldest long-sleeve T-shirt. Gone.
Underwear? Always save one "holy" but clean pair to wear and discard.
Socks? I have too many anyway, so throwing away an old pair is no big deal for me.

I see no point to carrying around Europe the dirty socks, shirt and underwear I wore for 8 hours on the plane.

I do exactly just that, except that I wear one of my older work/business shirts which I throw away from my old socks to undershirt. My wife likes it because I am always getting rid of the older worn down items.

I like natural, knit fabrics and pants with a little stretch in combinations as a couple people already mention above (i.e., feels like pajamas but looks fairly nice). 'Eileen Fisher' kind of outfits, with top, jacket, pants.

I never wear jeans but doesn't seem like they'd be very comfortable for an overnight plane ride. But I guess if you're a hard-core "jeans person" it would work.

Suze - I like the looks of those Elieen Fischer outfits but always look like such a slob on me. I wonder if it is because I am short and sort of chubby???

I love my stretch "jeans" that are 90%poly and 10%lycra, (black or dark brown) and t-shirt with sweatshirt cover-up. Also, slip on shoes/socks for ease of getting through security.

Stretch jeans all the way, baby! You can sleep in them, walk in them, and sit in them for 10 hours without them losing shape or looking ratty. Long sleeve t-shirt, zippy sweatshirt with hood (I always get cold!); extra pair of undies & socks in the backpack to change into as we get close to destination; and definitely slip on shoes.

Good stuff,thank you! especially the nudist flight. I may have to rethink being able to wear the outfit again (except for the return flight) if I'm going to be comfortable enough to try to sleep on the plane. I am just so determined to pack LESS on this trip.

Fitted cotton knit pants in a dark color, pretty t shirt and a sweater in case in gets cold. Flat closed shoes - usually my skecher Mary Janes. Plus a change of clothes in my carry-on. This is for vacation.

If it's a business trip I wear a lightweight non-wrinkling pant suit with thin silk sweater (long or short sleeved depending on weather) and flat heeled "dress" loafers - like with tassel or fringe.

Will never wear heels or open shoes on a plane - since if a problem occurs and you have to go down the slide women wearing heels have to take them off, and open sandals are small protection on the gravel, rocks and assorted junk on the runway that you will have to walk on.

Susan, Comfort above all else for the overnight coach flight, with a little bit of style, can be tough. After many years of travel, I've hit on this combination... I wear black pants (Eileen Fisher: all cotton, comfort waistband), short sleeve cotton t-shirt, and a roomy silk blazer (think Chico's) with pockets. The bra goes on and off (& goes in the blazer pocket) on my first and last trips to the airplane bathroom. I generally don't wear any of these components during actual vacation (although these black pants would work well with many outfits) and fly home in a second cotton t-shirt. At my stage of life (think hot flash), I need comfy, cool layers hence the cotton and silk. The unstructured blazer can be folded into a ball or used as a blanket without a wrinkle. Taking an inexpensive pashmina is also helpful to use as a blanket, or wrap around your neck if it's cold. Black socks, black shoes complete the outfit. It's comical how many times during one flight I run from cold to hot. Anyway, with this outfit I'm able to easily pull things off and put them back on, as needed. The real question for me is: how do you sleep on the airplane? EJ ((#))

Unless it is a short flight I can't stand to wear jeans while flying.

A comfortable pantsuit works fine with a sweater or light top underneath the jacket, depending on the time of the year. I always wear loafers when flying.

What a change from years ago when I wore heels, a dress or skirted suit, lol.

Chico's Travelers stuff is great. And will look fine when you arrive too.

Pink leather pants, of course. :)

I'd love to wear Chicos, but nothing seems to fit. I'm going to look for those pink leather pants.

A second vote for Chico's Travelers clothes. It washes out easily, has enough lycra so you don't get "baggy butt" and absolutely won't wrinkle. If you do a dark color, throw on a piece of cheap travel jewerly, and a snappy colored shawl and you are ready for an evening out when you are in town. I do a shell and jacket so if the plane in hot, I shed. If it is cool, I wear the jacket. Take an extra color shell with you and you have a new outfit. I also leave a trail of old underware. I stick with beige, black and neutral colors so everything mixes and matches. Also if you slop food on you, it doesn't appear to show as much. A sleeping pill is also your best bet for an overnight coach.

I wear sweat pants and a fleece. Shoes that are easily removed. I never check bags so every thing I need is in the overhead.

My next trip is in ten days to Paris first class!

Maybe I'm weird, but I love to wear my sunglasses on the plane. It just seems calmer when it's a little darker?

I have recently started packing in my carry on a set of pajama (old free ones from First Class BA) as soon as I am on the plane I change into them, wear an old pair of socks I can trash at end of flight, off with the bra and in my coat pocket, if I end up with no room in carry on at end of trip I just leave them in the hotel room, seems easier to throw away somthing free. Always in my suitcase Chico travlers and Ambien, that is the most important.

Oh I want a pair of those throw away terry slippers. Maybe I'll check at the dollar store. That could a source.

I also never thought about a completely throw away outfit. I think I was still subconciously dressing for the possible upgrade, even though I haven't had one for nearly 9 years. I think those days are gone for people like me, so why do I keep trying to look good enough for one? hmmmm

But the throw away outfit sounds good. I shall see what I can come up with...

tuscanlifeedit, I did a quick online search and those terry slippers are made for hotels and spas, but the suppliers seem to be mostly wholesale and selling in bulk. Here's one site that has pictures of what I'm talking about: http://www.hotelsupplies-online.com/...e.htm#slippers
The minimum quantity is 100, however.

amazon.com sells some disposable foam soled slippers in packs of 6 for $7.99
http://tinyurl.com/yqteuj

Target.com and amazon.com sell something called PlaneWrap slippers at around $10 for 10 pairs, but they do not seem to have a stiff sole, which I like.

Anything you'd find at the dollar store would be disposable by definition!

Considering how nasty airplane bathrooms floors can get disposable slippers are a great idea!

LoveItaly - I was just commenting last night to my Mom that our Airfrance flight from Chile to Paris was SO clean - it was a very long flight (something like 12 to 13 hours I think at least) and the flight attendants kept the bathroom area so clean.

It was VERY differnet on the way home from Rome to JFK and we were even in Business class on that flight...

another source for really inexpensive slippers is Totes. Their outlet stores often have nice slippers for $4-$5-ish.

noe and janisj: thanks for the tips on the slippers. I like the multi pack at amazon.com. A pair for each of us, and a few for other trips. I can spring for the 7.99

When I see people go in the airplane bathroom in their stockinged feet, I am so grossed out!

I am not taking our buckeye neck pillows on this trip, as we are going biz, and hopefully won't need them, but that leaves me lots of room for slippers.

I will take the blow up neck pillows, just in case. They also come in handy for plumping up flat or "need more" pillows in Europe.

dawnnoelm~ Not all her pieces work for me (re Eileen Fisher) but the ones that DO are fantastic.

Wrap around black dress. Its like wearing pyjamas but it actually looks good.

awwhhh Tuscan you will not need your pillow in Business - you lucky duck! I will think of you as I am scrunched up in coach in December
:-)

I wear black pants (cotton like Dockers with a bit of lycra in them for comfort), black shoes, longsleeve black t-shirt and a gray cashmere zip up hoodie sweater. I get cold on planes. I usually add a scarf too, for color and warmth.
This outfit works for me because it doesn't wrinkle, doesn't show spills, and is comfortable but still looks nice.

Not exactly your question... but a tip I've started doing recently.

I pack clean undergarments and a fresh top in my carry-on bag. Immediately upon landing from an overnight flight I wash up in the bathroom (or use the showers when available) & then am 1/2-way freshened up to continue my day.

Because I don't sleep on the plane, this really helps me feel better after an overnight flight in coach.