A Flight Attendant's Guide to Building Comfortable Plane Outfits

09.10.2024 - 18:43 / cntraveler.com / Pan Usa / London Heathrow

The golden age of air travel is long gone. Glamorous Pan American Airways flight attendants dressed in Evan-Picones’s iconic uniforms no longer click heels at Idlewild Airport (now JFK). The Concorde, which once whisked the fashionable jet set between London and New York in under three hours, now lies dormant beside runway 27L at London Heathrow.

Nowadays, most passengers seldom dress to impress on planes. If anything, they dress carelessly as they drag themselves out of bed for that 5 a.m. departure to Fort Lauderdale. Who can blame them, squeezed into the awkward confines of today's economy seats?

Figuring out what to wear on a plane to stay comfortable without looking like a total slob can be tricky. Fear not—this month’s column is all about combining aesthetics and comfort with the right fabrics, layering, and, perhaps most importantly, the correct footwear—because airplanes and Crocs (yes, even the Balenciaga ones) simply do not mix.

As a seasoned flight attendant, I’ve seen all types of plane outfits: from the sweatpants and white socks graciously paired with hotel slippers to passengers dressed head to toe in vintage Dior. Some fliers value comfort, which is perfectly valid given the cramped seats and sodium-filled meals, whilst others strut down the aircraft aisle like it’s their personal runway. I prefer to find a balance, knowing that regardless of travel class, I'll likely experience discomfort and bloating, but a good outfit can do wonders for one’s overall mood and confidence.

“I once boarded a flight to Paris, and a petite elderly lady was dressed in a very fashionable way head to toe in pink. I complimented her, and she said, ‘Life is too short to conform to the fashion that society dictates your age bracket should dress in,’” Ignacio, a flight attendant for a British airline, tells Condé Nast Traveler. “To this day, whenever I choose an outfit, I think of that petite lady.”

While it’s always fun to inspire those around you, put-together plane outfits aren't just for impressing fellow passengers or flight attendants, or even the gate agent who may turn a blind eye to the size of your carry-on as a result. We do it for ourselves. Personally, I take pride in keeping my flight attendant uniform pristine, often changing into a freshly pressed white shirt mid-flight.

As a passenger, figuring out your own “flight uniform” (a.k.a. a trusted travel outfit you can revert to no matter the journey) can similarly help you eliminate the hassle of picking out clothes for each flight. A crisp linen shirt, loosely fitted pants, or nice skirt can go a long way in how you feel and yes, even how you are treated.

The air travel lore that dressing nicely can increase your odds of getting a seat upgraded has