Airport Outfits for Fall Travel

No matter the season that you’re traveling in, and no matter the weather at your destination, we know that the plane is going to be cold, and most likely the airport will also be a little breezy. They always have the air conditioning blasting on the plane, and this is true even in winter. That’s nice because it makes it feel less stuffy, but not as nice if you don’t prepare adequately.

The key here is to layer correctly and not be wearing anything too stuffy that will have you sweating on a crowded airplane.

1. Oversized Cardigan, White Tee, and Straight-Leg Jeans

This is my go-to outfit for travel. I love an oversized cardigan because it doubles as a cozy little blanket on the plane. I like having my own layer that I can take off on the plane and use as my own blanket, rather than that little synthetic blanket that they give you.

A white tee is appropriate for the airport. It’s casual enough to make sense while traveling and also not going to have you sweating profusely upon arrival. Straight leg jeans are comfortable, but not so rigid or skinny that they’ll have you moving around in your seat for the five hours you’re on the plane.

2. Matching Ribbed Knit Set with White Sneakers

This is the holy grail of airport travel. A ribbed set, specifically in a neutral color like this, is so chic and so comfortable. No one even notices that you’re wearing lounge wear because it looks so glamorous.

I feel like it’s easy to layer underneath, although we do forget that you can put layers underneath the top of this set. You could put a t-shirt, or a tank top would be my preference, because if you’re taking off the top, you still have a pretty warm knitted layer for the pants, so you don’t want to overheat.

3. Trench Coat, Black Turtleneck, and Wide-Leg Trousers

A very chic combination. I think it would be easy to go with black trousers here, which would still make sense with the color palette. However, the charcoal gray trousers give a little bit more definition to the base of the outfit. The little checked scarf is thin but adds warmth to the outfit for the cold morning that you may be leaving on.

A trench coat is a good option because you can wear it in multiple different climates. At a rainy, warmer destination, a trench coat will still be appropriate.

4. Zip-Up Fleece, Leggings, and Thick Crew Socks

I think that leggings and crew socks go so well together. I actually don’t think that it’s time to start wearing shorter socks yet. We’ve seen thick crew socks with leggings as a trend for so long that it actually doesn’t feel like a trend anymore, but it’s definitely not time to stop yet.

The zip up fleece is super cozy and definitely doubles as a comfortable blanket. You can have any kind of layer underneath here. I assume she has a tank top or a v-neck t-shirt or just a regular t-shirt underneath. If it’s much cooler in your departure city, you could even have a black turtleneck under here, which would be chic with all black and still light enough to not overheat on the plane.

5. Denim Jacket, Midi Dress, and Ankle Boots

Dresses and skirts are an overlooked option for flying. It’s easy to assume a dress or skirt is overdressing for the plane and will be uncomfortable. In practice, it can be more comfortable than fitted pants or trousers that you keep adjusting in your seat. A dress or skirt gives you more room to move and sit comfortably.

A denim jacket like this is casual and comfortable. You could switch it out for a thicker or more voluminous jacket if you wanted. You could even go with a longer cardigan or a short cardigan. The ankle boots are comfortable and cute, and there could also be a sneaker here.

The midi length is important when wearing a dress or a skirt on the plane. Maxi length is a little bit too much fabric to be working with when you’re sitting on the plane, and mini length is too short. You don’t want to be fidgeting with the hem of a mini skirt on the plane for however many hours.

6. Cashmere Joggers and a Cropped Sweatshirt

This is a classic airport look. The sneakers she’s wearing here suit a relaxed travel day. A slip-on is a good choice when you may have to take off your shoes at security.

This is somewhat similar to the matching set that we saw earlier, except the top is a cropped sweatshirt that’s a little bit more of a contrast to the color of the trousers.

7. Bodysuit, Faux Leather Leggings, and Loafers

This is an easy outfit, but it doesn’t look like it was an afterthought. Faux leather leggings are just as comfortable as normal leggings, but they look much chicer and more interesting. I like that she paired this with an oversized blazer. It looks almost professional despite the leather pants, and the oversized top also gives a little bit more coverage, which is more comfortable for a long flight.

It’s important that she has the brown leather shoes with the brown leather bag, or else one of these by itself would look strange next to the black leather pants.

8. Flannel Shirt, Ribbed Tank, and Boyfriend Jeans

The flannel shirt over an open neutral colored tank or t-shirt is a classic that’s not going anywhere. The boyfriend jeans rolled at the bottom with a no-show sock and sneakers is a cute bit of intentionality that she added here.

We often see boyfriend or baggy jeans kissing the ground, sliding on the ground, which might not be as comfortable if you’re running around an airport.

9. Quilted Vest, Long-Sleeve Tee, and Slim Joggers

This is a more athletic version of the airport outfit. Slim joggers can be slim in this way, or they could have a little bit more volume while cinching at the ankle.

I like the way she has a light-colored long sleeve broken up in color by a vest. A quilted vest is such an easy thing to pack away, while also giving you a lot of much-needed warmth at your core.

10. Relaxed Blazer, Graphic Tee, and Dark Wash Jeans

The blazer and the t-shirt here are definitely going to be used later in the trip. It doesn’t really matter where you’re going, you’ll probably be needing to use this t-shirt again. The blazer can be worn to dinner, and it can be worn over a dress running errands. You’ll definitely find yourself in need of both, as well as the jeans.

If you’re packing a small bag, almost everything that she’s wearing here is good for layering later in the trip, as well as on the day of travel.

11. Camel Coat, Gray Hoodie, and Dark Wash Jeans

I like the way she has a cool-colored hoodie combined with a warm-colored collared jacket. The hoodie and the collar together are chic and edgy because of the relaxed hoodie underneath. It feels like you could take off the wool jacket and still be warm enough on the plane.

Completely packing away the jacket is an option, while you could also use it when you’re stepping off into a cooler climate.

12. Corduroy Overshirt, Striped Tee, and Wide-Leg Denim

You can see how the individual pieces that she has here are in a color palette that complement each other. She could definitely mix and match these pieces with a few more elegant or sophisticated pieces to complete a wardrobe for a vacation or a weekend away, with both casual and going out outfit options.

I like a shirt jacket like this, especially in a thicker material like corduroy. We often see denim or flannel, but corduroy is a great option if you have that in your closet, especially in a burnt orange like this.

Wide leg denim that hits above the ankle, almost like a spring-summer crop, is good vacation wear. In warmer climates, you could wear this with a heel, a ballet flat, or a sandal with a little tank top, and that’s the whole outfit.

13. Cardigan, Knit Tank, and Pleated Midi Skirt

Here, the cardigan and the knit tank are both a forest or sage green. If you own pieces that match in color but not in texture, or that weren’t sold as a set, pair them together whenever you can. Matching colors make the outfit look polished and coordinated, as if the pieces were sold together.

The pleated midi skirt is elegant while definitely casual enough to wear on the plane. I feel like she’s going to be so comfortable on the plane in this skirt. I would be a little bit cautious about the material here, in case the accordion pleat falls flat after being sat on during the flight. However, I find that accordion pleats and skirts like these actually hold up pretty well.

She also has a little silk scarf tied around her bag. That’s definitely an accessory that can serve multiple purposes, especially on vacation. It can be a beach cover-up, or it can go around your neck in breezy weather. There are limitless opportunities to use a silk scarf.

14. Hooded Sweatshirt Dress and Slip-On Sneakers

I love the slip-on sneakers, especially for the airport. I feel like I forgot about slip-on sneakers like this for years, but they’re definitely really chic, like the unbranded version of the skater aesthetic that we saw back in high school.

The biker shorts with a sweatshirt dress are very comfortable while giving coverage and room to breathe. The biker shorts ensure that you’re not flashing anybody while moving around on the plane. The sweatshirt dress is more interesting than a plain sweatshirt. Here she has the hood popping out of the collar of her jacket, and the hood and collar combination is always a good choice.

15. Plaid Blanket Scarf, Turtleneck, and Skinny Jeans

The cream turtleneck is a good choice here. I could see her being able to wear this with various outfits on a vacation. The plaid blanket scarf is a little bit less versatile of a piece. However, it can become indispensable if the airport or airplane is cold, and it also doesn’t take up that much room depending on the material. I think this is a really cute accessory.

However, if you’re going somewhere with a warmer climate, it might be something to skip, because there really won’t be a use for a huge blanket scarf after you arrive in Cancun or wherever you may be going.

16. Merino Sweater, Tailored Trousers, and Leather Sneakers

This is a very simple outfit. I like that she has her brown leather bag matching her brown leather belt. The cooler tones on the bottom, with the charcoal pants and the white sneakers, are very clean, and I could see her using these for more of a work trip.

On top, she has a little pop of color. The teal is unexpected with the brown, but it definitely works. I could see this top and brown combination working with a skirt on the bottom, or even shorts if it were considerably warmer where she was going.

17. Puffer Vest, Thermal Henley, and Cargo Pants

This is a great example of a warm fall color palette. We have the burnt orange and the khaki pants, almost army green khaki pants. This is a very colorful outfit that can still easily be interchanged with other pieces if needed, since there’s no noisy pattern that would be hard to combine with anything else.

Again, the sleeveless vest is so warm and so cozy, while not taking up a lot of room in your luggage, and it’s easy to remove.

18. Belted Sweater Coat, Ribbed Set, and Mules

The belted sweater coat is one of the coziest items you can have in your closet. It goes right alongside the long, past the knee cardigan. It feels 90s and grandmother chic while being so luxurious, and if it’s soft like this one is, it gets even more points.

The ribbed set underneath definitely pushes this whole outfit into a chic leisure feel. She has mules on here, which is a great choice. I actually love the brown mules with the more cool toned set on top. What makes this make sense is her even warmer, browner bag. It kind of ties the two different color tones together.

19. Denim Shirt, White Tank, and Drawstring Trousers

Drawstring trousers are definitely one of the top pants to wear on the plane. They can also be a comfortable option to pack for a vacation that’s a little bit more casual, while not being full leggings or sweatpants.

Here she has the denim shirt open with a white tank. We know we’ll be using a white tank wherever we’re going. The denim shirt could be closed in another outfit, and even in this outfit, it could be closed or taken off completely if it’s warm upon arrival.

20. Cropped Puffer, Turtleneck Bodysuit, and Straight Jeans

This cropped puffer is such a good color. I think this color is really flattering on anyone. It’s also a good rich color to have in the colder months, when we have a tendency to reach for darker outerwear. This is darker outerwear in a still vibrant color. She has the black boots, the charcoal hat, and the black turtleneck underneath.

The bodysuit is a good option so nothing is moving around on the plane. However, with a bodysuit on the plane, I would double check that it’s fitting the way that you want it to, so that you don’t have a bodysuit up your butt for eight hours.

21. Cable-Knit Sweater, Corduroy Skirt, and Tall Boots

Here’s another example of how to wear a skirt on the plane. This is a little bit of a bolder move, since it’s a structured material and it buttons in front. You really want to make sure that there’s enough room for movement when you’re sitting down, so that the skirt isn’t bulging at the buttons.

I like that she has on tights underneath the skirt. You can tell that she was thinking of colder weather when she put this together. That being said, when you’re changing temperatures, it’s important to have a lighter layer underneath the sweater, because overall this outfit looks a little bit warm.

22. Wrap Sweater, Wide-Leg Knit Pants, and Clogs

A wrap sweater is a very feminine cut that’s easy to layer and easy to remove completely. I love the knit pants, again in a light neutral color. It always feels elegant. She also has the light neutral knit socks, which help pull the whole ensemble together.

The clogs are the statement piece for this outfit, which is otherwise similar in texture. Clogs are also a great option for the airport, where you might need to take off your shoes for security, or even take off your shoes for comfort on the plane, if you don’t want a slip-on sneaker.

A combination of knits and high quality materials like we see here is one of my favorite outfits to wear to the airport.

What to Shop for These Outfits

Three pieces that work for most of these fall travel outfits.

• befen Genuine Leather Tote Bag. Fits a laptop, a sweater and snacks under the seat, and still looks right with the trench in #3 or the camel coat in #11.
• PRETTYGARDEN Open Front Oversized Cardigan. The cabin-temperature fix: wear it in #1, then roll it up as a pillow once the lights go down.
• Amazon Essentials Low Heel Ankle Boots. Side zip for security lines, and a heel low enough for a long walk to the gate with the denim jacket and midi dress in #5.