How to dress for the airport?

As soon as you have all your holiday gear together, it’s time to think about what you’re going to wear at the airport.

You need to strike a balance between comfort and style at the airport. From feeling on-trend for drinks at the airport lounge to feeling comfy on a long flight, this SS18-inspired fashion guide will set you straight on how to dress in style and comfort when you check-in.

Beach destination
Beach holidays mean sunshine, beers and chilled times — so start the tone of this holiday right. This year’s ‘in-print’ is tropical. Get palm trees on a short-sleeve shirt and pull on a pair of beige or white stretch shorts for a beach look that’s ideal for flying.

Not into shorts at the airport? Try light-coloured chinos with a vertical-stripe shirt. This pattern will be everywhere in men’s fashion throughout 2018. Boat shoes make perfect holiday footwear, too. Or, you can opt for slip-on canvas sneakers for the same laid-back effect.

Long flights
There’s nothing worse than spending an eight-hour flight in uncomfortable, tight clothes. So, comfort merged with style is crucial to make your commute pass swiftly. For this type of flight, try a plain men’s t-shirt in a colour that matches the band on your side-stripe joggers — this clothing piece was on all the catwalks at the men’s SS18 international fashion shows.

Now for shoes. Pair your top and bottoms with white sneakers that are easy to slip on and off and throw on a light-weight bomber that’s easy to roll up and put under your seat during the flight.

City breaks
Think of street-ready, urban trends to help you move swiftly from airport, to hotel, to city centre when you land. Opt for a casual, short-sleeve shirt in a block colour and pair it with cropped, mid-weight trousers. Tonal dressing is big in men’s fashion right now, so choose a colour you know looks good on you and get your top, pants and shoes in different shades of it.

Pull on a stripe or chevron zip windbreaker just in case the temperature cools as the evening wears on. 

Short journeys 
If it’s just a quick flight, you’ll probably have the energy to head straight out after you check in at the hotel. So, put together a look that fits a bar or restaurant crowd to make sure you can head straight out after check-in.

Short journeys mean you don’t have to worry about being sat in the same seat for hours. Pull on a pair of turn-up jeans, which was a massive trend in men’s fashion weeks, and combine with a contrast polo shirt for an on-point, smart-casual look that’s fresh for summer 2018. Polish off the outfit with a chrome watch that’s easy to take off at the security scanner, and end with a pair of suede loafers — the ideal men’s shoe for summer. 

Flights for work
Land like you’re ready for the office if you’re taking a working holiday. Take inspiration from your normal work wardrobe, but just tweak it slightly to make it airport-appropriate — this means not wearing anything tight and restrictive, or too many accessories that might cause a headache at security.

Check shirts help you hit the nail on the head when it comes to dressing fashionably and formally. Whether you go for larger window pane checks or a smaller grid check, a square-pattern blazer over a plain, long-sleeve, buttoned-up Oxford shirt delivers the perfect upper body style fit for a business-focused flight. Pair with stretch jeans to tone down the formality and offer you extra comfort for the journey, then finish off with tan brogues.

Must-know airport tips
Make sure you’re cool, calm and collected at the airport with these style rules:

• Socks — cool and dry feet.
• No lace shoes — easy to remove
• No belts — need taking off at security.
• Small carry-on bag or pockets — keep your passport handy.
• Layer up — keep your body temperature perfect.
• Keep it practical — avoid feeling restricted or awkward.

Give your airport outfit some thought this year to ensure you look and feel on-point before and after your holiday.