Choosing Comfortable Travel Clothes

How to choose comfy clothes for traveling

I used to love flying, but I’m in my 30s now and I get uncomfortable and just want to sleep. Real talk, traveling on a low budget doesn’t usually make for the most comfortable transportation options. The plane ride in economy is not the best part of the trip. Although there was that time when I had an entire aisle to myself on an international flight, that was dope. Side note: should I not say dope? I don’t know if I can pull it off or why I suddenly started wanting to say it all the time.

I am always on the lookout for advice on how to travel more comfortably. Through all my travels, I have never ever found anything better than comfy clothes for a comfy trip. The conundrum is, how to stay comfortable without arriving to the airport in pajamas?

Fabrics

Try to get wrinkle free fabrics. Wearing clothes made of the right fabric can make the difference between arriving looking human or disembarking looking and feeling like a piece of shit with pit stains. Knits and stretchy fabrics are a good bet because they don’t wrinkle easily. A lot of wrinkle-free fabrics have been treated with chemicals, so be aware of special care instructions that might make an item not so travel friendly. Aside from avoiding wrinkles, make sure to avoid heavy fabrics like tweed and wool. Also, do not wear real jeans, seriously – they are not comfortable when flying, I learned that the hard way.

For yer feet

If I need to save space in my luggage I choose to wear boots while traveling, but I think the best option is to wear no lace flats. They’re less hassle in security lines and you can easily slip them off in flight if you’re uncomfortable. Your feet won’t be sweating if you end up in an oddly overheated seat.

If you opt for the kind of shoes that don’t need socks, stick a pair in your handbag for when it gets cold. I don’t care what anyone says, running to make a connection in heels is most likely to result in a missed flight and a twisted ankle. Who am I kidding? Rushing anywhere in heels is the equivalent of me taunting the universe to fuck me up.

Some brands that make good travel shoes include Tieks and CitySlips. Both companies make flats that can easily fold up to save space.

Find the Comfiest Travel Shoes

Layers

The most disruptive aspect of travel, for me, is how I go from hot to cold and back again with no warning. It can feel like you were teleported from doing jumping jacks in a sauna to shivering in a snowstorm barefoot, even though all you did was walk down the terminal, not open the door to Narnia. To deal with transit-induced hot flashes, layer your clothes.

You can absolutely make use of layers no matter what kind of look you need to pull off. Layer for all the weather options, include a tank top and cardigan in your layers. Another option is to go for leggings and a jersey dress. Choose complimenting colors and you can layer or un-layer as needed.

Take a Scarf

I always, always, always bring a scarf/wrap with me when traveling. It acts as a blanket in a cold terminal, I can bundle it up for a headrest, and you can quickly cover your head if local customs call for it. Basically the scarf/wrap is a magic accessory that every traveler needs.