I recently read an article on the plane about the outfits of the stars on a long-haul flight, which were a far cry from what I was wearing.
And maybe, no definitely, I would have travelled a little differently if I was travelling in First or Business Class, perhaps even with a personal assistant, and knew that a horde of paparazzi would be waiting for me when I arrived at the airport. But for all those who, like me, want to travel a little less luxuriously and still not in a jogging suit, here is my list of things I would never wear on a long-haul flight:
1. jeans
Or trousers for that matter. Apart from the fact that they are uncomfortable when sitting for long periods of time, it’s also no fun having to hold them on towards the end of the flight in the toilet with perhaps a not-so-dry floor, while at the same time trying to hold on to yourself so that nothing goes wrong during turbulence. Instead, I wear leggings with pockets big enough for my mobile phone, passport and wallet.
2. lace-up shoes
Anything that takes a long time to put on and take off at security or on the plane when you can’t really bend down well in board class is annoying. And tight, sturdy shoes are no fun either when you realise after 10 hours that your feet have swollen to about twice their normal size.
Instead, I wear ballerinas in summer and my Salomon Speedcross with a drawstring to slip into in winter.
3. jumpsuits, dungarees and thick jumpers
Anything that is difficult to put on and take off and anything that is too warm for the destination country makes no sense on a long-haul flight.
Instead, I wear a loose dress with a lot of stretch that I can move easily in on the plane, and if it’s cold, a coordinated cardigan and / or a hooded jacket, for example made of fleece in a layered look.
4. light-coloured clothes, especially white ones
When travelling by plane, you spend a lot of time waiting and not always in the best seats. Above all, however, you spend a lot of time eating and drinking in shaky conditions, so sooner or later something will always spill. If you want to leave the airport without a visible coffee stain, you should opt for dark-coloured and washable clothes instead.
4. accessories with metal
A small gold or silver ring is no problem. But huge costume jewellery, hair clips with metal hangers, thick watches or belts are simply a nuisance because you have to take them off before the security check or are repeatedly checked after the scanner. This costs time and sometimes nerves. Instead, I completely do without accessories apart from a small ring. If I could, I would also wear bras without underwires, but I personally find them too uncomfortable.
5. too much make-up
The air on the plane is incredibly dry and you’re much closer to the sun, so there’s only one thing that makes sense: a good moisturiser and sunscreen on top. Personally, I always have a lipstick in my bag too, but that’s it.
6. a handbag
The man of my choice is 2 metres tall. We can’t afford business class tickets, so we try to get a seat at the emergency exit as often as possible. But you’re not allowed to stow bags under the seat in front.
That’s why I always have a relatively large but very light rucksack with side pockets for a water bottle on a long-haul flight instead. I keep the most important things in small, thin bags that can be clipped into the small flap on the front seat. I have everything that needs to be seen separately at the security check in one of the pockets: my tablet, my powerbank and my ziplock bag with liquids. This prevents the long rummaging under the eyes of the security staff and the annoyed people in the queue behind me.
But regardless of this, it makes a lot of sense to always have your hands free to hold on to or carry your main luggage. And the rucksack should be big enough to hold your jacket(s) so that you don’t have to lug them around when you arrive.
7. tight socks with cuffs
Probably self-explanatory. I don’t wear any socks in my ballerinas instead, but I have a pair of thin socks, a pair of (customised) compression socks and a pair of thick, warm sleeping socks in my hand luggage. The thin socks are there so that I don’t have to walk barefoot in case I have to take my shoes off at security.
Looking for more travel in style tips? Travel in style – beauty essentials for long-distance flights
You’d rather fly in style like Heidi Klum?
