The Airport Outfit Formula I Never Overthink Anymore
There was a time when I used to completely overthink airport outfits.
I’d pack a “cute” travel look, end up uncomfortable halfway through the flight, and immediately regret not wearing the pieces I actually love (or I knew were functional). After enough early flights, freezing terminals, delayed layovers, and conference travel, I finally realized something:
The best airport outfit is the one you don’t have to think about anymore.
Now I basically rotate the same formula every trip:
a soft base layer
structured outerwear
comfortable leggings
classic sneakers
It always works. It always feels polished. And most importantly, I’m comfortable the entire travel day.
The Base Layers I Reach for Constantly
I almost always start with one of the Trendy Queen tees — either the long sleeve or short sleeve version depending on the weather.
They’re lightweight, easy to layer, and fitted enough that they still look clean underneath jackets and blazers. I usually stick to black and white because they work with everything else in my travel wardrobe.
And for airport travel specifically, lightweight layers matter because airports are somehow always:
freezing
overheated
or both within the same hour.
The Layers That Pull Everything Together
This is the part of the outfit that makes everything feel a little more elevated.
The Quince scuba blazer has become one of my favorite travel layers because it gives structure without feeling stiff. I especially love it with the gray cashmere hoodie insert because it softens the look and makes it feel more relaxed.
For colder travel days, I still constantly reach for my Spanx faux leather sleeve drape jacket — which I actually found on Poshmark. I get compliments on that jacket all the time, and the best part is they pop up on Poshmark constantly if you keep an eye out for them.
It’s one of those pieces that instantly makes leggings and sneakers feel more intentional.
I also rotate in the Athleta Flex bomber and the Quince merino wool bomber depending on the trip. Both keep the outfit comfortable while still feeling polished enough to head straight from the airport to dinner, a hotel lobby, or meetings.
The Leggings I Always Fly In
I’ve tested a lot of travel leggings over the years, and I keep coming back to the Spanx 7/8 leggings.
Both the Core Compression and Booty Boost versions hold up well during long travel days and still look polished after hours in the airport.
I also specifically love the 7/8 length for flying because I don’t want my skin touching airport seats or anything on the plane. They give just enough coverage while still working with sneakers year-round.
The Sneakers That Go With Everything
I rotate between:
depending on the trip, but they all serve the same purpose: comfortable enough for long airport days while still feeling polished.
I usually stick to black-and-white sneakers because they work with every layer in my travel wardrobe and never feel overly trendy.
The Formula I Keep Repeating
What I love most about this outfit formula is that it removes decision fatigue.
I know these pieces work together.
I know they travel well.
And I know I’ll feel comfortable the entire day.
After years of business travel, I’ve realized the most elevated wardrobe is usually the one built around repeat pieces you genuinely love wearing — not constantly chasing new outfits for every trip.
And honestly, that’s the airport outfit formula I never overthink anymore. -LME
*I only share pieces I genuinely wear, use, and love. Some links may be affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you choose to purchase through them. As an Amazon associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
