Supermodel Leomie Anderson has shared her essential do's and don'ts for airport fashion, from embracing chic athleisure to ditching uncomfortable heels and avoiding pyjamas.
Comfort and Style: Setting the Tone for Your Trip
Anderson believes that an airport outfit "sets the tone for the rest of the trip." She says, "I feel like the holiday starts from as soon as you leave your house and head to the airport. I think if you feel comfortable, you feel cute and ready, it sets the tone for the rest of the trip."
Anderson, 33, who has walked for Victoria's Secret and Burberry and presented Glow Up: Britain's Next Make-Up Star, adds, "You don't have to be super dressed up, but being ready for a new country, that feeling when you step off the plane – it's the best."
Inspired by Rihanna, Not the Beckhams
While Anderson loves the "nostalgia" of 2000s airport photos of Victoria and David Beckham impeccably dressed, she now admires Rihanna's approach: "She goes to the airport wearing Uggs and a tracksuit with a big pair of sunglasses, and I love that she doesn't actually dress up when she flies."
Speaking from Ghana, with trips to Ibiza and New York for September's fashion week ahead, Anderson says, "I firmly believe in having a nice outfit on, but I do think that comfort is a priority."
Do: Opt for Chic Athleisure
As founder of fashion-meets-fitness brand LAPP, Anderson is a "big fan" of athleisure for travel. "You can dress up and dress down athleisure – there are so many options that you can definitely find something that is both comfortable and stylish for the airport," she notes. This could be a "nice dressed up tracksuit or a sporty situation that is comfortable, but still fashionable."
Don't: Wear Pyjamas
Anderson, Clearpay's fashion expert, partnered with the buy now, pay later service to survey 1,000 UK adults travelling abroad this summer. In the survey, 61% said they wouldn't wear PJs on a plane – and Anderson agrees. "I feel there are so many different comfortable outfits or more airport-appropriate outfits you can wear," she says. "If you want to change into pyjamas, that's fine. But I personally wouldn't walk around in a pair of satin pyjamas in the airport."
Do: Wear Jeans – If Necessary
Anderson suggests jeans can work for short-haul flights if they're baggy: "If it's a short-haul flight and the jeans are baggy, I can do a pair of jeans." For long-haul, she recommends athleisure instead.
Don't: Choose Uncomfortable Shoes
"A fashion no-no at the airport has to be heels or uncomfortable shoes," says Anderson. "I see a lot of women, especially in the lounge – they do like to wear a pair of heels. But for me personally, I'm not Victoria Beckham. I can't do it."
She prefers comfortable trainers: "I'm definitely a trainers on the plane type of person. I need to be agile, sporty, comfortable – and also your feet swell often when you fly... so I like to keep it comfy."
Do: Add a Jacket
A stylish jacket is part of Anderson's "go-to flying outfit." She says, "I like to wear something that's quite casual and dress it up with a cool, stylish jacket. You can have the most simple outfit on, but when you add a fly jacket on top – whether it's a puffer jacket if you're going somewhere cold, or a light, simple biker jacket... a jacket can uplift an outfit."
Don't: Wear Micro Shorts
Two in five Britons surveyed by Clearpay believe it's inappropriate to wear micro shorts on a flight – and Anderson tends to agree. "Simply because when you sit down, your raw bum cheeks are on the seat, and that can get sweaty," she says, which is "not cute."
Do: Take a Roomy Handbag
Anderson emphasizes the importance of a good bag: "I like a really big tote bag, because if your suitcase is ever overweight, you just need to take out one pair of shoes or something and throw them in that tote bag. So, like an easy access bag – it doesn't have to be a designer bag, it doesn't have to be anything fancy, but it needs to be big enough, just in case."
