What to Wear on a Long Flight or Train Journey

A long journey puts specific demands on clothing: you will be sitting still for hours, the temperature will change several times, you will go through security, and you will arrive somewhere where you may need to look presentable without a change. Comfort alone is not the whole brief.

The three things that actually matter

Layers. A flight is often cold, the airport is often hot, and your destination is a third thing entirely. Trains vary even more — an air-conditioned coach is genuinely cold at night. Two or three light layers beat one heavy one every time.

Fabric that does not crease. Six hours of sitting leaves marks. Jersey, ponte, crepe, and cotton blends with a little elastane recover. Pure linen and pure cotton do not, and arriving looking slept-in is mostly a fabric decision.

Nothing that compresses. Waistbands that are fine for an hour become uncomfortable after four. A soft or elasticated waist is not a compromise on a long journey; it is the correct choice.

A reliable travel outfit

A co-ord set in jersey or ponte. The best single answer. Reads as deliberate rather than pyjama-ish, moves with you, does not crease, and the top and bottom work together with no thought.

Straight or wide-leg trousers with a soft waist, plus a plain top. Equally good, with more flexibility to change the look on arrival.

A midi dress in jersey, with leggings if you prefer. Comfortable and easy, though less practical in a cramped seat than trousers.

Over the top, in all cases: a cardigan, light jacket or large scarf.

The scarf deserves its own mention

A large scarf or shawl is the most useful single travel item. It is:

• A layer when the air conditioning is too cold
• A blanket on an overnight train
• A pillow, folded
• Cover if you want to sleep
• Something to make an outfit look intentional on arrival

It takes almost no space and does five jobs.

Footwear

Slip-on shoes. You will take them off at security and probably in your seat. Laces are a nuisance in both situations.

Room for swelling. Feet swell on long flights and long sitting generally. Shoes that fit snugly at departure can be uncomfortable later. Choose something with a little give.

Closed shoes over open, usually. Aircraft and train floors are not clean, and closed shoes are warmer in an over-cooled cabin.

Socks, even with flats. Cabin floors get cold, and if you take your shoes off you will want them.

What to avoid

• Anything tight at the waist or calf for long periods
• Pure linen, which arrives looking destroyed
• Lots of metal, which slows you down at security
• Complicated layers you cannot remove while seated — a dress you can only take a layer off by removing the whole thing
• Brand-new shoes
• White and very pale colours, given airline food and shared armrests

Arriving presentable

If you are going straight somewhere on arrival:

• Carry one item that changes the look — a jacket, a scarf, a different pair of shoes
• Keep the base outfit plain so the one addition does the work
• Pack a small pouch with a comb, a hair tie and whatever you need for five minutes in a washroom

A plain co-ord set plus a blazer and better shoes is a credible outfit for most arrivals.

For overnight trains specifically

Different problem. You will actually sleep in this.

• Choose something you would genuinely be comfortable sleeping in but would not mind being seen in
• Cotton or cotton blend over synthetic, since berths are poorly ventilated
• A long cardigan or shawl doubles as a blanket
• Easy footwear, because you will get up in the night
• Nothing with ties, buckles or anything that digs in lying down

Our co-ord sets, dresses and footwear list fabric and fit on every page, and exchanges stay open for 7 days.

The short version

Layers, crease-resistant fabric, a soft waistband, slip-on shoes with room to swell, and a large scarf that does five jobs.