When I was a little girl, I loved flying somewhere because not only did it mean a new adventure was about to start, but I got to get all dressed up. In the ‘60s, that meant a cute little jumper over a peter pan-collared blouse, lace-trimmed socks and patent leather ‘Mary Janes.’ My mother wore a stylish dress with chic espadrilles and my dad wore a sport jacket with a skinny tie. Our only carry-on was my mother’s handbag and most other passengers looked just like us. Fast forward to today and I’m afraid many air travelers have traded fashion for comfort and carry-ons are influenced by baggage fees and TSA regulations. So what is the best balance between maintaining a polished appearance and the need for practical functionality?

How to Dress for the Airport

Rule Number 1: Pajamas do not belong in an airport! You simply don’t have to forfeit fashion for comfort. Several retailers make excellent – and stylish – travel clothes that stretch, breathe and don’t wrinkle. Women can look for silk-cotton blends, microfiber and knits. Men will be comfortable in merino wool, silks and wrinkle-free twill. Travel Maestro tip: Some of my favorite travel clothing retailers are Magellan’s and TravelSmith for men and women, and Chico’s Travelers collection for women.

Rule Number 2: Dress for Security. TSA isn’t going away, so dress in a way that makes your trip through security hassle-free and efficient. Wear slip on shoes with socks. Those lace up boots may help you be fleet of foot on the hiking trail, but they’ll slow you down (and everyone behind you) at security. And who wants to stand barefooted on those footprints on the scanner floor mat? Yuck. Nix the fashion belt unless it’s a cinch (sorry, I couldn’t resist!) to get off and on. Choose jewelry carefully. Silver and gold won’t set off alarms, but fashion jewelry made from other metals often does. Travel Maestro tip: For carry-ons, remember the 3-1-1 liquids rule, laptops have to come out, and read How to Pack the Perfect Carry On.

Rule Number 3: Dress in layers. Anyone who has left a snowy home town for a mid-winter vacation in the Caribbean understands the value of layers. And even on the plane, temperatures can range from stuffy and warm on the runway to arctic breeze during flight. Being able to add and subtract layers gives you your own personal climate control. Choose fabrics like silk that are warm without bulkiness, and make sure your top layer opens all the way down the front so you can open, close or remove it easily. Cotton and linen wick away perspiration and keep you dry when you are bustling to get to the gate and less moisture will ensure you’re warm and comfy later when the cool down hits. Travel Maestro tip: I always take a large scarf or pashmina. It addition to being a chic accessory, it can be a coat, a blanket or a pillow as needed.

Rule Number 4: Treat your feet. Yes, stilettos make your legs look great, but chances are you’ll do a lot of walking on hard concrete floors, steps and moving walkways, so be kind to your tootsies and wear a shoe that looks great and has the support and padding that will keep you going strong. For long flights, tuck a pair of light-weight folding travel slippers into your carry-on. Your feet will stay warm but have wiggle room and you can move about the cabin without having to put shoes on. Travel Maestro tip: You might also benefit from compression socks or stockings on a long flight. They stimulate healthy circulation that relieves the aches of sitting in a tight space for an extended period and help prevent deep vein thrombosis.  They come in many colors and patterns to coordinate with any style.

Follow these four rules of how to dress for the airport and you’ll be comfortable AND stylish from departure to landing.