When it come to air travel, more people dress for comfort, not to impress
QUESTION: I know that when I travel I like to be comfortable, but since I have started traveling on airplanes again, it is evident that people really are wearing just any old thing from their closets. What happened to “looking presentable” when we travel? Could we resume a better dress code?
CALLIE’S ANSWER: This isn't just travel attire. every dress code has become more casual and/or changed. For example, "black tie" meant women should wear floor length dresses. That is no longer the case. While I understand there are some shocking outfits out there, I think it's just me getting older. The younger generations are dressing differently, and that's OK. Different strokes for different folks, right?
LILLIE-BETH’S ANSWER: My children strongly disagree with me when I suggest they dress up slightly on a plane. They would rather be comfortable when they travel, so I think this is a generational thing. Also, have you noticed how uncomfortable airplane seats are nowadays and how packed together we all are in them? At this point, I would rather be comfortable, too, because airplane travel is not the luxury it once was. It can be grueling and stressful. Even getting through security is a hassle, so shoes that easily slip on and off are a must (although taking them off on a plane violates etiquette norms for everyone else). There are ways to dress in presentable loungewear on a plane. With the excitement I feel about traveling, I wouldn’t want to appear as if I had just rolled out of bed at least at the beginning of an airport journey. (The end of a long trip is a different matter.) However, you can set those apparel standards for yourself but not anyone else.
HELEN’S ANSWER: It is always nice to see someone dressed up for travel. Some men and women wear jackets as well as slacks, and I even have seen a couple of women in dresses. Casual attire for traveling can be comfortable as well as presentable. Comfortable shoes are a must as lots of walking is required. There are so many different dress codes available today. Just pick the one that suits you and try to avoid looking like you just rolled out of bed.
GUEST’S ANSWER: Linda Miller, former fashion editor at The Oklahoman: Airplane travel is seldom easy and often times uncomfortable. Unexpected delays, layovers and cancellations have become all too commonplace. For many people, whether at the airport or the office, casual and comfortable dressing is becoming the norm and more accepted. We've probably all seen people who are the stretching the definition of what we think is acceptable attire. But what's acceptable is changing, too. Distressed jeans with holes and rips are fashionable and an accepted way to dress for most ages. Maybe not accepted by everyone but many. The days of dressing up to travel by plane are long gone. All you can do is dress for your own comfort level.
Since 2009, Callie, Lillie-Beth and Helen have written this generational etiquette column. They also include guest responses from a wide range of ages each week. So many years later, Callie is 20-plus; Lillie-Beth is 40-plus and Helen is 60-plus. To ask an etiquette question, email helen.wallace@cox.net.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: A reader asks why people don't dress up to travel by plane any more
