There are a lot of things that celebrities do exceptionally well, like taking selfies, accepting freebies, always getting a reservation at a packed restaurant and spouting nonsensical quasi-political statements in acceptance speeches.
But among their most enviable skills is their ability to look so damn good in transit, because if you have ever entered an international departure lounge, you will know that travel fashion is hard to master.
Forget camel riding in Dubai, forget the races and forget winter weddings – dressing for a long-haul flight is difficult, almost more frustrating than a small child kicking the back of your seat when you’re on the plane.
The problem is that there are generally only two types of dress codes – dressing as you would if you were taking a sickie, in tracky daks and Ugg boots; and dressing like you are Kim Kardashian – when somewhere in the middle would be just about right.
So how should you dress to traverse the skies?
YOGA PANTS
Elastic-waisted, dynamically stretchy ... perfect. Normally wearing yoga pants in a reclining position and watching a movie is a reason to feel guilty. Not so in the air. But then again, yoga pants are great for stretching in the aisles to lower the risk of DVT.
CREASE-FREE SHIRT
Most shirts crinkle and wrinkle by the time the safety spiel is over, so it’s very A-list to be looking fresh and pressed when you touch down. The more oversized the better.
CASHMERE
A simple cardigan or wrap in this noble fibre will instantly make you feel cosy and comfortable, no matter how little leg room you have. The label Kit and Ace has technical cashmere with added functional details including bounce-back stretch, breathability, venting, wicking and stain shields. An extra-long cashmere scarf is also a great option as it doubles as a blanket on the plane and looks just as stylish with leggings, white sneakers and a T-shirt when you finally make it out of customs.
ACTIVEWEAR
If it’s good enough to drop the kids at school, catch up with girlfriends for brunch and go to the movies, it’s good enough to wear on a plane. But we’re not talking classic tracksuits here but the new “ath-fash” hybrid of stylish sportswear featuring edgy monochrome prints with bright accents and body temperature controllers built into the fibres.
A LARGE HANDBAG
To reduce heart palpations while waiting for your luggage, carry all your essentials in an oversized handbag in the overhead compartment. Think noise-cancelling headphones, an eye mask, facial mist to stop skin dehydration at 10,000 feet, baby-wipes, gossip magazines, leather passport holder and make-up for landing touch-ups. Also, forget tying red ribbons to your bag to identify it at the turnstile, it’s all about personalised bag-tags now, monogrammed with your initials.
SLIP-ON SHOES
Sure you might want to take your shoes off completely on a flight and let those DVT fighting compression socks do the work, but you will be grateful for the slip-on-slip-off ease of boat shoes, runners or loafers when it comes to going to the bathroom and going through security or running between terminals to make your connecting flight.
BIG SUNNIES
Apart from the instant-celeb factor, they hide what hours in a pressurised cabin without sleep have done to your eyes.
LAYERS
The microclimate of the aeroplane can change from the tarmac to the cabin, so the key is to wear a singlet under a comfy loose cotton T-shirt with a cardigan, lightweight knit or long-sleeve top.
