Inspired by: Airport Style
From left to right: Min Yoongi (BTS), unidentified, Katie Holmes, Karlie Kloss (model), Kim Namjoon (BTS)
While you may see some high style and high heels, Airport Style is mostly a take on street style with an extra added level of comfort. It tends to be more practical: easy-wear fabrics to avoid wrinkling, light layers to accommodate changes in temperature, unfussy styles that don’t require adjusting or futzing with in the small amount of space allotted to you on a plane, shoes that slip on and off easily for going through security and comfy for running through airports, and a hoodie or large scarf to act as a blanket for a mid-flight nap.
From left to right: Kim Taehyung (BTS), Kim Taehyung (BTS), unidentified, Min Yoonig (BTS), Gigi Hadid (model)
What REALLY makes this “airport style” and not just…style? Well, the fact that paparazzi have discovered they can hang out in one spot at the airport and EVERYONE has to parade walk right past them and they can get all the shots they want. Like shooting stylish fish in a barrel. So the term “airport style” was coined when photographers discovered this opportunity existed…and now celebrities dress appropriately, knowing there will be pictures taken. It’s become another low-key red carpet moment for some.
From left to right: Park Jimin (BTS), Gigi Hadid (model), Kim Namjoon (BTS), Anushka Sharma (actress), Jung Hae-in (actor)
But for me, I think it’s just a nice style genre. I place high importance on comfort. Before I started obsessively googling “BTS style,” I’d never even HEARD of Airport Style. And now….NOW…it’s style GOALS. It’s like, take the ease of teenage boy dressing up a notch from super casual, make it comfortable, and BOOM, Airport Style.
Park Jimin takes it up a notch
That take above is a niche under the larger umbrella of AS. If you just google airport-style you’ll get mostly hot slim tall female models and actresses in tiny, low-cut tops, leggings, and heels. It was only when I happened upon “kpop style” that I found my fashion mecca.
I’ve been getting a lot of inspiration from perusing different airport-style pages and boards. Do you think this is a style you’d be interested in emulating?
ADDITIONAL READING
How Airport Style Evolved (The Wall Street Journal)
The Airport Really is a Celebrity Runway (Vogue UK)
Marian
What a great and fun post today! It’s been so long since I was at an airport….this brings back memories! Most of what I remember was a lot people in baggy sweatpants and flip flops, unless I was on the SFO-JFK route – where everyone wore expensive black hoodies or leather jackets and black jeans. And then there were the few mature ladies who, as you said, dressed in chic and comfortable layers. The one challenge is always that I need to wear the bulkiest pair of shoes because they won’t fit in the tiny suitcases….so I’m sometimes the lady with chic but comfortable clothes from the ankles up and then….hiking boots. What’re ya gonna do?!
I especially love their coats and shawls in these photos.
bettyewp
Thanks, Marian! It was a fun post to create!
I remember back in the day, when I was young and flying more (traveling to CA from NY every year), Flying Travel = Dressing Up. Which was lovely…in theory. But in reality, these days, I want to be comfortable, temperature appropriate, non-bulky, etc. And these airport style looks really address those characteristics.
I really “style watching” when I’m at the airport. Like you said, there’s always the cohort of people that clearly have $$$ and while their style is simple, it’s clearly expensive.
Ha ha, wearing the bulky hiking boots. Yeah, I might opt to Just Not Hike on vacation if I really couldn’t fit them in my bag. I have a hard enough time getting slip-on shoes back on after going through security!
Daenel
I miss airport travel. I used to scour Pinterest for outfit ideas. I’m glad I’m not the only one who thinks of this as a whole style genre.
bettyewp
Airport Style Sisters!!!
Sally in St Paul
Wow, yes, I can see how this would resonate with you! I keeping going back to the first block, right-most photo with the plaid shirt and pullover. The shirt and pullover lengths are perfection, and that pushed up sleeve showing the plaid shirt just slays! I just love it.
bettyewp
Yes!!! I LOVE that!!! I can get so excited by the simplest details…And then spend months or even years trying to replicate it!
Leslie Susan Clingan
Bought a trench coat just as we transitioned into spring and it was soon too warm to wear it. But love these trench coat looks. I remember dressing up to fly years ago. Heaven help me!! Wore a dress and hose and managed 2 children in 1988 flying from Panama to the U.S. So glad to wear jeans or sweats these days with no shame.