9 Cute and Comfy Airport Outfits for Summer You’ll Love

The worst thing about traveling in the summer is when you wear an airport outfit that’s not quite right, and you end up sweaty and sticky before your flight. No one wants to be sweaty before sitting down in an enclosed space for hours on end, no one! Yet, if you wear a tank top and shorts, you might go from being sweaty to freezing on the plane. What’s are good, comfy airport outfits for summer to wear? Here are some tips and airport outfit ideas that are cute and comfy and will keep you cool.

Key Elements Comfy Airport Outfits

Choosing light, breathable clothing that’s comfortable during the summer is important! With long waits, security checks, and the actual flight to consider, your clothing choices can make or break your travel experience. You’re probably happier standing in line comfortably in stretchy pants and a t-shirt than in a stiff tank top and denim jeans.

So here are some key elements to focus on when creating comfy airport outfits for summer travel:

Breathable Fabrics

The foundation of any comfortable summer outfit is the fabric. You’ve probably felt the moisture build up on your skin when you wear synthetic materials like polyester, acrylic, or nylon. While clothing made with synthetic materials may feel thin and breathable, they’re actually the worst when releasing moisture. They trap moisture in your clothes, making it harder for you to cool off.

You’ll want to choose clothing made with breathable fabrics like cotton, linen, silk, bamboo, or other natural fibers. What makes natural fiber clothing breathable is that the knit or weave is looser, which allows moisture to escape more easily than synthetic material with a tighter knit.

However, you might be wondering, aren’t most athletic clothes made of polyester? How can you say not to wear polyester when it wicks sweat? And to that, I say polyester is great for athletic clothing because it dries faster than cotton, which you want when you’re working out and sweating a lot. After all, no one wants to exercise in wet clothing.

However, just because it dries faster doesn’t mean it’s breathable. And breathable fabrics are necessary so that your clothes don’t trap bacteria that cause you to smell stinky!

TLDR: breathable fabrics like cotton are a must for comfy summer airport outfits because they’ll help you keep cool and less sweaty.

Layers

It seems ironic, but adding layers to your summer airport outfit is useful! I don’t know about your flights, but most of my flights blast the air conditioning on board. And I’ve definitely been cold on some flights, even though it’s 90 degrees outside!

Wearing a light, breathable sleeve might be the difference between being comfortable or freezing on your flight. You could wear a thin, loose long sleeve, a light cardigan, a light jacket, a shawl, a thin hoodie, etc. If you don’t want to wear it to the airport, pack it in your carry-on or personal bag so you have it ready in case.

Layers are also great for wearing out in the sun as well. You might be wondering, isn’t layering counterintuitive to dressing for the summer? And you’d be surprised, but it’s actually a way to keep cool in direct sunlight. If you’re headed somewhere tropical or where the sun constantly beats down, you’ll see people wearing long sleeves and wonder how they don’t overheat.

Think about it this way: standing in the sun feels hotter than standing in the shade. Direct sun on your skin is hotter and is bad for your skin. By wearing a light long sleeve that allows for airflow, you’re essentially wearing your own shade and allowing for sweat evaporation. Air is also a great insulator against heat!

TLDR: wear layers in your comfy summer airport outfits to use if the airplane temperature is cold. It also helps keep you cool in extreme heat and sun by protecting your skin from direct sunlight.

Comfortable and Breathable Footwear

This is a must for any airport outfit, regardless of season. Choose shoes that are easy to walk in and remove at security. Don’t go for shoes with complicated laces, buckles, zippers, or any open and closing mechanism that makes putting on or taking off a shoe a pain.

For summer, try wearing a shoe that is both comfortable and breathable. You can wear athletic sneakers, casual sandals, slippers, casual sneakers, etc. You’ll cool off faster with open-toed shoes. But honestly, I always try to wear close-toed shoes when possible in case someone drops or rolls a suitcase on my foot—you never know!

Not all casual sneakers are breathable, but if your feet don’t get sweaty or you really love how comfortable your shoes are, wear them. Sandals like Birkenstocks are comfortable and sturdy shoes with great arch support. I would avoid wearing sandals or flip-flops with no padding; your feet will hurt just from standing!

TLDR: wear comfortable, breathable shoes to feel cooler and have happy feet.

Loose Clothing

The fit of your clothing is just as important as the material. Tight clothing just isn’t comfortable, and it’s even worse when you’re hot and sweaty, and you feel your clothes sticking to your skin. It’s also uncomfortable to move around in, like sitting up or down, lugging your carry-on and adjusting your personal bag, or putting your bag in the airplane overhead compartment.

Loose-fitting clothes let you feel maximum comfort and the freedom to move around without worrying about a shirt riding up or pants cutting into your stomach. They’re also great for letting air circulate between your skin and the fabric so you cool down faster.

Some good loose clothing for comfy airport outfits for summer includes oversized or relaxed-fit t-shirts, skirts, dresses, relaxed-fit or wide-leg pants, stretchy shorts, etc. You can also go for rompers or jumpsuits that are easy to take off (i.e., easy to go to the bathroom) or a comfortable matching tracksuit.

TLDR: wear loose-fitting or relaxed-fit clothing for comfort, easy moving, and breathability.

Now that you know what makes a great airport outfit for summer, here are some airport travel outfit ideas that are comfortable and cute!

Comfy Airport Outfits Ideas for Summer

Here are some summer airport outfit ideas that are functional and stylish (if you care, haha). All these outfits can be paired with a light cardigan or jacket, sneakers or sandals, and your personal bag. Maybe you’ll find your airport style inspo here!

1. Long, Flowy Dress

A dress is probably the most comfy item, especially if it’s long and flowy. There’s no waistband to worry about, and it gives you great airflow. You can wear one with thin straps, tank top straps, a t-shirt top, etc. It also goes with everything you wear and can be dressed up or down. It also acts like a thin blanket if you get cold on the plane or want to sleep.

This is great if you want to be extra comfortable and can’t be bothered picking out a top and a bottom, haha. One downside, though, is that you don’t want a dress to be too flowy. Otherwise, you’ll have to watch where the extra fabric is going.

Also, make sure that it’s not too long for you so the dress doesn’t touch the ground, which might get caught in your suitcase, stepped on, or even in an escalator.

2. Stretchy Shorts + A Tee or Tank

It’s a classic pairing you can’t go wrong with. This is my personal favorite airport outfit because it’s simple and secure. Sometimes, a dress is too flowy, and I don’t want to worry about the fabric moving around or want the security of wearing shorts.

Go for shorts with an elastic waistband that fits right, so it’s comfortable sitting down and after eating.

I like to pair high-waisted, stretchy black shorts with a white or neutral-colored top to look chic and put together.

3. Long Skirt + A Top

Want the vibe of a dress but more structure? Then, a skirt is perfect for your summer airport outfit. A long skirt is less stressful than a short one, but wear whatever you feel most comfortable with. There’s less fabric around your legs with a skirt than shorts or pants, so it’s still breezy.

If you wear a short skirt, make sure you’re comfortable bending down and sitting down so you don’t accidentally show what you don’t want to.

Similarly, make sure your skirt isn’t too long and touching the floor so it doesn’t get stepped on or stuck. Try wearing a skirt with a stretchy waistband instead of one that zips on the side and isn’t adjustable to your waist.

Tip: Tuck your top into your skirt so that your top and bottom look proportional.

4. Romper

Think: stretchy shorts and a T-shirt but combined. If you want the convenience of an entire outfit in one piece of clothing, the romper is for you!

Go for a loose-fitting and stretchy romper at the waist for maximum comfort. You can find rompers with all sorts of tops, like a T-shirt, tank top, tube top, etc. You’ll also find rompers come in different fabrics, fabric designs, and styles.

But when picking a romper, wear one that is easy to get out of. AKA you don’t want to have to ask someone to help you unbutton your romper every time you need to use the restroom. Trust me, it gets annoying really fast. Consider wearing one with buttons in the front or stretchy enough to slip in and out of easily.

5. Jumpsuit

If you want the convenience of a romper but with pants, a jumpsuit is perfect for your airport outfit. Go for a loose-fitting jumpsuit with a stretchy waistband, so it’s comfortable and easy to move around.

It’s probably the most comfortable outfit with pants to wear while sitting for hours on end. People always look really put together with jumpsuits, and it’s an effortless way to be comfortable, cool, and chic.

For summer, try wearing a sleeveless jumpsuit for extra airflow. The pants also help you keep warm on a freezing plane. And again, make sure you can get out of the jumpsuit without someone else’s help!

6. Thin Pants + A Top

If you want some more coverage but still want breathable clothing, go for light, thin pants that are loose-fitting. A straight pair of pants is perfect, especially if they have a stretchy waistband.

Just make sure that if you go for a thinner pant it is not see-through in the back. Even darker-colored pants can be see-through if the material is too thin.

You can also go for a more flowy pair of long pants, similar to what you might wear on the beach. It’ll help you keep cool while you walk through the airport. However, make sure that the material is durable in case it snags on a suitcase or chair.

7. Wide or Straight Leg Pants

If you want to wear pants with a little more structure, go for wide or straight-leg pants. That way, you’ll have lots of air insulating your skin and the warm airport air.

It might not be as aerating as a pair of shorts, but it’ll provide more coverage and feel more structural.

8. Loose Overalls

No, not the rigid denim overalls, but loose, thin, baggy overalls that might make you feel like a toddler but are so comfortable, versatile, and lightweight!

They’re perfect for the airport in the summer because it won’t stick to your skin and is a cool variation of loose pants. Just imagine a flowy dress but pants on the bottom, that’s kind of what loose overalls look and feel like.

I like pairing overalls with a cute or plain t-shirt on top, and if it’s really hot, a tank top. They also look really stylish with sneakers or laidback with a pair of comfortable sandals.

9. Matching Set

Finally, this is one of the easiest airport outfits to put together: a matching set. It could be a tracksuit, a romper in one color, a t-shirt and matching pants, a loungewear set, etc.

You’ll often see matching sets in breathable materials, often stretchy for maximum comfort. If you wear a tracksuit or an athletic set, while it’s perfect for American standards, you might stick out and get weird looks if you fly somewhere where the casual dress is more formal.

However, it’s perfect to wear for a long flight, especially one that’s overnight where you have to sleep.

What Not to Wear: Comfy Summer Airport Outfits

Now you know what to wear to the airport during summer, here’s what not to wear if you want to keep cool and comfortable:

• Tight Jeans
  • Skinny jeans are the bane of my existence. They’re uncomfortable and don’t allow for much air circulation. Also, denim, in general, is not a very movable fabric and is not as comfortable to move or sit in. You don’t want to pull up your pants every few minutes, either.
• Tight, Stiff Clothing
  • Tight, athletic wear is more comfortable than wearing a blouse with fabric and seams that are not flexible. It makes walking and moving around a hassle, and it’s probably not the most comfortable clothing to sit in.
• Thick Clothing
  • Don’t wear a thick hoodie or jacket in the summer; you’ll have a miserable time! The material will insulate you for a little bit, but the airport shouldn’t be that hot to need protection from insane heat.
• Thin, Dark Clothing
  • I love wearing dark colors like black because I think they go with everything, but dark colors absorb more heat and can transfer the heat to you if the clothing material is thin. Just make sure to avoid large windows and sunlight if you choose to wear thin, dark clothing to the airport.

Practical Travel Outfit Tips

Here are some practical tips to apply to your airport outfits for the summer!

Choose Outfits that Transition Well

Have you ever stepped off a plane only to be greeted with biting cold or humid heat and have on an outfit that is totally opposite of your destination weather?

If you plan ahead, you can pack a separate outfit in your carry-on so you won’t go through the embarrassment of walking through the airport with a t-shirt and shorts while everyone else is covered head to toe in a coat.

However, to make it easy, wear outfits that will transition well and fit a variety of temperatures. And the solution is layering!

Start with a comfortable base layer like a comfy t-shirt or top, then your pants or shorts, then throw on a light jacket or hoodie if needed. Obviously, it might be best to wear pants and pack a thick hoodie or shorts and a light cardigan, depending on where you are going.

Before you depart for the airport, check the weather at your destination! Suppose the temperature difference between your departure and arrival destinations is drastically different. In that case, it’s best to pack the extra items you need or leave space in your personal bag so that you can dress up or down when you arrive.

Wear Versatile Pieces: Mix and Match

Unless your airport outfit is one you only wear to the airport and nowhere else, your clothing should match the rest of your packed outfits; the clothes you wear are still clothes you take on your trip! If you know you’re not going to wear a bright blue T-shirt on your vacation, then it’s best not to wear it to the airport.

By wearing clothing you can easily mix and match with your other clothing, you’ll not only expand your outfit combinations but also make sure that you’re not lugging around clothing you’re not wearing.

Wearing clothing that mixes easily with your wardrobe depends on your personal style. Most people say to wear neutral colors, and while that strategy is popular if you like to wear prints and patterns, then wear those instead. If you like wearing bright colors, then wearing neutral-colored clothing isn’t going to work well with your packed clothing.

Breeze Through Airport Security

My pet peeve is when people take a long time to get through security. However, I know that sometimes it’s people’s first time flying, or maybe they haven’t flown in a while, so I keep it to myself. However, no one likes waiting in a long security line, and planning your outfit can make your time through security easier and faster.

Avoid wearing belts or metal-heavy accessories, which you’ll have to take off before walking through the metal detector. Complicated shoes with buckles, zips, or hard-to-untie laces can also make getting your items on the security belt harder. The fewer items you wear, the less you have to take off! This includes hats, sunglasses, gloves, etc.

Avoid Bulky Clothing

While you probably won’t have this problem in the summer, you can never be too careful! Avoid wearing bulky items because you’ll have to fit in on your carry-on later if you choose not to wear them. This goes for outerwear, pants, accessories, and shoes. You’ll have to wear or carry the clothing one way or another, so make sure they fit or mentally note that you’re okay wearing them on vacation.

Wear Cute and Comfy Summer Airport Outfits

Hopefully, this guide helped you decide what airport outfit to wear in the summer! The TLDR is that you should go for clothing made of breathable, loose-fitting fabrics with stretchy waistbands. Check your destination’s weather before you depart for the airport to know whether you’ll have to pack an extra jacket or leave space in your bag to change. There are so many variations of an airport outfit, but the most comfy one will be whatever gives you room to move, isn’t too short or long, and lets you cool off quickly. Putting on a cute and comfy airport outfit is the first step of your trip, so make it easy and practical. Happy travels!