@Sueb20, I may have ordered the J Crew sweater blazer. I need to check. Seriously, I was ordering like a mad woman…. and the results show it! Right now, I’ve got 4 jackets, 2 shirts, and 7 pair of pants to return!

@mtnrdredux_gw, love that peacoat, but I think it is too heavy for travel in May. I tried wearing one of my white shirts like that last night when I was trying on things. I looked messy instead of stylishly insouciant.

As to barrel legged jeans, like many others have said, I suspect they would not be flattering on me. My jeans silhouette is going to be just straight legs.

I’m really liking the Quince wide legged linen trousers….trousers = waist + zipper - exaggerated fullness. So far, I’ve only worn them as a base for trying on tops and jackets. I hope laundering them doesn’t make a radical difference.

I bought a pair of striped Quince trousers you suggested @bbstx, and wore them on vaca. But they don't have a zipper, so this must be another pair? Do tell. Oh, and, where are you headed?

I purchased a cotton stretch lined blazer from Banana a while back. It's technically not wrinkle-free material but it's nicely crisp and comfy. I don't see the one that I purchased on the website but they do have ponte and stretch blazers.

OOTD for errands, tidying house after a 3 day weekend visit by the preschool whirlwinds, friends group early supper and choir practice.

Chambray ruffle neck blouse from which I have already gotten a lot of wear, Oat jeans in a stubbornly straight leg, ancient BR cashmere cardigan , linen and leather skinny belt and woven mary janes. Temps today between 56 and 74, will wear the sweater around my shoulders at some point but will be necessary for the freezing parish hall where we rehearse.

love those colors on you

Thank you Mtn, they are my tried and true combination.

These are the trousers. I have them in the Bayberry Olive and I love it. They are much much longer on me than this photo. I’ll have to have them hemmed.

I am going to France - Normandy, Provence, and a river cruise in the wine region. Gooster tells me that I will encounter a wide range of temps and conditions. I am probably going to do a separate ”help me pack” thread.

Bb, my J Crew sweater blazer is a few years old. Hopefully whatever version they’re selling now is the same.

I have the Frank and Eileen jacket posted by Mtn, in a shorter version (via poshmark) and it is not heavy; it is basically sweatshirt material. May be too casual for what you’re looking for. Not to mention outrageously overpriced IMO.

I have a large pile of returns going back to Athleta and Anthro, but I am keeping the orange cashmere cardigan and two basic tees from Anthro.

I now have this tee (the Benny from anthro) in a few colors. Two new and one or two from last year.

Unfortunately, this one is too sheer so it’s going back.

And this one was missing from my delivery, so I had to submit a claim for a replacement. First time I have had this happen.

what did you think of this one, Sue:

Ive been holding off until I read your review :)

That was a later order, Funky (of 3 tees! I seem to have some sort of t-shirt addiction); not here yet.

I had high hopes for this but the fit and fabric were not what I expected. I ordered a petite, and the length felt a little too cropped, and the sleeves were stupidly long. Also, the ”white” is actually pale pink, which is fine, but the texture was kind of burlap-ish. Sad. Looks cute in pictures!

@bbstx - I know you may have moved on from your navy blazer quest with your closet finds, but I saw this knit blazer on Ralph Lauaren and thought of you:

Thanks, @rubyclaire. I really liked that one. I’ve tried it and it didn’t fit well. ☹️

😒

Would you consider linen or a linen cotton blend?

@Kswl, I will be lying down sleeping on the flight over so I need something that will not wrinkle. I have the perfect outfit, but it looks soooo dated. For overnight flights, I generally wear a pair of navy slim-fit knit pants and a thigh-length linen knit sweater. My top is whatever goes that I feel like wearing as long as it isn’t a solid. Even though the sweater is linen, the knit keeps it from wrinkling. This outfit is specifically reserved for this one activity. I only wear it over and back. It is 9 years old but in excellent shape. I would like something a little fresher, a little smarter.

When I have an overnight flight, I dress like I’m going to the gym.

ssshh, Sueb, you’re going to give Kswl a bout of the vapors. 😉 jk to both of you. I’ll have to admit, I still dress up a bit to fly, although my footwear is generally some form of sneakers.

I do still like to dress for travel. Tried a Spanx air essentials top and slacks for a long flight a few years ago and was no more comfortable than in a nicer outfit and felt kind of like a slouch. I guess that’s one of the hills I’ve chosen to defend 😎

Somehow other women can wear travel ”sets” without looking like oversized toddlers but not me…. I don’t know how they pull it off 🤷‍♀️

My new MO is navy yoga pants with a RL blue cotton button down shirt (i find them warm and comfy) over a white shell. I pair that with a thin quilted light blue cropped nylon jacket, and a long tan cashmere scarf. I don't feel schlubby, can adjust for warmth as needed ... and can pare it all down to essentially PJs when it is time to sleep.

I found a recent article by a Marie Clair editor today on what to wear on the plane. Every pair of pants that she showed were slim fitting knits. I think I’m going to go with my usual Talbot’s navy knit pants. I know they are comfortable and that they look good after a long flight. She also showed longer jackets/sweaters. Why am I trying to re-invent the wheel? I have my ”uniform” and it works. Maybe just a new scarf to make it feel newer to me.

Mtn, I can just see you in that outfit! You are a lot braver than I. I shy away from white and pastels when I fly. I just know that I would have my coffee at my mouth when we hit an air-pocket!

In my quest for lightweight jeans, I’ve found these by Eileen Fisher at Nordstrom. The reviews are generally good and many of them mention the fabric being good for Spring and Summer. The style is kinda iffy for me. They arrive next week, so we shall see.

Because I am anticipating encountering a wide range of temps (I’m picturing the beach at Normandy as windy and pretty chilly), I’m considering taking a pair of merino wool long johns to wear under thinner trousers. I can layer the top half with shirts and cardis.

Oh no. It’s getting worse.

Ladies and gentleman, here are the Balloon Jeans (Free People).

This never happens. I got two pairs of pants today and I like them both.

These Athleta wide leg pants. Petite length is just right for me. They run a size small. These would be great for travel. I might wear them out to dinner Fri night.

And these Levis. I didn’t realize they had a button fly, but I still liked them. Small in waist, big in hips, perfect for a pear and they come in 3 lengths. These run a size small. Maybe closer to 2 sizes small. But they’re a substantial denim, and no waist gap. And on sale for I think $50 at Zappos.

@Sueb20 I’ve read a ton of good reviews about the Athleta Brooklyn pants. I have the impression that the fabric is ”substantial.” Would you wear them in the dead of summer in Florida? In an airplane bathroom, if you pulled the legs up to keep the hem off the floor, do you think they would stay up? (I have odd criteria, don’t I? )

Your last criteria is the most important!

I would not wear long black pants of any type on the hottest days in New England, never mind FL! I would say the fabric is very light, but I don’t know how I’d feel on a 90 degree day.

Stay up, on their own? No, too loose and flowy.

Stay up, on their own? No, too loose and flowy.

As Spanish alluded to that is a deal breaker. Back to the Talbot’s Slim Legs I already own.

Bbstx, that is one of my criteria also, and the reason I don’t mind wesring a skirt or dress on the plane……soooo much easier to bunch up and keep.off.the.bathroom.floor!

Hmm, i do slip on my shoes but otherwise don't think twice about it. They are, however, one reason we splurge on class of service. The ratio of facilities to pax dictates cleanliness.

Thanks for ruining my next flight. This is not something I’ve ever considered. Do you do the same maneuvers in any public potty?

I also don't like my clothes on the restroom floor but if I am worried about an item I just lightly bunch it or roll it up and set the excess fabric on my lap.

Stay in line and don’t do the dance, stay thin enough to get in and out, hold clothing up, squat, don’t touch anything, pray plane doesn’t have turbulence unexpectedly, and then pray you don’t have to go again !

My sister has a long black skirt that she only uses for airplane travel. It is some sort of knit from Talbot’s - doesn’t wrinkle when she sleeps in it. She wears it with a tank, a denim jacket, and sneaks. I think she looks really cute and put together in it. I bought the same skirt but in navy. I look like an escapee from some fringe religious sect.

I’ve mentioned it before, I was flight attendant for a couple of years. People can be gross on airplanes. And no one is mopping those floors in the lavatory.

@Sueb20, glad we could be of service to you and your anxieties. 😁

ETA: speaking of sleeping on planes. has anyone ever been on a flight where the airlines gives you pajamas? I haven’t. I’m curious. How and where do you change?

Yes. I recall getting them in first on long haul flights on JAL, AA, Qatar, and Qantas, My DS and DH covet theirs and wear them often (even tho they are so junky IMHO). You just change in the bathroom, which is often larger. And frankly does not have w wet floor IME.

In other news, none of last year's slacks fit and I am on the hunt for gingham slacks in particular. I bought a J McL pair from Thredup ( a first for me) and they were too stretchy. Baggy in the knees on me and then snug over the thighs. Not good. I want a pair that hang nicely, with some weight to them.

These are pre--order.

Then I found these from Boden, too. Lots of fun patterns if one is so inclined!

Wow Boden has some really great choices

HOW are these barrel leg?

Which should I order to try?

Well the plaid would make for some Easter fun!
The striped pair are really cute.

The olive green with the belt would be my choice to try on. Then again I would probably buy the wider olive green slacks too just to see which one was more flattering.

Speaking of F&E…Quince appears to be making dupes of their sweatshirts. I might try one. I like my collared jerseys from F&E (via PM and kswl!).

I found these pants. I’m contemplating the coffee gingham as the khaki element in my navy/olive/khaki travel capsule. On me they would be long pants. On you, @mtnrdredux_gw, they might be pedal pushers. 😁

ACEGOLF<link

Out of the pants you posted, I like the straight olive green linen (the ones with the black tank). I’m in an olive green linen phase, so my opinion might be skewed.

The hip pockets on the Frank and Eileen put me off. The patterns aren’t matched. Between the back seam and the two pockets there seems to be a lot of chaos on your behind.

there seems to be a lot of chaos on your behind.

Yeah, I was thinking I might want to wait till I am down another size or two for that very reason.

I love brown gingham, but one issue i have is scale. Too fine a gingham and they read almost solid, too loud and well... you have to be able to pull it off. Love this color:

Look. this design should work well! You can drawstring them at the bottom!

I can actually keep even wide pant legs hitched up in an airplane bathroom fairly well. It’s an art. Also I scuff my scuff my shoes along the carpet in my way back to the seat. People are disgusting.

I fly long distance in ponte knit cargo pants, a t shirt and a Chanel cardigan. Premium Economy always now if flying over an ocean and sometimes I’ll spring for the upgrade to Delta One. While feeling its my right to fly D1 in my bones, I don’t feel it in my wallet🤣

Yeah it does not come cheap, esp for a family

When I take the kids to the UK next summer, we may reposition to the east coast so we can have a daytime flight to London. We did that for Iceland. Left BOS at noon and landed in Reykjavik at 10 p.m. As far as the kids were concerned, they had just gotten to stay up late. We went to bed and the next morning everyone was ready to rock and roll.

I’m fine with PE if I’m going east to west. Generally it is a daytime flight and I’m awake most of the time anyway. But going west to east, I want to sleep relatively comfortably. Tried to book the upcoming trip in business class to France; PE coming back home. Because that has to be booked as 2 one way tickets, it was nearly the same price as flying business round trip.

My standard flight outfit is similar to @mtnrdredux_gw. I wear ponte pants with a matching tee, then add a wrinkle free button down over it. I have a light weight jacket to top it all. Then slip-on shoes, easy to slide off in the plane. Outfit looks put together, is comfortable to sleep in on longer flights and the pieces are great to use for touring later.

Tried to book the upcoming trip in business class to France; PE coming back home. Because that has to be booked as 2 one way tickets, it was nearly the same price as flying business round trip.

Yup, I agree, on some trips in some directions a bed is superfluous and actually tempts me to sleep when I should not. The math never works because it is usually the plane you left on that is coming back, and they need to sell the bed both ways.

Am a big fan of daytime flights from the East Coast to Europe, but unfortunately that is pretty much a choice between LHR and KEF, that's it. They are also usually more expensive IME.

@jill302 which wrinkle free button down shirt do you like? I have some from Lands End that I wear but the plackets and collars are uncomfortably stiff.

re airline pajamas: I did get to fly 1st class to Asia. I did not keep the pajamas, but I did keep the bag they came in. It became my travel dirty laundry bag.

It is so unpleasant reverting back to business and economy. I suffered an endless flight to south america in the tightest middle seat that I’ve experienced and I’m a small person.

Until this conversation I’d never previously thought twice about flying in jeans. I usually just try to stay warm. The coldest place is an airport at night.

Oh I love all those pants Mtn! You should order all of them! The multicolor plaid is so cute— and you coule probably wear it with many lf your white and blue tops and blouses. The green slim leg pants are beautiful! Love the color of the brown and white gingham but they look very gathered which (on me) usually reads messy. But one never knows how anything will fit until it’s on, so I’d def try them all. And since you have no other spring/ summer pants that fit congratulations btw!!!— you could probably use them all.

It is April (already???) and Kswl has started the What to Wear April 2026 thread. Please post there.