We’re entering another season of high travel, as Eid approaches and plans for upcoming summer holidays start taking shape. Whether you’re counting down the days to a group trip that’s been in the works for months, or have a few spontaneous weekend escapes lined up, one thing remains true for all of us: at some point, you’re going to end up at an airport.
Airport style has undergone a massive transformation since the turn of the century. The shift is undeniable – moving from elegant co-ords and blazers thrown over white tees to matching sweat sets and oversized hoodies. Comfort is now prioritised above all else, while style has slowly taken a backseat. But the two don’t need to exist separately.
To ease the pre-travel anticipation, let’s break down our Spring/Summer 2026 moodboard for the ultimate airport wardrobe.
THE EVOLUTION
Nineties celebrity airport paparazzi photos, while undeniably intrusive, set an impossibly high standard for travel fashion. In an era before every celebrity had a stylist on speed dial curating their every appearance, these snapshots revealed something far more personal: individuality, ease and casually well-tailored style we rarely see today. The nostalgia attached to this era leaves us wondering how we can pay homage to the women who shaped jet-setting fashion before us.
Let’s tap back into the fashion era that mastered the equilibrium between polished and laid-back dressing. It’s something we can draw from now, blending our current obsession with minimalist, model-off-duty styling into something that still feels elevated and intentional.
LUXURY BRANDS UNDERSTAND THE BRIEF
Luxury brands are beginning to acknowledge this shift. Gucci centred its Valigeria 2023 campaign around the airport aesthetic, showcasing Kendall Jenner and Bad Bunny in candid snapshots wearing elegant yet understated travel looks.
Hermès took the concept even further, staging its Spring/Summer 2022 runway at Le Bourget Airport just outside Paris.
FOR THE MINIMALIST SILHOUETTE
Think plain white tees paired with baggy chino trousers or relaxed blue jeans. Throw on a lightweight linen blazer or a Burberry-style trench and you’ve mastered understated airport dressing.
Calvin Klein is leaning back into its most iconic era with The 90s Edit, offering sharp minimalist silhouettes alongside timeless denim staples. The result? Tailored essentials that feel polished enough for arrivals, yet comfortable enough to survive a long-haul flight.
Locally, Rota is leaning into this aesthetic with clean tailoring, relaxed silhouettes and elevated basics that feel effortless rather than overly styled. Their muted palettes and easy layering pieces capture that same off-duty energy without losing structure.
IF YOU LEAN ON THE PREPPIER SIDE
Boxy crisp shirts. Whites and navies. Cable-knit sweaters tied loosely over your shoulders. If this sounds like your uniform, lean into your preppier side.
Sporty & Rich has built an entire aesthetic around relaxed country-club dressing, relying on refined basics that feel curated yet comfortable. Think considered wardrobe staples that look polished on the go without appearing overdone.
This is where local brands really shine. Rebel Cairo’s colourful knits and relaxed linen pants embody the kind of expressive airport dressing that feels intentionally thrown together in the best way possible.
EFFORTLESS OFF-DUTY GLAMOUR
Go for a matching set — ideally an A-line maxi skirt paired with a boat-neck top. A loose-fitting dress with a clean crew neckline, styled with sporty ballerina flats, will keep you cool as the cabin’s struggling air conditioning inevitably fails to circulate properly.
Reformation taps into sleek glamour in a way that subtly echoes Princess Diana’s off-duty style. If comfort isn’t your only priority – or you don’t have time to stop by the hotel and freshen up before heading straight out – this aesthetic strikes the perfect balance. It’s polished and refined without trying too hard or leaving you uncomfortable mid-flight.
Farah Seif captures this mood beautifully through fluid silhouettes, soft tailoring and elevated feminine cuts that feel glamorous without becoming impractical. The pieces transition seamlessly from airport lounge to dinner reservation.
ELEVATED SPORTSWEAR
Comfort is key when rushing through airport security or remaining glued to your seat for hours at a time. But that doesn’t mean sacrificing style in the process.
Reach for tailored Adidas track pants, white linen drawstring trousers paired with graphic tees, or spaghetti-strap tops layered beneath loud yet cozy jacquard-knit cardigans. The goal is ease — but with personality.
Locally, Browntoast channels this mood through colourful sweats, oversized separates and tailored basics that bring a softer, more playful approach to sporty dressing. The pieces feel youthful and wearable, without losing that put-together edge.
