[WouldaShoulda]

A jacket is nice for travel, you can keep tickets/ID and essentials in it.

 

[Packard]

I personally favor a wife beater, jock strap and flip flops...

 

[Relayer]

A jogging suit constructed of a nice quality velour might work. Preferably purple or sky blue.

 

[46L]

There is no such thing.

Agreed. It makes sense now. However, I did not realize it 10 years ago. I thought there was a such a thing as "dressy" gym clothes.

 

[ptrck2184]

I think the important question is which AE style appropriately matches yoru gym clothes?

Is there anything more appropriate for the plane than wingtips?

 

[sowilson]

tan and cream track suit with spectators should work.

 

[cdavant]

It can be very appropriate, indeed it can be necessary. I've been carted directly to the airport after the Boston Marathon (starts 12:00, finishes 2PM on) wearing only sweats and unshowered and carried on the plane along with other runners similarly attired. The flight attendants seated us togather and poured us champagne to treat our dehydration.

So gym clothes are appropriate on Patiot's Day and Saturday PM if you are wearing a finisher's medal around your neck, can hardly walk and are on your way home. +1 for slim, trim women even if they didn't run.

Other circumstances? NO.

 

[harvey_birdman]

You shouldn't drink alcohol when facing dehydration, it will only further dehydrate you.

 

[Sator]

I find that in the age of heavy handed airport security, that treats travellers like so much cattle to be prodded, being dressed well is the last shred of human dignity there is to cling onto.

 

[EmbraBhoy]

I've never worn a suit on a flight, but even while travelling on vacation (which is typically an eight hour flight from/to the U.S.) I would wear jeans, button-down, loafers, and a blazer as the minimum standard of dress. If I am travelling on business I would wear khakis instead.

I wear such items because they are both comfortable and efficient in terms of security. I've found flip-flops to be uncomfortable for anything other than the walk to and from the bathroom to shower.

 

[eagle2250]

While at one point in my life my flight attire was a nomex flight suit, these days it consists of an OCBD or knit polo shirt, khakis or bluejeans, a navy blazer and penny or tassel loafers. If anyone should see me on a flight wearing gym attire, I can only hope they will act kindly and have me committed to a home!

 

[roman totale XVII]

My job requires me to be a road warrior every now and again, visiting clients and attending conferences.

I travel in a pair of Bonobos, with well broken in Chelsea boots, an OCBD or dress shirt (an 'office retired' favourite) and a beater sportcoat. Hardly eveningwear, but as noted elsewhere, I believe it is appreciated by flight staff. As is taking appropriate carry-on baggage on board, but that's a whole another thread...

 

[dbgrate]

It will be a long time before I forget the shame and embarrasment I felt the last time I was on the elliptical machine at the "Y",working up a good sweat in my Oxxford 3 piece.....everyone was staring at me...like I was weird..or out of place...go figure..

 

[Blueboy1938]

I don't . . .

. . . because, assuming that I will need or want gym clothes at my destination, those get packed. They will not be the worse for wear.

However, I prefer to wear one of the outfits that I will need at my destination. That could be jeans, trainers or boots, and a huge belt if I'm visiting the mother-in-law in San Antonio, or it could be a blazer, colored T, and camel trousers if I shall be on the QM2. That way, I can make do with a carryon and overnight bag for short trips. Unfortunately, I can't pack that light for a crossing

 

[deanayer]

I wouldn't be too concerned about what would happen to my nice clothes while sitting on a plane for a few hours. If you are wearing a jacket they will hang it up for you. There used to be a fight for hanger space but at this point any jacket you offer up will probably be flying solo in their little coat locker. Everything else you wear will survive just fine. The one thing I do differently for plane travel is I tend to wear slip-on shoes since everyone's feet tend to swell during a flight and the right shoes can have an impact especially when you get off the plane, just make sure they can handle all the walking and standing you will also do.

 

[David V]

I can't believe some of the answers you've gotten here OP. I personally think it's entirely appropriate for you to wear gym clothes on the plane, I have for years. I have to take 12, sometimes 14 hour flights to Asia with exhausting layovers, all the while being stuck in overheated cabins sitting in physiologically unconscionable positions while my spinal column compresses and my muscles ache... I DO NOT have the energy to worry about my appearance to the half-drunk grandma sitting next to me or whether the stewardess will respect me to give me an extra bag of peanuts.

Moreover, airplanes are one of the most filthy and bacteria-ridden spaces in public transportation, any nice shirt or heaven-forbid sport jacket you wear in such a place would need to be washed immediately. Unless you're meeting a client on the plane or at the exit, or it's just a couple hour flight, then my hunch is the people who dress up for planes are just bored dandies in first-class who want to show off, have no sanitary sense, and have weak blood flow so they're not overheated... not to mention very judgmental about what others are wearing

Airplanes are the buses of the 21st century.

 

[Cruiser]

While at one point in my life my flight attire was a nomex flight suit

I know that it's off topic, but did you keep any? I brought two home from the service but loaned them to a friend who was an Army National Guard helicopter pilot. He liked the fact that they were one piece suits and the Guard was using two piece suits. That was 37 years ago and I haven't seen them since. They make good coveralls for working around the house or on the car.

All I have left now is a leather name tag that I took off of one of the flight suits before "loaning" them to him.

Cruiser

 

[eagle2250]

^^
I do still have one in the closet, worn originally back when I was an O-3...it still has the silver tracks (well, actually they are the black subdued insignia) on the shoulders. Surprisingly, I can still fit in it quite nicely. Though, I do have to extend the Velcro adjustment tabs at the waist, to allow for the additional muscle around my middle these days!

 

[tda003]

However you dress, you'll fit in w/ some of the passengers, it's just a matter of which passengers. I vote for slip-ons polo or OCBD, khakis and blazer/sport coat. (Note: NO fuses sticking out of your athletic shoes if you decide in favor of them.)

 

[ptrck2184]

I find blazer and sport coat is difficult on a plane. There is no doubt that it would leave the plane wrinkled and stale smelling.