The Comfortable Basics Women Over 50 Wear for Travel

As anyone who has ever accidentally worn something uncomfortable to travel in knows, it can make or break your day. I realize that this sounds dramatic, but as someone who used to travel in high-waisted, 100% cotton jeans (I know…), I can vouch. While we regularly cover the excellent airport outfits women of all age groups wear, I strongly believe that women age 50 and up are a great source of non-verbal style advice.

By the time you reach age 50, you've been traveling for decades and have gained plenty of wisdom when it comes to what to wear for any given occasion, travel days included. I studied the airport outfits of stylish women like Jennifer Lopez, Nicole Kidman, and Julianne Moore, and noticed quite a few patterns as far as the comfortable basics they wear are concerned. Keep scrolling to learn from their examples and shop the recommended travel basics.

Loose Trousers

If you're anti-jeans and anti-leggings when traveling (I get it), Julianne Moore's loose trousers are the answer. They also just so happen to be a trend right now. The blazer is optional.

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(Image credit: Splash News)

On Julianne Moore: Louis Vuitton bag

Ballet Flats

Want something more polished than sneakers but equally comfortable? Follow Nicole Kidman's lead and wear a pair of ballet flats to the airport.

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(Image credit: Splash News)

On Nicole Kidman: Zimmermann Super Eight Ruffle Shirt ($595); Moynat Paris bag

Sweatpants

While sweatpants may have once seemed sloppy, they're a trend now, and they happen to be J.Lo-approved. (Tip: Wearing a matching sweatshirt adds a bit more polish.)

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(Image credit: CPR/Backgrid)

WHO: Jennifer Lopez

Flat Ankle Boots

If you're going somewhere straight from the airport and want to look chic, forgo the sneakers and wear a pair of flat ankle boots as Andie Macdowell did.

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(Image credit: Stephen Crawshaw/Backgrid)

WHO: Andie Macdowell

The beauty of a cashmere sweater is that it's warm but not bulky. It's truly the perfect thing to wear with jeans, as French actress Isabelle Huppert expertly displayed.

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(Image credit: Splash News)

WHO: Isabelle Huppert

Cashmere

Leggings

You don't have to look like you're going to the gym when you wear leggings to the airport. Just follow Viola Davis' lead and pair them with a wool coat and ankle boots.

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(Image credit: Splash News)

WHO: Viola Davis

Skinny Jeans

Some may scoff at the idea of wearing skinny jeans on a plane, but if you choose a pair with stretch (like Yolanda Hadid did), you won't have any regrets whatsoever.

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(Image credit: Splash News)

WHO: Yolanda Hadid

Next up, everything a stylish over-50-year-old is buying in 2020.

Allyson Payer
Senior Editor

Allyson is a senior editor for Who What Wear. She joined the company in 2014 as co-founder Katherine Power's executive assistant and over the years has written hundreds of stories for Who What Wear. Prior to her career in fashion, Allyson worked in the entertainment industry at companies such as Sony Pictures Television. Allyson is now based in Raleigh, North Carolina, and is originally from Baton Rouge, Louisiana. She holds a BFA in theater. Her path to fashion may not have been linear, but based on the number of fashion magazines she collected as a child and young adult, it was meant to be.