Traveling In Style: The History Behind Travel Fashion
If you are anything like me then you can’t wait to pick out your best athleisure outfit for your next flight. Who knows who you will see strolling through your home airport or when you land. Heck, you could meet you next spouse on the flight! Unfortunately, not everyone takes their flight wear as seriously as you and I. But should we? What’s the big deal anyway? Well, historically air travel and travel for that matter was a luxury and one you dressed appropriately for. Not only did you dress appropriately but you dressed in your best outfits. Typically only the wealthy, soldiers or pilgrims traveled. As time went on and travel increased the notion of travel style or “Travel Clothing” has decreased and became casual.
Background
Travel Clothing became a thing in the 19th century when the middle class started to emerge. With the middle class came more disposable income, time, and modes of travel. Prior to the 1900s travel was very dirty and lacked privacy. Trains had soot everywhere or you were on the roads with horse and carriage where one would encounter rain, dirt, and mud. It was typical to have an outfit for travel and then a wardrobe for your destination. Around 1925, travel became less dirty and clothing transitioned from being strictly functional to more about fashion and etiquette. Vogue (June 1925) set the standard on how to dress for travel with this statement "The boat is the country, and the train is town in the morning", this gave women the know-how on looks from one form of transportation to another.
Land & Sea
When driving became a popular method of transportation (despite it being almost exclusively for sport) attire was specifically made for that as well. Mostly because cars had open doors women and men wore gloves, carcoats, long duster jackets, goggles, and hats. As the 1930s approached and travel was now more popular, the fashion industry also implemented new fabrics like rayon, viscose, and nylon. These fabrics were very useful because they were more wrinkle resistant and lighter so there was less necessity for heavy luggage. The style started to be incorporated because of the new found ease and technological advancements.
Luggage style also evolved. The steamer trunk was a big part of the style but back then it was more functional and evolved along with the clothing. How do you think we go the iconic brand Louis Vuitton? With smaller luggage requirements came a more minimalistic style of dress without a lot of fluff and frill so that it was easy to keep clean during long journeys and voyages. Women were advised to wear silky dark colored dresses, tailored suits, khaki linen trouser and cotton tops for more tropical destinations.
Air
Catching a flight was the new wave in the 1950s and set a standard for the way we travel even today. The popular steamer trunk became somewhat obsolete when air travel was incorporated. It required lighter and smaller luggage which lead to the creation of the “Wheelie Suitcase” in 1974. As air travel increased the “Carry On Only” culture incentivized designers for better function and quality. More synthetic fiber and fabrics were developed to aid in the ease of washing clothes on the go, but also remaining wrinkle free. The dress was also a lot more formal then. Travel style immolated much of the style of the current time with the functionality and leisure that one could afford.
#AirportStyle
You can start to see a decline in “dressing appropriately” for almost anything after the ’90s. The Anti-Fashion era. Today, celebrities have a heavy influence on travel style and the looks that we love to see on our feed. With the current “Jet Setting” culture travel style has become more trendy and stylistic. Less formal and functional even if it does cater to comfort. You can scroll through your Instagram feed or favorite street style blog and find a number of looks to choose from. It’s almost as if your airport looks are just as important as your vacation looks. Especially if you're headed to a hub like LAX, where the pops are regular and TMZ is waiting for their next story.
So stay ready so you don’t have to get ready and make sure your next jaunt through the airport is a conversation starter! What’s your travel style? Let me know in the comments below!!
XOXO,
KVT
Resources From: Profile Pic From:@Dustyroses_blog
Gallert Photos:@Lostandfoundprops, @JonathanDanielAntiques, @stylestamp,@naijanomads, @everythingnew, @getintothisstyle, @chelsea_owens, @mariyamba, @hartmannluggage, @tiffanymbattle, @travelrush, @rougeexperiences, @girlandaplane, @christenchantalle, @sarleamah, @adereni.fashokun, @blacktravelcircle
Dates and Facts: https://fashion-history.lovetoknow.com/clothing-types-styles/travel-clothing
