My Plus Size Transitional Travel Style

There was a time when I would travel once a year. I used to agonize over what to pack, what to wear on the plane and if I would need to ask for a seat belt extender. Over the past few years, I’ve been extremely lucky to increase the amount of traveling that I do. And while most of it is business-related, I can still recognize that traveling when you’re fat is a privilege.

When I travel, I am still conscious of my comfort and the comfort of others around me. I’ve mostly ditched caring about the comfort of others in every area of my life but flying is still that one place where I am conscious of how much space I am taking up. When it comes to what I wear, I like to be physically comfortable because sitting in an airplane seat is mostly uncomfortable for me.

I don’t like to wear a ton of layers as I know that I will likely be directly touching the person next to me and sometimes on either side if I have a middle seat — and touching them may or may not cause them irritation regardless of the fact that I cannot physically not touch them. And while I would totally like to keep it totally casual when I’m flying, I hardly ever go straight to my house or hotel when I hand. This is where my special mix of plus size transitional travel style has come into play.

I recently traveled to Atlanta for the , one of my favorite plus size fashion events and on the way there, I made the mistake of dressing extra casual in a t-shirt and jean shorts only to immediately run into a stylist who recognized me from my blog. I am not saying there’s anything wrong with dressing casual because that is a totally valid way to dress but when I am in a fashion-related situation, I feel more myself when I’m wearing an outfit that isn’t the first thing I found on the floor that morning.

So how do I balance being comfortable while still feeling like what I am wearing is an expression of my personal style? That’s where came through for me in a big way! On the way home from Atlanta, I knew that I had a date when I landed and the Fiera Tunic was the perfect transitional piece.

The soft rayon fabric of the tunic definitely my comfort level needs for the plane and the color-blocking turned up the visual interest for me to feel like myself wearing this on a date. I added a pair of On The Plus Side’s Capri Leggings.. The ATL heat is no joke and the breezy feel of the tunic paired with the crop of the legging was a great fit for a situation that could’ve otherwise left me feeling less than fresh.

For the plane ride, I made sure that I wore sandals that were cute, comfortable and easy for me to unbuckle and rebuckle since I would be taking them off at the airport. To transition my look for an evening date night, I packed a pair of light pink pumps and a to add to the Fiera tunic and Capri leggings that I was already wearing. I had them packed in my carry-on and easily accessible so I could make the transition once I reached my car and made it easy to slip them on when I snapped these photos before leaving Atlanta.

For me, I feel most comfortable when my style is a reflection of me: bold, in-your-face and sometimes gaudy and balancing that with my physical comfort isn’t always easy. When I am dressing for travel, I not only think about how long I will be sitting on the plane and how far the walk may to my gate, but I also think about where I am going afterwards and how soon I have to be there. I try to prioritize wearing pieces that are made from soft fabrics but are also visually interesting. I then work to simple ways to turn up the volume in a way that doesn’t inconvenience me too much. I’ve gotten ready before in an airplane bathroom, but I definitely don’t want to make that a habit.

So while I still haven’t mastered the art of packing more than a few hours before my flight leaves, I have found a travel style that fits for me. Traveling as a fat person can be uncomfortable enough on its own; your travel outfits should be a reflection of what makes you feel good!

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