NEED TO KNOW
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U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy put out a call for Americans to dress and act with more “civility” at the airport as part of his “Golden Age of Travel” campaign.
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In a press conference Monday he suggested flyers not wear “slippers and pajamas” to the airport.
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The campaign has been met with mixed reviews from travelers, who voiced they would prefer a focus on safety and service.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy put out a call on Monday for Americans to “dress a little better” at the airport in the name of “civility,” and was quickly met with a few less-than-civil pieces of feedback.
Speaking about the department’s new “Golden Age of Travel” campaign at Newark Airport on Nov. 24, Duffy said, “I would encourage people to dress a little better, which encourages us to maybe behave a little better. Let’s try not to wear slippers and pajamas as we come to the airport.”
Travelers immediately sounded off about whether their airport fashion was what the secretary aught to be focused on in this fraught moment for air travel. And more specifically, that he could pry their airport sweatpants from their cold, dead hands.
PEOPLE staffers traveling this Thanksgiving couldn’t help but weigh in on Duffy’s hot take with their own. Here are just a few thoughts for the secretary.
The major takeaway was that the airport ~experience~ needs to level up to earn our best looks.
Courtesy of Andrea Lavinthal
“Yes, people dress insanely bad for travel (slippers on a plane? gross), but this should be the least of Sean Duffy’s concerns. His title is transportation secretary, not head of the fashion police. —Andrea Lavinthal, Executive Director, Special Integrated Projects
“I will dress up for the airport when the level and comfort and service provided is upgraded to something similar to the ‘Golden Age’ of yore. Tights on a Plane? Would almost prefer snakes.” —Kelli Bender, Staff Editor, Pets
Courtesy of Lindsay Kimble
“After a recent travel ordeal during the government shutdown, we wound up at the airport for hours upon hours. Imagine how miserable this 3 year old would have been if she wasn’t wearing leggings and a cotton tee?! If airlines are going to keep us on our toes with cancelations and gate changes (even when there’s not a shutdown going on), we should be allowed to stay comfy!” —Lindsay Kimble, Executive Editor, News
“We’ll dress up when flights aren’t constantly canceled and delays aren’t a staple of traveling to and from Newark Airport. Until then, you can catch this Jersey girl in her Ugg boots, North Face and leggings.” —Kristen Acuna, Staff Editor, Entertainment
“I tend to rock my Rag & Bone ‘fake’ jeans that look cute but feel like sweatpants. But can we tackle the actual issue at hand: early boarders stuffing their coats in the overhead bins, forcing us peons in group 6 to check our carefully packed carry-ons?” —Michele Corriston, Senior Director, Social Media
Comfort was the key, almost unanimously.
Courtesy of Hedy Phillips
“Do I look like a gremlin? Yes. Do I care? No. My only requirements for travel clothes are that they stretch and that I can layer them (because we all know the temperature on an airplane is never reliable).” —Hedy Phillips, Senior News Editor, Style
“I recently got food poisoning on a five-hour flight after eating at a certain airport chain restaurant. All I can say is that if I had been wearing business casual, the whole ordeal would have been ten times worse.” —Rachel DeSantis, Senior Writer, Music
Courtesy of Janine Rubenstein
“Comfort, safety and anonymity. Those are my travel style keywords! They go hand-in-hand as I’m usually dressed so comfortably I’d rather be unrecognizable, (not that folks would know who I am anyway). And thus the mask serves dual purposes. Win-win-severely unstylish win.” —Janine Rubenstein, Editor at Large/Host
“As someone who books the earliest morning flight possible, I cannot fathom the idea of getting dressed—or, gasp, putting on makeup!—in anything other than sweats and a hoodie. Travel is tough enough these days. If a cozy, slouchy outfit will make the trip a smidge more comfortable then I’m giving myself and everyone around me the grace to embrace their inner slob.” —Sonal Dutt, Lifestyle Director
“I’m all about two things: comfort and temperature control. Running through the airport to catch a flight: overheated. Sitting on a plane with the AC set to arctic: freezing. So I always wear a jacket that’s not too bulky and toss a scarf on top that can double as a blankie, but underneath those, it’s a presentable sweater or sweatshirt and flare yoga pants that could look like real pants from afar.” —Lizz Schumer, Senior Editor, Books
But a few staffers were team cute ‘fit (ish)
Courtesy of Charlotte Triggs
“I tend to think that dressing in actual clothes (jeans, top, jacket) isn’t really dressing up. I only recently began wearing sneakers on the airplane. But I’m distinctly envious of people who feel comfortable wearing pajamas on the plane. I actually think it’s a flex. If you have the luxury of not having to immediately do anything or be seen by anybody on the other side of your voyage, that says something.” —Charlotte Triggs, GM/Editor-in-Chief
Courtesy of Maggie Kreienberg
“I do think we could dress more presentably for travel, but is business professional the answer? Hell no. Instead, I’ve made a few swaps in my wardrobe over the past year to elevate my travel look without sacrificing comfort, like opting for a comfy silk drawstring pant and nice tee instead of leggings and an old hoodie. Sneakers will always stay on my feet, though!” —Maggie Kreienberg, Senior Editor
…And a few had ulterior motives for dressing up.
“I can’t believe I’m saying this about the lumberjack from The Real World: Boston, but (in this case only), I have to agree with Sean Duffy. I’m out in these streets looking for love and I sure don’t want to meet my soulmate in PJs.” —Dave Quinn, Deputy News Director
“I’m a firm believer in ‘look good, feel good’ and with air travel being so all over the place, I want to make sure I’m feeling my best to handle whatever gets thrown at me. I’m not dressing for Sean Duffy, but I am dressing for the moment the hot guy in 11B looks over and thinks, ‘Oh wow, what a lovely Alo workout set — an esteemed woman of care and taste.'” —Emily Rella, Staff Editor, Food
“I traded my airport sweats for jeans because I thought I might meet my future husband on the flight home. Plot twist: I did not. Team Pajamas on the Plane forever.” —Matthew Boyd, Audience Engagement Editor
At the end of the day, it was comfort, with a side of respect for humanity. (Aka, put your dogs away!)
“I’m an all-cotton-everything comfort gal but will never condone flip-flops on a plane. Why am I stuck with a stranger’s sockless toes inches from mine for hours? Please, no.” —Michelle Tauber, Associate GM
“i don’t think anyone should care too much about what others are wearing unless its dramatically lewd, such a nudity of any form. Sitting on an airplane is extremely uncomfortable, so comfortable clothing should be the only requirement, which translates differently for everyone. for me, t-shirt and sweatpants and sneakers or flip fops (with socks!)” —Moná Thomas, Associate Editor, Lifestyle
Read the original article on People