A Return to the Style of Yesterday
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Holiday travel—the shimmering promised land at the end of a very tedious tunnel.
All you have to do to get there? Traverse the ninth circle of hell: delays, cancellations, crowds, weather, and that particular brand of airport misery no one fully prepares for.
Joy to the world—not.
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But could donning heels and a blazer tame those fiery flames?
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Well, the government seems to think so.
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With Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and President Trump calling for a return to “civility”—a nostalgic nod to Pan Am elegance—are we, too, ready to swap leggings for something runway-ready?
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Here at CbC, we say oui.
Any chance to elevate the fashion ante? Bien sûr—always.
And Pan Am elegance? Oh, how we’ve missed her. There’s never been a glove moment we didn’t adore…
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After spending the past decade deep in the era of “Anything Goes”—a proliferation of athleisure that’s turned the airport into a never-ending (and frankly, yawn-inducing) sea of leggings, hoodies, and sneakers—perhaps it’s time for a glow-up. And while I’ve been known to wear a feather-trimmed pajama set with stilettos, let’s be honest: the well-worn hoodie-and-slipper combo is… not quite the same vibe.
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But could a stricter dress code—or even the polite suggestion of one—actually affect how we behave in public?
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I’d argue yes.
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Fashion is armor.
Fashion is attitude.
Fashion is a quiet, powerful affirmation—a reflection of your inner self made visible.
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And who among us wants to project their inner self with a torn tee and a hole-y pair of sweats? No one. That’s whom.
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So put your best foot forward (preferably in something sporting a red sole—all the better to quell the fires with a red soul), and you walk a little taller. You feel a little better. Your mood and confidence are on the rise.
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When you look better, you feel better—and in turn, your behavior falls neatly into step.
Those Louboutins? Consider them therapy. An investment in your health. A write-off…
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Stilettos at the airport? Well, maybe not.
But something in between? Entirely doable.
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Toss the flip-flops. Retire those ratty sneakers. You know you want to.
Reach for an elevated sneaker or a mule (bonus: both kick off beautifully at TSA).
Or step into a sleek boot—seasonally appropriate, practically stylish, and a total bitch to jam into your luggage anyway. An added benefit? All the more room for travel treasures.
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Still craving a hoodie? CbC approved.
Just throw a blazer over it. If it multitasks on your trip, all the better.
Loop a cashmere scarf around your neck—it doubles as the chicest in-flight blanket ever.
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And maybe—just maybe—if we feel a little elevated, we act a little elevated, too.
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And if not?
Well… at least we’ll look damn good taxiing down the terminal.