The next time you fly…dress up

The airport is full of badly-dressed people, and just because you're going to be 30,000ft in the sky is no excuse

Waiting at the airport always fills me with mixed feelings. Obviously I hate the delay - because if I had time, I would have just taken the train. But once I have got past cursing the flight officials, I usually settle down with a can of coke, my iPod filling my ears and my eyes focused on finding the best- and worst-dressed traveller.

Now, you may ask me what the ideal traveling attire is. And why would I want to pinpoint people who do and don't dress according to my taste. Just like that, obviously, but also because we live in a world where fashion matters, at least I think it does, and we have only one life, so why not live it fashionably? Shall we move on?

Okay, now I know most of you are going to object, but sorry, the ideal airport wear is definitely NOT 'everyone-wears-them' sneakers, your oldest pair of jeans and a T-shirt that screams Led Zeppelin. Some even dare to wear  - shudder - tracks! Comfort dressing they say. I say, no way. You are travelling aboard an airplane, not a bullock cart.

Ok, let me pacify all those of you spluttering at my audacity. Comfort is good, but is there any harm in making it…a little stylish? Yesterday while waiting at the Delhi airport for my flight to Mumbai, I spotted a well-turned out twentysomething woman in khaki fitting knee-length shorts, a white sheer - but not too transparent - shirt and soft khaki ballerinas. She made my day: Such a breath of fresh air in an airport full of tracks, jeans and salwar kurtas (yes that could easily be the traditional equivalent of the T-shirt and jeans).

Her clothes were summery, fit her well, and looked tasteful and expensive. Now I know most of you are already upset with my preference for high-street outlets over street shopping, but hear me out. Why waste money on a dress bought on Hill Road, which will be in tatters in weeks, when you can buy a great skirt at Benetton and make it last years?

Anyway, getting back to airport dressing. The airport lounge, like many other places in the world, has become a meeting ground for people. You know you are being sized up right from the clothes you wear and the baggage you carry, to the beverage you drink.

Why not show a little bit of that crazy, sexy, cool attitude of yours, and leave all of them staring.

So girls, never ever wear tracks. Please wear a snug pair of jeans, or anything that suits your body type. No collared T-shirts - tailored shirts and girly boat-necks or round necks look best. If you can't handle the ideal four-inch heel, wear ballerinas instead. Leave the face untouched and the hair natural. And voila, you are ready.

Men: Khakis and white shirts are lovely, but so are blue jeans and white shirts. Wear Kolhapuris to complete the look.

Another thing that struck me was the difference between the way people dressed at the Delhi airport and the Mumbai airport. But then that would be opening a can of worms. We will get to that soon enough. Wait for the worms…ciao.
b_aastha@dnaindia.net