There are a few things that people facing airport security will want to ditch when planning their outfit
Millions of people will pass through airports across the UK this summer for long-awaited breaks in sunnier places. But, people heading abroad can make one part of the travel process simpler by choosing to leave some items at home.
Ella Wright, a style expert at PrettyLittleThing, said that there are three items that might cause you to get held up by security. When getting to the plane can often seem to take hours, people will want to avoid making these wardrobe mistakes that could extend the process even further.
The first, and most obvious one, is to keep an eye on what jewellery you wear as the metals could mean you have to stop for longer than you’d like at security. It’s a standard part of airport security around the world for travellers to pass through a metal detector. If it detects any sort of metal object, staff will pull you aside and complete extra safety checks.
Ella said: “You know that perfect pair of tiny gold hoops you wear daily? It might be better to put them in your suitcase for this one. Any jewellery – including rings, watches, and earrings – made of metals like gold and silver will be set off in security, so it’s easier to take them off before you even get in the queue.”
Another fashion don’t at the airport, according to Ella, is underwired bras. This, again, is down to metals in the wiring.
She added: “Whilst we wouldn’t usually tell you what type of bra to wear, it’s a known fact that underwired bras can be a nightmare when going through security. This is because of the metal in your underwired bra.
“When you’re going on holiday, the last thing you want to hear is the alarm as you’re walking through the airport scanners – they slow you and everyone else down, and you have to endure the awkward pat-down by a stranger. So, next time you’re travelling by plane, maybe swap your underwired bra for a sports bra or bralette to get you through security.”
Ella also advises against wearing specific shoes – flip flops. While you might want to dress the part for your sunny adventure, Ella says flip flops can make things “difficult” at the airport, particularly if you need to rush to your gate or take them off at security.
She added: “You might be ready for the beach, but you have to get there first, and flip flops can make your life difficult if you need to run for your flight (we’ve all been distracted by the perfume section duty-free before). You also may be asked to remove them to walk through security, and bare feet and airport floors are not a great mix. If you don’t want to say hello to holiday germs, maybe wear your trainers instead.”
Finally, while not something that might affect you at security, Ella also mentions that jeans are also best left at home when travelling. She claims that while jeans “look great” they can impact your comfort when flying.
She said: “There’s a time and place for jeans and a flight is not it. Whilst jeans look great, denim is an incredibly tight material, and our bodies naturally swell when we fly. If you’re wanting to be comfortable on your flight this summer, you should definitely opt for leggings or joggers instead.”
Ella recommends a number of ‘dos’ for airport and flight comfort, suggesting a zip up hoodie, loungewear and athleisure as they are “ideal for departures, arrivals, and everything in-between.”
