A Year of A-List Airport Style Looks Like This

If you want to see trends in action—think this year’s surprise boot hit or the hat that’s toppled the beret—you’ll find them all in one unlikely place. Besides Instagram and the front rows at fashion month, there’s a third destination that’s equally on the money: the arrivals gate at Los Angeles International Airport.

You and I would inevitably emerge bleary-eyed from Heathrow Terminal 2 wearing leggings, glasses and something comfy like Ugg boots to nurse our tired feet. Supermodels and celebrities, on the other hand, have to deal with a pack of photographers instead of a painfully slow journey on the Piccadilly Line, so they tend to style it out better than we do.

Skin-tight leather trousers, sharp stiletto-heeled booties, nipped-in tweed blazers—all have been worn this year by A-listers at the arrivals hall. Of course, we’re not suggesting you wear something as tight as sausage casings for a 12-hour flight (although who knows—they might work like compression tights), but wouldn’t it be nice to look just a little bit more turned out when you meet your partner/dad/taxi driver on the other side? Even if you’re flying EasyJet rather than JetLuxe (Bella Hadid's private jet of choice).

Scroll down for our styling and shopping tips on how to ace airport dressing.

Even Rosie Huntington-Whiteley isn’t immune to the powers of static. What to do when you wake up from a few hours of shut-eye only to find that your barnet has taken on Medusa-like proportions? Follow Rosie’s lead by smoothing it down as best you can before tucking it into a baker-boy hat (the new beret, in case you were wondering).

She’s famous for her dreamy pastels and bold primaries on the catwalk, but Victoria Beckham knows that head-to-toe black is Airport Dressing 101. Her trick is to add a hit of colour in the form of a peppermint boot, but it could be a strawberry-coloured shoulder bag or some periwinkle cat-eye sunglasses.

Having said that black is best, we all know that orange is determined to take its crown. One Netflix series and this Kendall Jenner look later, and we might be coming round to the idea. After all, nothing cheers up dehydrated skin and serious eye bags like top-to-toe tangerine. If you can’t stomach all-over orange—or don’t fancy being the in-flight entertainment—at least try the sweatshirt with some true blue jeans.

She caused a sensation at the spring/summer 18 shows and is now shaking up airport style as we know it. We’re guessing Kaia Gerber doesn’t spill the in-flight breakfast on her clothes—she has opted for the most unforgiving trouser shape of them all for arrivals: high-waisted kick flares. Now showcasing your waist might not be top of your priority list after 10 hours in economy, but flashing your ankle will draw the eye to the narrowest part of your body. Try it.

Kate Bosworth has the ultimate “turn left” wardrobe, and this leather skirt suit is no exception. Notice how she cheers up all-black with this rainbow-striped It knit from Etro and rodeo-ready cowboy boots? Add round sunglasses and you’ll be ready for takeoff.