Hey Thomas. Thank you for the question. It's an honor! I travel a lot for business… a little for pleasure… and very little for sports. That sounds pretty cool. Last time I was on the athlete's bus was coming home from the Camellia Bowl in Brookhaven in '78... we lost 12-7. But I can still help you out here, although my guidance may be a tad more formal than what your teammates are into.
My MO when traveling is pretty similar to yours: I want to look nice. And I want to be able to step off the plane and get straight to work. Having to stop at the hotel can really kill your momentum. You start feeling the jet lag, or your early alarm time, and all of a sudden you're out of the groove.
That's why I dress practically the same on all flights, no matter the length: in a sport coat and jeans or a suit. Outfits where I can get straight to business when I land. The suit's going to be 100% wool because it retains its shape and regulates temperature, which is crucial when you're on the move. I almost always opt for high-twist. The slightly more casual option is a wool or wool-rich sport coat with jeans… dark indigo specifically. I love white and wheat jeans, but they get pretty dingy in transit, so it's not the most efficient way to dress. They're dirty by the time you land, and then you can't rewear 'em. So save the light jeans for the trip itself, or the flight back.
As an alternative to jeans, wool trousers are nice for business travel. I don't love cotton trousers for the plane because they get too rumpled. Wool's going to bounce back nicely, just like the suit. What's really cool is if you've got trouser with a side-tab waistband… wear those so you don't need to fool with removing your belt for security.
Speaking of. Your shoes, ideally, are something you can get on and off quickly in the security line. I usually go for tassel loafers because you can kick them on and off without having to bend over or sit down. (Can you tell I'm usually in a hurry?)
Last thing. When I fly… 8 or 9 times out of 10, I'm wearing a tie. I'm in the business. It's what I do. It's the way I feel most put-together. I understand that this isn't the case for everyone, which is fine. The tie isn't mandatory to look great on a flight. But I would encourage you to at least wear a jacket. It'll make you feel good. I promise.
You also mentioned traveling by bus, which I haven't gotten to do in a while… but I loooooove a bus trip... especially the Von Lane, although that's not a yellow Bluebird toolin' up I-55. My guidance there would be similar to how I dress for a road trip, and I've done my fair share of those. It's my favorite way to travel. Especially in the summer.
For a road trip (in a car or in a bus,) I'm going a little more casual than a flight. The road has to be my favorite way to travel. Especially in the summer. Y'all may be relieved to know that I'm not wearing a tie on a road trip (although my fellow drivers on Howell Mill Road know that I've tied my fair share of ties at the wheel), and I usually go for a sport shirt in a less-formal fabric like an oxford or chambray. Maybe a cotolino if it's warm outside. On the bottom… five-pockets or pants, but not shorts. I like to drive in jeans or cotton sport trousers that aren't too pressed. I love when they've got a little rumple out of the dryer. (Don't get it twisted: not-ironed is not the same as no-iron. But that's a story for another day.) And then on my feet, sneakers (I like Tretorns) or camp moccasins. And sunglasses. The Allyn Scura Legends are my go-to frames for my regular glasses and my sunglasses. It's nice when one shape can do it all. One less egg to fry!
On the theme of summer travel, I put together a little playlist of songs I've been digging lately. They're happy and sunny and make me feel like getting behind the wheel and turning the volume way up. Hopefully they'll be a nice accompaniment to whatever kind of summer journeys you've got planned. Thanks for getting me in the mood for a road trip, Thomas, and best of luck with your internship and the upcoming season. I hope you win 'em all.
