The Jeans Style Changing The Way We Dress For The Airport

Dressing for the airport is a surprisingly nuanced affair. Even beyond plain ol' comfort and style, there are a lot of factors to consider, from navigating convoluted security lines to accounting for the weather on both ends of your trip. There are certain things you should avoid wearing on an airplane, like stiletto heels, synthetic fabrics, or strong perfume, and other things you shouldn't wear through airport security, like bulky layers or boned corsets.

Between them, these lists narrow down our flight 'fit enough already, but some people also refuse to wear jeans while they travel. We kind of get it — picking the wrong denim piece could be a quick downhill slide into pinching, chafing, and all-around discomfort through hours of airtime. Fortunately, there's a better option for all the jean queens out there: drawstring denim.

Appearing on 2025 runways from designers like Aknvas and Gabriela Hearst, slouchy drawstring jeans are this year's answer to ubiquitous (and, at this point, somewhat boring) joggers. Cool, effortless, and understated, so-called "sweatpant jeans" are suddenly conquering our social feeds and infiltrating our friend groups. And not only are these adjustable cuts growing in popularity — even "Barbie" star Margot Robbie was recently spotted wearing them at the airport — but for jet-setters, they provide a much-needed middle ground between aesthetics and wearability.

When preparing for a day of air travel, one quality will guarantee outfit success: versatility. You want something that works across climates, settings, and aesthetics so that you're prepared for any scenario. Denim seems like the obvious solution, if only you could find a pair comfortable enough to get you through long hours. This is the magic of drawstring styles.

Drawstring jeans are like the beautiful lovechild of structured denim and loungewear. With a pair of adjustable drawstring jeans, you can size the waistline to fit your unique frame — goodbye, red marks imprinting into your skin — but still look put-together while you travel. Pajamas and athleisure at the airport may seem great, but after a certain point, we start to feel like schlubs. Drawstring jeans offer an elevated alternative without the stiffness and constriction of many denim styles, freeing you up to create chic yet comfy airport ensembles. Wearing this style also means you won't have to fumble to take off your belt (and put it back on) at the security line. Bonus!

Wearing drawstring jeans to the airport can also lighten your luggage load since they're a lot easier to dress up and restyle for various occasions during your trip. Pair with a button-up and blazer to look sharp during a work excursion, or take your drawstring denim straight into vacation mode by wearing them with the breezy, romantic blouse that works with every pair of jeans in 2025.

Whether you want to nab some drawstring jeans specifically for long-haul trips or just for fashionable daily wear, your options currently abound. For instance, Anthropologie offers a pair of $138 Pilcro Drawstring Pull-On Wide-Leg Jeans in a lovely medium wash. And the Still Here Cool Jeans — which went viral on TikTok in 2024 and had a waitlist of over 15,000 people at one point — are restocked in eight shades and at your fingertips for $285.

If you're looking for less-expensive baggy or wide-legged options (which would probably be our first choices for a long day of airport travel), the Grapent Elastic Waist Wide-Leg Jeans are popular among Amazon users and eminently affordable at $42. H&M also has drawstring jeans at an even lower price point, with its popular Denim Drawstring Pants clocking in at just $30. Better yet, these spacious jeans come in a range of six colors, from dark wash to striped white denim.

And if you simply cannot stand the touch of denim whilst traveling, you aren't without options, either — while they don't offer a drawstring version, Rag & Bone's $188 faux denim Miramar Terry Wide-Leg Pant can help you get the jeans look with sweatpants levels of stretchy comfort. For our money, though, we like the extra versatility of real drawstring denim. Our only caveat about these adjustable jeans? They introduce a slippery slope: Once you get spoiled by their effortless travel style, you'll want to replace every pair of jeans in your arsenal.

Finally, to complete your airport (or everyday) look with equal comfort and flair, consider matching your new drawstring denim with the one shoe that works with every pair of jeans in spring 2025.

Drawstring jeans might only be recently trendy, but there are many options on the market. We dug into them to see which had high ratings at various price points to help everyone stay on-trend while not eclipsing their budget. We also looked for styles that come in multiple colors to help your inner fashionista shine without having to sacrifice your comfort. With these options, we hope you'll be able to travel in a way that feels both cozy and authentic.