I know it is many a woman's inclination to turn to a track suit or a pair of Juicy-inspired sweats as the wardrobe of choice for when they fly, but let me tell you a few reasons why I wouldn't recommend this route.

The first person to get the upgrade is not the person that's looking like they just rolled out of bed in their sweatsuit attire, it is in fact the person that's made that notable first impression of looking smartly put together – not overdone or showy, but clean, sharp, and like they care about the trip.

You never know who you're going to see (or not see) in an airport. A story comes to mind that happened only a couple months ago when I got a note through Facebook, (yes facebook.com, it took me a long time to get there, but now I'm a little hooked), from a man I went to high school with. Now, I don't think I've seen him since high school but apparently he's seen me, in an airport, on the way to Minnesota, (which was only 1/3 of the leg of that trip btw, Oy Vey!). I immediately panicked and thought, "What could I have looked like at 7am?!" And after that initial reaction I felt rest assured that I could feel confident that bags under the eyes aside, at least I know I was wearing my uniform (which I'll describe below), that is in fact, respectable.

The whole process of making a trip becomes a little more special (or tolerable), when you treat it that way. I must say there's something nice about walking through the airport feeling put together, and trust me when I say you'll feel a little more confident and a little more excited about what's to come at the end of the journey if you are. There's also the importance of that greatly-anticipated greeting of your best friend/sister/husband/business partner; you want that first impression you make post-flight is a good one. Bottom-line the way you present yourself at that moment is often a really important one in whatever social situation you're in, why not put a little extra effort forth in how you look to show that you care?

Here is my recommendation for a comfortable, yet put-together look for travel:
Denim. These would be preferably ones with stretch, it will make the 3  hours while you're stationary that much nicer.

Layers, and make them black. I always start off with a tank, from there I'll usually layer a black v-neck or a black zip-up cashmere cardigan sweater, all 3 of which you can find at www.j.crew.com. The outerwear I choose is usually based on my arrival city: NYC – black trench, Minneapolis – puffer vest.

Flats. I've tried to do heels, but only "maybe" once has that worked and it was on an hour flight down to LA; let's just say I wouldn't recommend it unless George Clooney is on the receiving end ;). A cute or distinctive pair of skimmers or a classic pair of loafers will never let you down in style or in comfort and there are about a million on awaiting your purchase.

A little bit of bling. And when I say "bling", I mean choose your poison here. For me it's my tried and true faux diamond studs, my oversized silver Omega watch and my Helen Ficalora charm necklace (www.helenficalora.com). To me those items say I'm playing it understated/flight appropriate yet I know what I'm doing when it comes to fashion. To others a great statement piece is the best way to go. A killer pair of glasses, a fantastic scarf, a cool hat; all of these will get you noticed and if they're well-chosen will hopefully get you that upgrade!

Jennifer Bakken is a San Francisco based wardrobe consultant. For more information: cabinetdenvie.com.