Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy sparked a conversation on Monday at Newark Liberty International Airport when he urged U.S. flyers to ditch their slippers and pajamas and opt for more polished outfits.
While many passengers were amused, a few—like 48‑year‑old traveler Tamaya Garcia—thanked him for the reminder. “I think it’s great advice, because when you feel good about how you look, you’re treated better and you treat people better,” Garcia told reporters, noting that she’d already arrived at JFK in a neat wool coat, white bodysuit, cashmere pants and Nike shoes.
The idea of stepping up one’s style in the airport struck a chord among several other flyers. Samantha, a resident of San Francisco, said she made an effort to arrive at New York for Thanksgiving in a “cute outfit,” with makeup, tidy hair, and a polished look—especially because she didn’t want her 16‑year‑old daughter to appear disheveled on a return flight. “She wanted to go to the airport without her hair washed, no make‑up, literal pajama pants, and a hooded pullover. And I said, ‘No, absolutely not!’”
21‑year‑old University of Toledo senior Melanie Cox agreed. After flying from Michigan, she headed to NYC in a matching White Fox ensemble, saying, “People should dress up for the airport, it’s fun. I like waking up early, getting myself ready. It’s a long day and I like to feel put together — and you really never know who you’re going to meet.”
Tommy and Kim Scarpati from Monmouth County, New Jersey, brought their two daughters in vivid pink sweaters emblazoned with their initials. Kim noted, “You’re not moving into the airport,” and that she would have worn a dress if not for “tactical clothing” needed for traveling with toddlers. “I’m a girly girl,” she added, explaining that she enjoys feeling feminine and pretty while in flight.
An unnamed traveler named Elizabeth, heading to Florida for Thanksgiving with her family, said she often dressed in simple white pants and a tan sweater. “I always dress like this. My father used to only fly with a jacket,” she said, adding that even on uncomfortable long flights she makes an effort to look coordinated.
Brooklyn native Jillian Carter, on a Thursday from JFK to Atlanta, was an example of a polished look: all‑black dress pants, blouse, leather jacket and silver sneakers. “My mom told me it’s important to look your best when you’re out and about, especially at the airport,” she said. “You never know who you’re gonna see, who you’re gonna meet—comfy is my go‑to, it doesn’t hurt to put a little effort into it.”
Still, not everyone welcomed Duffy’s plea. Mashenka “Dip” Clapp, 28, slammed the secretary’s advice, suggesting he “touch grass” and that he’d “lost the plot.” “He needs to mind his own business and let people be comfortable and find their own right way to do things that work for them and their lifestyle,” she told the paper, adding that for long international flights the logic of wearing pajamas makes sense.
Prince Green, bound for the Dominican Republic to run a coffee shop, preferred a relaxed style: a black tee, maroon hoodie, gray sweatpants, black socks and slippers. He said, “I’m happy with the way I look. It’s super comfortable.
I don’t have to take my belt off, untie my shoes — it’s very quick and comfortable,” calling himself a “simple guy.” When asked about Duffy’s suggestion, he replied, “he has his opinion on how things should be, and I respect that. But I have mine, too. This is how I usually travel, simple and light — got some shorts, some t‑shirts,” before heading out with his backpack.
Garcia echoed that while she appreciated the secretary’s point, many find it hard to be consistently presentable. “I think we should be civil on our own accord. We shouldn’t have someone tell us that. I think that’s just basic respect and cleanliness,” she said, noting that adding a little thought to one’s travel wardrobe could yield unexpected rewards. She chuckled, “I told my daughter, ‘I’m a single mom. I might meet my husband on a plane.’”
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