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What to Wear on Long Flights, According to a Globetrotting Travel Writer

December 11, 2016 by Wendy Toth Leave a Comment

In this installment of “What’s Your Power Suit?” travel writer, Lavanya Sunkara, shares what to wear on long flights, especially if you have something important to say.

travel writer Lavanya Sunkara on what to wear on long flights

PS: Tell us about yourself and your work.

LS: My love of animals and adventure has taken me all around the globe, from islands of the Galapagos, to the wilds of Australia; I am a writer, animal lover, and traveler, who loves flying to faraway destinations as much as volunteering at a local shelter, and writing about issues that I care about.

In the past decade, I camped in Serengeti, spotted the critically endangered black rhino, cared for orphaned wallabies in Queensland, and volunteered with Earthwatch in Costa Rica to safeguard whales and dolphins in Osa Peninsula.

I live in New York where I have a corporate day job, but enjoy spending time outdoors with my adopted dog on weekends. I am passionate about finding ways to make the world a better place, either by reporting on causes close to my heart or donating/volunteering to local rescue groups. I recently became a homeowner and I learned that I love decorating, and cooking vegan meals, which I share on my instagram page @spicy__vegan.

I share my stories and published articles on www.nature-traveler.com in the hopes of getting others to embark on similar journeys.

PS: Do you have an outfit, item of clothing, or accessory (past or present), that holds some superpower for you when it comes to travel?

LS: As a frequent traveler, I spend a lot of time in airports and on planes, where I encounter a lot of people. Early on, I realized that this could be a great platform to share my views and spread the word about my favorite animal rescue organizations. The more people who see me, the more likely those places get attention. So, I wear comfy t-shirts bearing the logos of organizations I care deeply about.

My go-to shirts when flying are from the Woodstock Farm Animal Sanctuary in Upstate, New York, which is home to 300 rescued animals. I love being a walking billboard for farm animals.

I am proud of my values and my affiliations, and wearing an outfit with a message makes me feel empowered, knowing that I am always doing something, albeit on a small scale, to affect change. I hope that on some level people are are being exposed to something they don’t normally see, and that’s all I can hope for, especially as a writer who always tries to spread the word.

Of course, it’d be great if people seemed as happy to see those shirts as they did when I wore my “Team Hillary” shirt, but I believe that day will come.

PS: What do your favorite cause-based T-shirts have in common?

LS: The shirts are super comfortable, as they are 100% cotton, and have cool slogans like “Eat Beans, Not Beings,” and “Friend Not Food”. These are eye-catching and make folks think about the choices they make. At least I hope they do!

travel writer Lavanya Sunkara in cause-based T-Shirt she wears on long flights

PS: Where did you get your Woodstock Farm Animal Sanctuary Shirts?

LS: I go to the Woodstock Farm Animal Sanctuary at least once a year. I usually get some friends together, and we drive up to the Sanctuary to meet with the lovely pigs, cows, sheep, chickens, and goats that call it home.

PS: Why is visiting in person important to you?

LS: Visiting the Sanctuary is a wonderful experience and everyone comes away feeling good to have spent time with such thoughtful, sentient beings. It has become a ritual to purchase t-shirts at their onsite store every year. The proceeds benefit the rescue and I get to wear cool shirts.

PS: What do you pair your t-shirts with on long flights?

LS: My go to outfit for what to wear on long flights is a t-shirt from WFAS or other animal organizations such as Proud Spirit Horse Sanctuary or Best Friends Animal Society, combined with comfortable pants and a cardigan (for when it gets cold on the plane).

PS: Did this cause-based approach inform your overall sense of style and dressing for travel?

LS: Absolutely. Most of the shirts I wear outside of my office involve some sort of a message. It seems a big chunk of the money I spend on clothing goes towards animal organizations, but that’s another way of giving back. They get money and I get great apparel. It’s a win, win!

PS: Do you have any other rules for what to wear on long flights, travel, or packing that you’d like to share?

LS: The best advice I can offer is to always pack light. I traveled through East Africa and Australia with just one backpack. Traveling light allows one to be independant and hassle free when getting on busses, trains and cabs.

My must-haves are always:

  • a pair of jeans
  • hiking pants
  • a cardigan
  • shirts
  • blouses
  • plenty of dresses
  • and definitely a hat or two, another opportunity to showcase my beliefs.

I offer ten of my tested fashion tips here on my blog post, “Ten Travel Fashion Tips”.

You can see Woodstock Farm Animal Sanctuary’s latest apparel here: https://woodstock-sanctuary.myshopify.com/collections/adults

Like this post? Get PowerSuiting’s FREE 3-page PDF sharing 15 ways to zen your closet, right to your inbox!

Check out our Comfy Alternative to Jeans, too!

Filed Under: Style, What to Wear, What's Your Power Suit? Tagged With: interview

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