I am the same way, @mamaduck ! I must have read the same book. Cotton and sneakers for the plane ride-safety first. By the way, I have one dd who wears a lot of summer dresses and really pays attention to what she wears and another dd who would live in flannel shirts and sweat pants if she could get a way with it.
S is living in Boston now and told me that no guys except college students were shorts.
His work place (a big multi-national company) dress code is very casual and most people were jeans - even the CEO (a women) dresses that casually. This is a company with about 2000 people just at their corp. headquarters. I was surprised when he told me it was that casual as I assumed it would be more like khaki pants w/ button down shirt.
I love Aquatalia by Marvin K. Boots. I live in a cold climate and have very poor circulation. So I’m in boots nine months out of the year. Their boots are waterproof, light, and warm on the coldest days. The best part is you can also where them indoors for hours in total comfort. No overheating.
The prices are crazy, but they are worth every penny for long walks in NYC or Chicago winters.
I had also heard that about airplane travel. I think the woman who had the bad experience had it back in the day of pantyhose and they were quite dangerous. With airplanes, I would never wear just shorts. You never know how hot or cold it might get in there. If you bring a little jacket, you can always roll it up and support your lower back with it but if you’re cold, you’re cold for a long time!
Also, if you’re lucky and they’re overbooked and giving out free upgrades to accommodate everyone, they’re less likely to pick schleppo to go into first class.
Airplanes are germ factories. Petri dishes with wings. I am not a germaphobe, but I would not want my bare skin to touch the seat… and I change into different clothes and then wash my plane outfit as soon as I get a chance. When we fly to HI, I pack shorts in my carryon and change into them at the airport.
Re #723
Airlines likely select people for free upgrades by frequent flyer status most of the time.
“Airlines likely select people for free upgrades by frequent flyer status most of the time”
Agreed. They aren’t choosing you because you look good., but by ff status, price of your ticket, and if you had a misconnect, there may be more. But they aren’t picking you because you look snazzy.
“Airplanes are germ factories. Petri dishes with wings. I am not a germaphobe, but I would not want my bare skin to touch the seat… and I change into different clothes and then wash my plane outfit as soon as I get a chance. When we fly to HI, I pack shorts in my carryon and change into them at the airport.”
For sure. I just get the heebie jeebies when I think of something crawling up into my shorts. I won’t wear sandals either, I want to cover up what I can. In fact, if it’s not too hot, I also wear a light jacket.
Is an airplane necessarily more of a germ factory than other places where people gather?
@sseamom, I can’t wear Danskos either. In addition a really weird thing happened to one of them in my closet - got completely covered with a grey scum like mold. No other shoe in the closet was affected. Weird. I used to wear clogs in college, but the Danskos were unbelievably painful.
ucbalumnus- I do believe an airplane is more of a germ factory. It is a very contained space where a passenger might be sleeping, drooling, eating, whatever…in a small seat. There is marginal air circulation (at least in my opinion), and a passenger isn’t likely to forego his or her flight due to a cold or minor illness.
“Also, if you’re lucky and they’re overbooked and giving out free upgrades to accommodate everyone,”
This was true in the olden days, but nowadays they’re going to go straight to their frequent flier lists to pull people for upgrades. As they absolutely should.
Airplanes, like gyms, are places I like to cover up in. I shower when I leave.
“ucbalumnus- I do believe an airplane is more of a germ factory. It is a very contained space where a passenger might be sleeping, drooling, eating, whatever…in a small seat. There is marginal air circulation (at least in my opinion), and a passenger isn’t likely to forego his or her flight due to a cold or minor illness.”
I agree. That recirculated air in a confined metal tube is kind of gross, when you think of it. Most places have more airflow, plus the fact that you may be confined in there longer than most public spaces. Consider that people could be coming from all over the world, and who knows what you could pick up?
The only safe thing to do is to drink plenty of alcohol when you’re flying. Keeps those germs at bay. 
Looks like we are way off topic… Another place I cover up more than some is the gym. I always wear pants below my knees, and although I will go sleeveless, I like my back to be covered. I use the machines, and I just feel a little better having something between me and the last person’s sweat. I also put a little towel wear my head will be resting.
I read that on a plane that the cleanest air is the stuff coming out that adjustable vent over your seat. That’s because there are very efficient filters in the air circulation system, so bacteria and hopefully viruses get filtered out before being returned. That’s as opposed to the random air floating about the cabin that’s just been breathed in and out by your fellow passengers. The recommendation was to open your air vent to make that your primary air source. Makes sense and that’s what I’ve been doing the past year or two even when it’s a bit chilly in the cabin.
Oh, and the same article said the germiest places are the seat pocket and the tray table. I used to stash my book/iPad/kindle in the pocket, but now I avoid it like the plague.
That is regionally different from out here. Since this thread brought it up, I made a recent observation at dinner time at a sit down restaurant. Lots of men and women (who did not appear to be of traditional college student age) were wearing shorts, including athletic shorts (the men’s shorts were of the longer length, while many of the women’s shorts were of the very short length). Some were wearing sleeveless athletic shirts as well.
We’re not making even comparisons.
"Since this thread brought it up, I made a recent observation at dinner time at a sit down restaurant. "
All sit down restaurants are not the same. There are diners and there are casual restaurants and there are nicer restaurants.
We were in a nice restaurant in Savannah not too long ago…I was really surprised how casually everyone was dressed. and don’t get me started on grown men wearing baseball caps indoors. TAKE IT OFF! :))
I am guilty of a “violation” similar to pizzagirl’s situation with her daughter. After a hot, sweaty run yesterday I changed into a pretty short Lulu running skirt. I wore it to drop off a rental car at the local agency. H wanted to stop and grab some lunch, so I was in a very casual (order at the counter) Indian restaurant in my athletic skirt and recovery flip flops. I felt all the eyes of the posters on this thread on me! I don’t think anyone really cared…