The 1990s were the golden age of jet-set fashion. It was a sweet decade when travelers stopped wearing suits to fly, but designer sweatpants hadn’t yet become the norm, resulting in layover attire with real purpose and personality.
Luckily (and countless Instagram mood boards), the paparazzi were there to capture it all: 90s airport wear was born and etched into the halls of menswear. Think David Letterman in a double-breasted blazer and distressed chinos, Christian Slater in a coat paired with leather pants, or Wesley Snipes and his Beetlejuice-esque trousers.
While those halcyon days are long gone, occasionally a modern star surprises us with a truly standout airport look. Case in point: Rami Malek arrived at Tokyo’s Haneda airport this week to promote his new thriller, The Amateur, dressed like he was departing from LAX in 1995.
Malek’s look captures the key element of effortlessly chic airport wear: the perfect balance of comfort and style. He wore a distressed, cropped, boxy (and very ’90s) leather jacket, a style that’s become extremely popular in recent years. (It’s the same one he’s been wearing all week.) Malik finished the look with sleek black pants and Maison Margiela derbys, adding a touch of high fashion.
But most importantly, he mastered the dueling hallmarks of true airport celebrity style: layering and invisible accessories. Under the jacket was a brown hoodie, a knit sweater, and a striped button-down shirt, with a scarf draped over his shoulders. Like a true retro movie star, Malik topped off the look with sunglasses and a baseball cap, with the hood pulled over his head.
All those layers look cool, of course, but there’s an added practicality involved: Packing for a long trip becomes a breeze when you’re carrying the bulkiest items with you, like a heavy leather jacket, a chunky hoodie, and thick-soled derbys.
If you have to endure the awkwardness of today’s post-capitalist business travel, at least there’s one thing you can control: your outfit. A few tweaks can make a surprising difference to the modern airport staple, sweatpants. Take a cue from Rami Malek’s style: relaxed, casual, with a hint of fashion. In 2025, he’s managed to do the near-impossible: create a garment that’s both modern and classic, making it a distinct addition to the annals of 90s airport style.