Better Than Sneakers—the Shoe Trend Women in Their 40s Are Wearing With Jeans at the Cannes Airport
The best airport for style-watching.
Figuring out the best shoes to wear at the airport is one of the oldest and most heavily unsolved cases in fashion. You want comfort, obviously, but also a shoe style that's easy to remove and put back on after security. The latter is why I've never quite understood why everyone insists on wearing sneakers to travel. They're annoying to remove and take forever to unlace and relace. And don't get me started on when the laces come undone while you're speeding to your gate. It's a disaster waiting to happen. Suffice to say, I'm always on the lookout for good airport outfits to steer my footwear choices in the right direction, and Cannes Airport is my top choice for style-watching, particularly during the Cannes Film Festival. It's where all the chicest people in art, film, sports, and fashion find themselves this time of year, and every last one of them flies in through one place. No wonder I immediately solved my "what shoes to wear to the airport with jeans" predicament after perusing images taken in the arrivals department this week. Naturally, Diane Kruger, a regular at the festival, was responsible.
Kruger, one of the most consistently best dressed attendees of the Cannes Film Festival, arrived at the airport on Tuesday, flying in a casual yet polished travel outfit consisting of a baggy white T-shirt and baseball cap paired with wide-leg black jeans and a pair of brown suede boots by Isabel Marant with a scrunched-down look that made them feel effortless, cool, and comfortable. Never opt for too-tight shoes while flying. They're terrible for circulation. The 49-year-old actress finished off the look with sunglasses and a white Givenchy Voyou Bucket Bag.
On Diane Kruger: Givenchy Small Voyou Bucket Bag ($1990); Isabel Marant Edrik Gathered Perforated Suede Ankle Boots ($1650)
The soft suede and slouchy fit of her boots are really what make them such a smart choice for flying. Paired with loose, equally roomy black jeans, Kruger's boots are easily removable, and the 45-millimeter heel adds elevation without disrupting the shoe's feel. The pointed shape also adds a sense of formality, dressing up her low-maintenance T-shirt-and-jeans pairing and making her look ready for any occasion upon arrival in Cannes—not like she just got off a long flight. Can sneakers do that?
In my experience, the answer is no, so if looking as polished as a Cannes Film Festival attendee arriving in the South of France while you fly off on your Euro-summer vacation this year is the goal, put down your sneakers. A pair of loose black jeans and some suede boots will always be the smarter choice.
Shop Diane Kruger's Airport Outfit
Shop Black Jeans and Suede Boots
Didn't you hear? H&M's at Nordstrom now, and everything is so good.

Eliza Huber is currently the Associate Editorial Director at Who What Wear. She joined the company in 2021 as a fashion editor after starting her career as a writer at Refinery29, where she worked for four years. During her time at WWW, she launched Go Sports, the publication's sports vertical, and published four (and counting) quarterly issues tied to the WNBA, Formula One, and more. She also created two franchises, Let's Get a Room and Ways to Wear; profiled Dakota Fanning, Diane Kruger, Katie Holmes, Gracie Abrams, and Sabrina Carpenter for WWW's monthly cover features; and reported on new seasonal trends, up-and-coming designers, and celebrity style.