On Sunday March 26, activist Shannon Watts, founder of Moms Demand Action, witnessed a United Airlines gate agent prevent two teen girls from boarding a flight based on what they were wearing. Had they shown up barefoot? In T-shirts emblazoned with racist slogans? Nope, the young ladies were wearing what just about every rational, self-loving female wears when faced with the prospect of a cramped, prolonged aerial journey — leggings. Sadly for United, an indignant Watts decided to share the airline’s seemingly arbitrary and sexist dress code with her ample Twitter following.
1) A @united gate agent isn’t letting girls in leggings get on flight from Denver to Minneapolis because spandex is not allowed?
— Shannon Watts (@shannonrwatts) March 26, 2017
2) She’s forcing them to change or put dresses on over leggings or they can’t board. Since when does @united police women’s clothing?
— Shannon Watts (@shannonrwatts) March 26, 2017
3) Gate agent for flt 215 at 7:55. Said she doesn’t make the rules, just follows them. I guess @united not letting women wear athletic wear?
— Shannon Watts (@shannonrwatts) March 26, 2017
.@united They just boarded after being forced to change or put dresses on over the top of their clothing. Is this your policy?
— Shannon Watts (@shannonrwatts) March 26, 2017
.@united Two other girls were not allowed on flight.
— Shannon Watts (@shannonrwatts) March 26, 2017
Celebrities including Chrissy Teigen, Patricia Arquette and Sarah Silverman mirrored Watts’ incredulity. Teigen noted that (unsurprisingly) no United agent has ever questioned her choice of airport attire, in spite of the fact that leggings fit Teigen a lot differently than they do most teen girls/humans.
I have flown united before with literally no pants on. Just a top as a dress. Next time I will wear only jeans and a scarf.
— christine teigen (@chrissyteigen) March 26, 2017
@united Why aren’t you allowing girls to wear leggings on flights? Who is your gate agent policing girls clothing?
— Patricia Arquette (@PattyArquette) March 26, 2017
Hey @united I fly a LOT. About to go on tour all April and changing all my @united flights to other airlines
— Sarah Silverman (@SarahKSilverman) March 26, 2017
Meanwhile, the poor soul running United’s Twitter attempted to save face. Apparently, the teens in question were “pass riders,” related to United Airlines employees, flying for free and therefore subject to a more stringent dress code than paying fliers, as they’re ambassadors for the airline. In principle, we understand. Still, these were 10-year-olds. Wearing leggings. The true PR debacle resulted not from their attire, but from United’s sexist treatment of its employee’s children.
The passengers this morning were United pass riders who were not in compliance with our dress code policy for company benefit travel.
— United (@united) March 26, 2017
To our customers…your leggings are welcome! Learn more about our company’s pass travel privilege: https://t.co/5e3euG1H9G.
— United (@united) March 27, 2017
We think United messed up on two counts: the first being its outdated, gendered dress code, the second being the fact that it commanded the news cycle (and the energies of four very talented, influential women) at a time when we’ve all got much bigger fish to fry. So that you may walk away from this article having learned some sort of useful sartorial lesson, click through the slideshow above for 10 times celebrities killed the whole leggings-as-airport-clothes look. Disclaimer: They’re not their usual, high-shine selves — making their styling tips all the more transferrable.
[ How to Master a Street Style-Worthy Leggings Look ]
Celebs in Leggings at Airport
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Bella Hadid
Paired with a bomber jacket, a sleek snapback and patent sneaks, these may as well be jeans.
Image: Marc Piasecki/GC Images
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Chloe Grace Moretz
Forgo basic black, opt for a printed accessory that distracts onlookers — the louder the better.
Image: Barcroft Images/Barcroft Media via Getty Images
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Jasmine Tookes
Colorful, cheery outerwear and fashionable sunnies are a must.
Image: wowcelebritytv/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images
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Kendall Jenner
Break up a monochrome outfit with a cozy, Monsters, Inc. fur.
Image: gotpap/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images
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Lily Rose Depp
Go high-low — rock a designer bag and laid-back basketball shoes.
Image: starzfly/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images
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Miranda Kerr
Balance out a leg-hugging silhouette with a loose crop and structured coat.
Image: gotpap/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images
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Willow Smith
Imagine anyone, let alone a United Airlines gate agent, trying to dictate what Willow Smith wears? Per the infinitely cool teen, accessorize statement leggings with a soulful tune or informative podcast.
Image: GVK/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images
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Zendaya
Oversized printed hoodies are black leggings' best friends.
Image: starzfly/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images
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Hailey Baldwin
Cast your jacket off your shoulder and dress up your look with velvet ankle boots.
Image: starzfly/Bauer-Griffin/GC Image
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Chrissy Teigen
Knee-high leather boots and a cropped jacket will make your all-black, predominately cotton ensemble appear more thoughtful than it actually is.
Image: GVK/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images
