India, June 4 -- Airport fashion sounds glamorous until you're six hours into a flight, the cabin feels freezing, your jeans are digging into your stomach, and your shirt looks like it lost a fight with your seatbelt. That's why frequent travellers often swear by one surprisingly practical wardrobe staple: the cotton kurta.

A good cotton kurta is breathable, comfortable to sit in for hours, easy to layer with a stole or jacket, and polished enough that you don't look like you rolled straight out of bed after landing. The trick is finding styles that maintain their shape, don't crease excessively, and still look put-together after spending half a day folded into an airplane seat.

If you're planning a long-haul trip this summer, these cot...