The Travel Slipper

For many travelers, whether you fly first, business, or economy, there comes a time when you decide to elevate your travel game. For many, it may start with the simple addition of a neck pillow, eye mask, cashmere pillow cover, or a simple pouch of goods to throw into your travel bag. One often overlooked piece, however, is footwear. While many choose to reject the idea of dressing up for transport, I grew up in a family where dressing for the journey was the first step in the holiday. Even at 10 years old, I remember my dad advising me on my “airport look,” ensuring I looked the part. In my teenage years I grew to reject this idea, insisting on leggings, sneakers, and a baggy hoodie. However, with my transition into early adulthood, I have now grown to understand the importance of style whilst traveling, and the crucial intersection between comfort and looking good. 

This brings me to the travel slipper… a genius concept, but one so often overlooked in favor of compression socks and those free first/business class plane slip-ons. And so I’ve put together the perfect list of packable, discreet, versatile and incredibly chic travel slippers—at the intersection of looking like a well-traveled old man and an elegant European woman—to keep in mind for your next journey, whether it be a long-haul flight, island ferry, or hotel room.

Charvet Travel Slipper

Voila! The classic: the Charvet Travel Slipper with accompanying pouch. I don’t have much to say about this besides the fact that it is indeed the OG, and it is pretty perfect. Despite its higher online price point ($545) and having to travel to the store in Paris to try it on, you get what you are paying for with incredible quality, a beautiful product, and a piece from a Parisian heritage brand worth bragging about. (Pro-tip: there are a few great options selling on eBay for a lower price, with more varied and archival color options!)

Aimé Leon Dore Leather Travel Slipper

For a trendier and more streetwear-inclined traveler, there’s the newly released Aimé Leon Dore Leather Travel Slipper. Coming in under the Charvet Travel Slipper at $425, this pair comes in an incredibly stylish and practical zipped pouch, rendering them almost flat when stowed away. While less classic in theory, this slipper is a great reinterpretation of the timeless version in 100% Italian leather, and comes in a great red, black and olive. 

Russell and Bromley Mule Slipper

Despite not coming in a pouch like the Charvet and ALD slippers, these Russell and Bromley Mules share a striking similarity to the Charvet Travel Slippers, at a lower price tag (£95). They come in navy and black, and only in men’s sizes, but the smallest—a UK 7 (EU 41)—may be a suitable choice for those with smaller feet.

House of Bruar Leather Mule

These Leather Mules by House of Bruar, a Scottish Heritage Brand, are another great Charvet alternative at only £65, and come in an array of colors. Once again they are made only in Men’s UK sizing, but due to the open back, they appear to be quite forgiving. They are super chic and 100% leather. Another extremely similar alternative with more sizes are these Herring Gavin Slippers (I personally love the Burgundy pair), and the Herring Baronet Slippers, both made in Britain. 

Church’s Air Travel Slipper

These Church’s Air Travel Slippers come with a carrier pouch (not pictured), and are designed to pack flat to fit in your bag. They are incredibly chic, with a flatter, more slipper-like sole than the other mules, and the classic Church’s crest stamped onto the bottom. Their Nappa Leather Slipper has a more similar shape to the Charvet, although marketed as a house shoe, it has a quilted insole and a softer sole. Both slippers come at a similar price point to the Charvet Travel Slipper—which, being Church’s, is arguably justifiable.

Chaleur Matteo Slipper Travel Set

The Matteo Slipper Travel Set from Chaleur is a close copy of the Charvet version, coming in a leather pouch and at a lower price point of £65. You sacrifice a bit of quality as the slipper is not 100% leather, but this is still an incredibly practical and elegant option.

Derek Rose Mule Slippers

These men’s Calfskin Leather Mule Slippers are another great option, with a rounder toe and suede sole coming in at £190—a small price to pay for these slippers, which are handmade at the company’s family-owned workshop in England. While maybe not as practical as the others, as they’re more as an indoor slipper, these Derek Rose Mule Shearling Slippers are very cozy, maybe best for a long-haul flight in a freezing airplane cabin. These also come in both men’s and women’s sizing and cost £180.