I made a major faux pas when going through airport security because I wore something which flags every single time – but I’m not the only one who has made this mistake…
I was told not to wear the items again(Image: Danielle Kate Wroe)
The next time you’re going to an airport, you may want to consider your outfit a little more carefully, as I was told to never wear one item again after making a faux pas. You’d probably assume it would be safe to wear a comfy but cute tracksuit to the airport, right? But I couldn’t have been more wrong.
I want to dress for a plane as I would for chilling at home – just a little more elevated, as I am out in public after all. I want to browse the books in WHSmith and buy three, as if I don’t already have seven in my hand luggage, without stressing that my skirt is riding up thanks to my backpack.
That’s why my Juicy Couture tracksuit is a must for flights – or so I thought it was before being ushered to one side and urged not to wear it again when going through security.
Of course, for maximum comfort, I paired it with my Uggs. Yes, I was flying to a hot country, but we were arriving at night, and the transfer had air conditioning, so it was fine.
We dropped our bags off and made our way to security, breathing a sigh of relief that the queue wasn’t long, despite the fact we’d accidentally booked a holiday during half term (our adults-only hotel was uncharacteristically cheap, and we didn’t ask questions).
Then we were told at security we could keep our jackets on and liquids in our bags, which is fantastic, but I’d already taken my jacket off and put it into the tray.
The person handling the trays then asked me: “Are your pants the same as this?” as they gestured to the diamante ‘Juicy’ on the back of my tracksuit top.
“Yes,” I said, as I turned around, and they could see it for themselves. They chuckled to themselves and said I’d definitely be getting stopped when I passed through the scanners.
Lo and behold, when I went through the scanner, something flagged, and it was my tracksuit. I was asked whether I had anything in my pocket, which I didn’t, and then I was sent for my shoes to be checked.
When I was walking away, the person working for security advised me not to wear my Juicy tracksuit to the airport again if I didn’t want to be stopped. I must admit, this isn’t the first time I’ve heard this advice, but it’s too comfy and cute.
To be honest, I’ve been stopped and searched to some extent at security every single time I go through – usually because of jewellery – so I think I would’ve set it off anyway. But I assumed there wasn’t any metal with the diamantes on the tracksuit and that it was all just plastic, but who knows.
Anyway, I really don’t mind being stopped at the airport when the person searching me is polite and friendly. I’ve definitely had some vile experiences with security staff at various airports across the world, but thankfully, when flying out of Manchester, they’re usually pretty jovial and are just there to do their jobs, rather than behave like jobsworths.
Someone on X referred to airport security as a “humiliation ritual,” and while I have been made to feel like this in the past, it’s definitely not commonplace.
Although I can’t lie, when waiting for security, I do get a little bit nervous to see how the person will treat me.
I’m not the only person who has experienced this at an airport, either. Several women have taken to X to share their experiences of wearing Juicy Couture diamante items at the airport.
One woman wrote: “My bedazzled Juicy Couture track pants set off the airport security scanner and I had to get a pat down and an explosives test.”
Someone else shared: “I went through airport security in my Juicy Couture pants, and the bum got flagged,” followed by a crying with laughter emoji.
Manchester Airport has been contacted for comment.
