Dressing For Business Travel

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Make your wardrobe last longer and be more versatile by following the fashion mantra “accessorize, accessorize, accessorize.” Women have much more choice in this area than men do, of course, but even guys can create the illusion of wearing a new outfit just by swapping out ties and pocket squares. One warning about accessories, though: They, too, must be multifunctional. Toting a pair of shoes or boots or a piece of jewelry that can be worn with only one outfit defeats the purpose.

If you have to choose, taking too little is better than taking too much on the road. Travelers forget that their trip attire is not restricted to what is packed in their suitcases. In dire circumstances, you can hit a local shop for an additional garment or accessory. Your hotel’s concierge probably knows all the best stores, which ones are open late and, in a crisis situation, whom to call for a last-minute purchase. And don’t forget that any good hotel can manage same-day laundry and dry cleaning. There’s no reason to not recycle shirts, blouses, slacks, jackets, and undergarments on a longer trip. Lugging around dirty laundry is, needless to say, counterproductive.

One final note: If you’re traversing regions with opposite climates on a business trip—say, attending a conference at a beach resort and then heading to a sales call in the snow belt—don’t pack different sets of clothes. Use FedEx or U.P.S. to ship meteorologically appropriate attire directly to your final destination. And send your other outfits home when you no longer need them.

The Fine Print
All the safety experts I know say airplane passengers should wear clothing made of natural fibers. Man-made fabrics could literally melt onto your skin if exposed to the intense heat of an onboard fire.

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