How to Pack for: a Business Trip

A Sturdy Garment Bag

No matter what your job is, chances are if you’re travelling on business, you’re going to need something professional to wear. Whether that’s a full suit and tie ensemble or just an elevated pair of trousers and a button-up, any clothes you want to keep in good condition ahead of your upcoming meetings are best stowed away in a garment bag.

Use the complimentary one you’ll have received from the shop you purchase your last tailored garment from if you must, but invest in a dedicated leather or canvas garment bag when you can – it makes the world of difference in performance let alone in the looks department.

A Fresh Set of Delicates

There are a lot of variables when it comes to travel – between delays, layovers, unfamiliar weather patterns, and less-than-ideal dining experiences, predicting what's to come can prove a bit of a challenge. Because of this, we’ll advise you to pack a fresh set of socks and underwear into your carry-on or hand luggage when traveling.

In doing so, this provides you with the opportunity to feel instantly refreshed and rejuvenated without necessarily needing to change your entire outfit. Whether you’re enduring a tiresome airport layover, mid-way through a long-haul flight, finishing a particularly messy meal, or taking shelter from a surprise bout of rain, nothing feels more therapeutic than a fresh set of delicates.

Your Dopp Kit (and its Contents)

A dopp kit, otherwise known as a toiletries bag or wash bag, is a travel essential no matter where you’re heading to or why. However, when the matter of appearing bright, sprightly, and alert becomes more than just business of your own, carrying a dopp kit (and everything in it) is of paramount importance.

Along with the basics – things like a toothbrush, toothpaste, antiperspirant, etc. – we never neglect including a few game-changing grooming items, including our signature scent, an oil-free moisturizer, a luxurious sleeping mask, and our current favourite hair styling product.

A Cashmere Sweater

Cashmere is renowned for its softness and warmth, but the fabric’s phenomenal thermoregulatory qualities aren’t mentioned nearly as much as they deserve. Not only does cashmere have the ability to keep us warm during winter’s coldest days, it can also keep us cool during high summer heat thanks to the natural material’s ability to wick away perspiration and allow our skin to breathe.

Why does this make it a travel essential? We run into all sorts of different room temperatures and weather patterns when traveling. From frigid plane cabins to sweltering taxicabs to drafty train cars and more, a cashmere sweater is the best way to battle the elements while still looking smart in a professional setting.

A Classic Two-Piece Suit

Call us old-fashioned, but in our eyes, if someone’s paying your way for you to go and meet with them in-person on the account of mutual business, it’s always in your best interests to show them respect and consideration with what you’re wearing. And, while business setting uniforms have certainly become more casual in recent years, we still believe the best way to dress for an important meeting is in a suit.

Don’t feel the need to opt for anything overly intricate – a classic two-piece (jacket and trousers, for the uninitiated) navy blue or charcoal grey number is always a good bet. We prefer navy or charcoal because they’re dark in colour, which means they’re simultaneously formal enough for essentially any setting plus they’re adept at hiding the inevitable spills or dirty spots that come with travel.

A Few Versatile Button-Ups

Of course, to go along with your suit, you’re going to need a respectable button-up shirt to wear underneath. However, due to travel’s unpredictability and the unfamiliar weather patterns of your host destination, selecting just one shirt to wear with your suit can be a little risky.

We say: pack three – all in the same colour but in different weights and materials. One heavyweight shirt for over-air-conditioned offices, one lightweight shirt for impromptu beachside lunches, and one that falls somewhere in between the two.

A Well-Polished Pair of Leather Loafers

Leather loafers are perhaps the most versatile pairs of shoes one can own, and when it comes to traveling, the more components of your wardrobe that can flex between occasions, the better.

Leather loafers are exceptionally easy to dress up or down along with being almost effortless to slide on and off. That means that you not only have to pack (and carry) less, but you can navigate pesky airport security checks with ease when the ‘shoes off officers’ request you to walk through their magic doorways.

Once you’ve landed, you can wear your loafers with your suit to your most important meetings or dress them down with shorts and a polo while out enjoying a casual dinner. Talk about a win-win!