Wear It Well—And More Than Once
March 2008
Quick Quips
Plastic bags, iPods and sweats. That’s the gist of what people are packing for trips these days.
Briggs & Riley, a leading luggage manufacturer, reached out to a group of their customers who travel frequently for events and asked them what packing habits work for them. The responses were based on convenience and comfort—Nobody wants to schlep more weight than necessary, and at the end of the day, it’s the comforts of home that make business travel a little more enjoyable.
As several meeting planners will attest, the first step in successful packing is familiarizing yourself with the destination and agenda. Check the weather forecast. This seems like an obvious step, but skipping it can put a damper on your trip. Samantha Mittler, an events planner for Sipco said, “No one would like to be heading to Florida, pack nothing but shorts and get there to realize they are having a cold front.”
Like that old Christmas song goes, making a list, checking it twice allows you to review your travel schedule and coordinate clothing with activities. Transitioning from a business luncheon to an evening cocktail gathering usually requires a change of shoes or a different jacket. Clayton Clavette, a real estate developer and events planner in Miami, goes a little further than most—he forms his list from a “photo log” he created of his wardrobe. “When I’m ill-prepared, I often find the trip chaotic and unpleasant, so I have created a rather elaborate but detailed checklist for my business travel,” he said. Remember to put the list into your suitcase before you zip it up.
Many planners said that choosing clothing in versatile colors when packing was most beneficial to saving space—and you can wear things more than once. “On my last trip, I packed nothing but black, white and gray outfits. So I only had to bring two pairs of shoes,” Mittler said. Sandy Bartow, a planner located in St. Augustine, Fla., said packing basic colors saves her time as well as space. “I generally choose a color scheme. This trip is black and light blue, and then I do mix-and-match—I can pack in less than 45 minutes.”
Planners also mentioned that bringing the comforts of home made their stays better. “I always pack a pair of sweats or yoga pants, so that I’m sure to have something comfy to relax in,” said Susan Stier, chief meeting planner at Samsung. Another business traveler says he tries to make the road feel as much like home as possible by bringing a couple of pictures of his wife and daughter. “My desk—here in Minneapolis today—looks just like my desk at home or my desk in New York or San Francisco.”
In addition to comfy sweat pants and family photos as travel must-haves, many planners raved about their trusty iPods. “I know that at the end of the day I can escape into my own little world, listen to my own music and just surf the Internet for anything not work-related,” Sipco’s Samantha Mittler said.
Fortunately, iPods are small items, but what about the bulky stuff? How you place items in your luggage is just as important as what you bring. Without the proper technique, packing your favorite outfits can be like squeezing into your fresh-out-of-the-dryer jeans. Brian Givens, meeting planner for First Wives World, recommended compacting. “Roll your clothes instead of folding them,” he said. “Also put socks, ties and belts inside your shoes; it saves room”—the thing you need most in your bag.
