The Art of Business Travel’s essential guide to packing for a business trip. 

Luggage
No matter where you’re going or for how long, you’ll need to have the right bag – or rather, two. You’ll want a smaller structured tote as a carry on and daily purse, and a bigger wheeled bag for clothes, whether you check it in or not.

Both bags should be sturdy, roomy and easy to travel with, while durable materials will hold up better to life on the road.

You won’t go wrong with the Longchamp Le Pliage as your handbag/carry on – there’s a reason the bag is a perennial favourite. The roomy interior is big enough to fit all your essentials – phone, charger, wallet, makeup bag – as well as your laptop and any documents you might need to carry. Best of all, the spacious bag can go from day to night, is available in a wide range of colours, and can be folded down and thrown into your check-in bag if needed.

The size and accoutrements of your check-in bag really depends on the length of your trip, but generally speaking, a strong, cabin-size wheeled case will be big enough to hold everything you need, including several pairs of shoes and your toiletry bag. Try Bric’s Bellagio series or the Ted Baker Packit.

Travel Outfit
While travelling, you’ll want an outfit that’s comfortable yet presentable. Start with a simple shift dress, or dark jeans and shirt, and top off your look with a goes-with-anything black blazer. Once on the plane, ask a flight attendant to hang your blazer up so you’ll land at your destination looking polished. The dress or jeans and shirt will do double duty during your trip.

Wardrobe
When it comes to packing for a business trip, the trick is opting for classic, versatile pieces that you know work well with each other, meaning you’ll end up carrying less and be ready for any situation. Neutral colours are best – grey, navy, white, black – as they will usually go with anything and are suitable for any occasion.

Dresses are a great choice because they’re effortlessly elegant, can be styled differently with appropriate accessories, whether it’s heels for the evening or a blazer for a meeting. If you’re going to pack separates, – skirts or pants, and shirts – make sure each piece works with several others, and are capable of going from informal meetings to after-hours fun.

Be sure to think about the weather. If you’re headed somewhere cold, breezier fabrics like silk might be more comfortable, while colder climes warrant heavier materials, such as cashmere, along with coats and scarves.

Footwear
How many shoes you take really comes down to your own preferences and habits. A pair of black mid-heel pumps are always appropriate, easy to slip on and off at airport security, and if you can handle wearing them anywhere and everywhere, then they may be the only pair you need.

But most of us will also need at least one or two other pairs. A pair of flats, like ballet flats or sandals, are a good choice for warm-weather casual wear; low-heeled boots are essential if you’re heading somewhere cold; and wedges in a dark colour and heavier material, like leather, are suitable for most occassions.

Tips
1. When packing, put the heaviest items at the bottom and lightest at the top – your clothes will wrinkle less in transit.
2. Roll your clothes when packing – not only does this save space, but it’ll help prevent wrinkles, too.
3. Unpack as soon as you reach your hotel room – the longer they stay in your luggage, the worse they’ll look when you want to wear them.
4. Most hotel rooms have irons these days but in a pinch, hang your clothes on the back of the bathroom door while you take a hot shower – the steam will smooth out the worst of the creases.