A: Men:  You can get away with two suits, one in navy blue and one in either grey or black. If you have a penchant for navy blue, two suits in different styles or patterns will give you sufficient variety.   

A: Change your look with shirts and ties. For a C-level audience, you could opt for all white shirts; or a combination of white shirts, French blue shirts and blue and white striped shirts. Take along six ties, so you will have a variety of looks (and a spare tie for emergency).

A: Remember, stripes are mostly for daytime business events, and small patterns are more appropriate for evening events. For informal occasions, wear your navy blue trousers with your striped shirt or your French blue shirt.

Tip: Add a pair of casual shoes.

Women, Here’s what I do: In the winter, I take one pair of black pants and one skirt, and then I wear jackets in different colors with them.

A: Wear a comfortable pair of black pants on the airplane; they will serve as a backup in case something should happen to your other black pants. Wear your most comfortable and wrinkle-free jacket on the flight.

A: You will need only two pairs of shoes: heels for a more formal look with the skirt, and pant shoes with a lower heel for comfort.

Tip: Never wear pant shoes with a skirt; they make your feet look large and clumsy.

A: Yes. Take along a variety of jewelry and other accessories so that you look distinctive.

TIP:  For dressy events in the evening, wear your “little black suit” and dress it up with a dazzling shell underneath the jacket and add dramatic earrings or other accessories.

A: Men:  You only need change to tropical weight suits in hot climates. Otherwise, in most of the country, you can wear your lightweight wool suits. In the Deep South you can wear a tan suit for less formal occasions.

Women:  In the summer, I often wear navy blue and white in order to be efficient. I take two navy blue pantsuits, one pair of white pants and two white jackets. I wear the white pants with a white jacket and add lots of dramatic white accessories for a classic “all white” look. I also wear the white pants with one of the navy jackets, because it has white trim on the jacket, so it looks like a suit. The next day I wear navy pants with the white jacket and a navy and white striped blouse, so it looks like an ensemble.

A: Bring a variety of earrings, brooches and necklaces to change your look each day; they take less space than another full ensemble. Bring a couple of knit tops and sandals to wear with pants for informal occasions. For dressy events in the evening, there is nothing more show-stopping than All White. Just bring along tons of white jewelry to dress your outfit up to the maximum.

A: Men:  Wear one pair and pack a second pair. Shoes should always be aired out for 24 hours, so you will be able to alternate shoes.

Women:  For short trips of one or two days, if you plan carefully, you could get along with one pair of black shoes. Black goes with both navy blue and black suits. Men customarily wear black socks with their navy blue suit and black shoes; however, women must wear navy blue stockings with a skirted navy blue suit; otherwise it is viewed as a discrepancy with color. I also prefer navy stockings with a navy pantsuit. However, sheer black stockings can be worn with pants in a pinch, because only a small portion of the leg is visible.

A: If you pack strategically, you should be able to get away with two handbags maximum, not including a small evening purse. Sometimes I wear a red suit, in which case I need red shoes; black shoes simply aren’t as dynamic with a red suit.

Tip:  For travel, I have a small red handbag and I pack stockings and other wrinkle-free items inside it. If you pack a handbag in your purse, fill it with small items so it does double duty. 

A: At an event where you are presenting, wear a one-piece bathing suit that is fairly conservative. If you are attending a conference with mostly your peers, like NSA events, remember that you are still attending a professional event, so a one-piece suit is appropriate, or a modest two-piece suit. Provocative attire is never appropriate in a professional setting.

I prefer to have my makeup on the airplane rather than in my checked luggage, so it is not subject to extreme temperatures, which could make treatment creams less effective. If you get small samples of makeup at department stores in little jars, they are perfect for travel.

Tip:  You can buy small plastic containers at many drugstores and beauty supply stores such as Sally’s.

A: First of all, get your paperwork lined up and completed in advance. Determine which items can be printed at the destination (by the client or at Kinko’s, for example) and which cannot.

Tip:  Pack any books and documents  at the bottom of the suitcase, so they do not crush other items. I usually put less important items on top of the books, such as pajamas, underwear, etc.

A: It depends upon how many hard things you have. For a short trip of two or three days, one suitcase should suffice. I always pack electronics in my carry-on bag, because when it is packed in my checked luggage, these items are invariably inspected. This means agents rifle through my suitcase and garments become wrinkled sometimes. I pack shoes and other hard items that are small along the sides and at the top of the suitcase. There are special “socks” for shoes, and I pack each shoe separately so that it easily tucks into little “pockets” at the sides of the suitcase.

Tip:  Pack your jewelry case in your carry-on bag, so there is one less rigid item in the regular suitcase. Plus, it is safer to have it with you.

A: After you have packed the bottom layer of your suitcase (books, papers, pajamas, etc.), hang all the pants on your arm, and then place them in their folded position in the suitcase. Next, pack the jackets: place the jacket face down, letting the arms fall in their natural place, and then fold the jacket in half.  Lay the jacket face up in the suitcase. Unless you have a huge suitcase, it should fit almost exactly in the suitcase. Repeat this with each jacket.  Place the collar side at the top with the first jacket and then place it “upside down” with the next jacket for balance. Jackets with collars add more bulk at the top.

A: One good thing about packing your pants, skirts and jackets at the top is that you can open your suitcase and quickly remove them and lay them out smoothly on your bed. That way, they won’t continue to be crushed in your suitcase for hours, accumulating wrinkles. No matter how carefully you pack, things get re-arranged when your suitcase is thrown around by luggage handlers.

Tip:  The system for vacuum packing your garments will save you from all that. It will also give you more space in your suitcase.

A: I always dress professionally when I fly because I’ve found that I get better service; on a few occasions, I’ve even had an upgrade. Furthermore, if your suitcase should get delayed or lost temporarily, you will have something that you can wear when you speak. Lastly, you never know who you meet in the airport or on the plane. I’ve run into clients several times, and was relieved that I looked totally professional. 

If you opt to travel in your jeans or sweats, make certain you don’t look like you just cleaned out your garage. Hair and grooming must be impeccable.

Tip: Pack the clothes that you will wear when you present in your carry-on bag in case your luggage is delayed or lost.

A: Men don’t usually have this problem, since they usually wear T-shirts under their suits and shirts. Women can pack (or wear) a shawl for warmth on the plane and for meetings. If you really get cold, consider “little nothing” silk T-shirts (usually from Switzerland) to wear underneath your garments. No shawl? Bring along a versatile sweater that goes with everything.

A: Take pajamas that are light weight, but bring along socks in case your feet get cold. You can always add an extra blanket if the weather turns cold.

A: It also depends upon the season. In the summer, a terrycloth pool cover-up doubles as a bathrobe. In the winter, warm pajamas may be sufficient for warmth.  Women:  if you sleep in a nightgown, carry a lightweight bathrobe. If you have room service regularly, you will need a proper lightweight bathrobe to wear over your nightgown to greet visitors.

A: No. If there are not enough hangers in your room, call the front desk and request that more be sent to your room. Some suitcases are equipped with a system for packing garments on coat hangers; in that case, use lightweight plastic hangers rather than heavy wooden ones.

A: Wear your favorite one. If it runs on batteries, take extra batteries with you. And have them in your home, so you don’t get ready to walk out the door and discover your battery has died.

TIP: I always bring along a travel clock. I use it to keep an eye on the time when I am speaking; and it also doubles as an alarm clock in case the wake-up call doesn’t come. That happened to me once and I nearly missed a flight.

A: If you have a lot of valuable jewelry, it could be wise to invest in a small home safe. Otherwise, hide it in an unusual place.

A:

• Moleskin notebooks: for taking notes when you get a brainstorm. 
• Your “travel” phonebook with important telephone numbers so you can make client calls while at the airport.
• A book.
• Telescopic umbrella.
• Lightweight laundrybag.
• lightweight bag that “grows” so you can put unexpected items and your handbag in it as a single carry on.
• For poolside: a small container that will hold your room key. You may also consider packing one of the popular flat, rectangular shopping bags to double as a briefcase for documents and as a bag to take to the pool.
• Food: Small package of nuts or a health bar in case you get hungry on a flight. If you have special dietary needs, pack snacks or light meals in throw-away containers that will not leak.
• phone charger with you
• GPS navigation system and its charger (if you plan to rent a car)
• Laptop and its charger.