What to Pack for Business Travel

Go from airplane mode to presentation mode.

Find your new favorite must-haves with personal styling.

When your home base is in Chicago, but you need to oversee all the happenings across the country, you become a pro at traveling—and more specifically, packing. That’s the story of Lori, our senior events manager. If anyone can fit an entire work wardrobe into one carry-on bag, it’s her. Read on for Lori’s very real (and very stylish) business travel wardrobe and packing tips.

Desk to dinner:

When traveling, multitasking pieces are key. A layering tee looks great under a blazer for work and also under a denim jacket for dinner or drinks.

Color strategy:

“Packing darker colors is something I think about,” Lori says. “Because when you're traveling, you don't always have access to laundry.”

Lori’s packing tip:

Store an extra shirt in a Ziploc in your personal item. That way, if you’re checking a bag, or someone spills on you (yes, she’s speaking from personal experience), you have something to change into.

Airport outfit must-have:

Slip-on sneakers. They make going through airport security a breeze.

Lori’s favorite piece:

Joggers. They’re great to lounge around in after a long day or to wear with a tee and denim jacket for flights.

Keep it simple:

If you’re only going to be traveling for a few days, keep colors and patterns simple. They’re easier to match if you need to throw together an outfit on the fly.

How to look polished:

“I always try to think of wrinkle-free options, especially if I’m headed to an event right from the plane. I never travel with linen.”

Why it works:

Part of packing efficiently means trying not to take up too much space in your suitcase. That’s why midi dresses are a traveling woman’s best friend.

One more thing:

Lori loves a sturdy work bag (pictured in the slideshow below). If it looks sleek on the outside, it doesn’t matter what’s inside. Which in Lori’s case could be a laptop, Goldfish crackers, her kids’ stuffed animals, a planner, and a bottle of Diet Coke (with one sip left, of course).