4 Sartorial Tips for the Busy Business Traveller

You’ll go to great lengths to attend an important meeting or conference, but your clothes shouldn’t show up looking like they’ve travelled the country too. Knowing how to look great when it counts is key. Here, some simple tips to keep you dressed for success... 

Pack Light: The most useful tip for business travellers on short trips: Invest in a proper carry-on bag. Since most airlines set their own standards (Air Canada allows for a maximum size of 23 cm x 40 cm x 55 cm), select one that’s well under the average restrictions. When picking a bag, practical concerns should also trump esthetic ones: Look for durable luggage that’s easy to roll, and make sure the bag has separate compartments for shoes. And please, don’t try to bring a carry-on that’s bigger than the allowable size. You may end up having to check it after all. 

Pack Smart: Less luggage means more thought has to go into what you bring. For shorter trips, you should be able to get away with one suit (that goes for both men and women), which you can customize with a few different shirts and accessories (plus you can wear the blazer with jeans for less formal events). When selecting your clothes, remember that linens don’t travel as well as garments made from microfibres and blended fabrics. Also, choose professional shoes that are comfortable enough to support your feet (both Tod’s and Ecco make shoes that look as great as they feel). And though it might seem obvious, remember that bulky items, like sweaters or corduroys, can be worn on your person to help keep your bag safely under the weight requirements. 

Pack Ahead: A smart pack starts at the dry cleaners. Leave your shirts in the plastic to help keep creases at bay. A bonus? Most dry cleaners will fold your shirts for you. If you’re a frequent flyer, have a bag of toiletries that you keep exclusively for travel. It’ll cut down on your pre-flight stress and you’ll always have all of your essentials at hand. Same goes for having a small case that holds your various electronic devices and their assorted cords – there’s nothing worse than arriving somewhere only to realize your phone charger didn’t make the trip. 

After the Pack: No matter how well you plan out your pack, sometimes emergency care for your clothes is necessary. Most hotels have what you’ll need for a quick touch-up, but if you don’t want to leave anything to chance, skip the portable iron and go directly to the steamer – the most efficient way to smooth out everything from pants to ties. Size-wise, the Samsonite Travel Garment Steamer is one of the smallest on the market, but for pure performance, the Jiffy Esteam is generally considered the Cadillac of travel steamers. And if something more extreme happens, Elizabeth Dilk’s slick sewing kit contains the basics needed to replace a button, mend a tear and hem pants – and even more importantly, directions on how to do so.