Saturday, October 22, 2005
Wardrobe consultant provides tips on packing clothing for trips.
By LISA MILLER
KNIGHT RIDDER NEWSPAPERS
Packing for a trip is always a challenge. And it's especially tough when you have to arrive at your destination with clothes that look fresh, unwrinkled and, well, businesslike. Because we've always wondered how to get a week's worth of outfits, preferably without wrinkles, into one manageably sized suitcase, we called Lisa Connely. A San Luis Obispo, Calif.-based wardrobe consultant and personal shopper, she's something of an expert on packing. Here, she offers some advice.
Start with a basic foundation. Pack a suit in brown, blue or black -- which can be used to mix and match the entire trip. If you don't need a suit, take dress pants plus a fine-gauge dressy cardigan (for women) or a sport coat and dress pants (for men), all in one color.
Choose one or two more items in coordinating colors. "If you have a suit and you have a pair of jeans and then you have a T-shirt or two and a blouse, those things are going to take you through almost a whole week," Connely says. Men should pack three or four dress shirts and the same number of ties, plus a pair of khakis and several casual shirts. Make sure everything coordinates.
Try on outfits before you pack them. Make sure they work and you feel comfortable wearing them. If you don't do this in advance, you may be unpleasantly surprised later.
Pack accessories. Jewelry is small, easy to pack, and it can transform an outfit from daytime conservative to evening sparkle. Belts, ties and other accessories can work similar magic for men.
To conserve suitcase space, stuff undergarments and socks into shoes. Even open shoes such as slingbacks or strappy heels can provide nesting space for small items.
Rolling along
Fight wrinkles by wrapping clothes in the plastic bags from drycleaners or shopping bags from department stores. Lay the bag flat, set the clothing piece on top, then roll them up. Connely has packed suits, tuxedos and even a satin dress this way and says it works better than using a garment bag. Rolling instead of folding both reduces wrinkles and saves space. For wrinkle-proof items, leave out the bag.
Women should pack two or three pairs of shoes. This includes a business shoe, such as a loafer with a heel or pumps. The second pair should be a heel for evening, perhaps a heeled sandal. The third choice can be a fun pair for both business and playtime, or a shoe for special circumstances, such as jogging. Or if you expect to hoof it all over Chicago, take a walking shoe that looks good with a suit.
Men should pack one or two pairs of dress shoes with belts that match the shoes. For colors, choose either cordovan (a burgundy) or black. Cordovan is an easier color to wear than brown, Connely says. Pick a third shoe depending on your needs.
Because checked bags can get lost en route, always pack a change of clothes, including underwear, along with toiletries in your carry-on bag so you can be good to go until your luggage catches up with you.
From day to evening
Women: Use jewelry to emphasize either a conservative daytime or dressier evening look. Keep dressy sandals and jewelry and maybe a cardigan in your briefcase if you have to go from daytime meetings to evening meals without a break. A change of shoes and jewels, and you're set for a night on the town.
Men: To go straight to nighttime engagements after a day of meetings, wear the same suit, or ditch the tie to look more casual. Jewelry can help here, if you wear it. Or keep a nice T-shirt in your briefcase to change into. Wear it with your suit pants and jacket.