We received this a while back, but feel this topic is always applicable. Glen has some business travel and wants to pack as efficiently and stylishly as possible.
Q: When you go on extended trips (say 5 days), how many suits do you take for business? I will be heading upstate in 2 weeks and I am thinking a garment bag should hold at least 3 suits comfortably. What are your thoughts?
A: The key to packing for business travel is to maximize what you bring. Will you need business attire all the time? If so, 3 suits should work. You can break the suits down and mix the jackets with other pants to stretch them out. Honestly, no one is going to say “Wow, he’s worn that jacket once already this week.” The variety of shirt/tie combination, along with muted colors (grays, blues, browns) suits will minimize the chance of detection.
I usually wear a suit on the plane, to save space for extra shirts (at least 7 shirts, including after work affairs) or a casual jacket for non-work hours. Bring two pair of pants (wool dress pants or chinos) and a sweater to get you through your visit. Finally, I’d try to keep it at two pair of shoes–they take up so much room in your luggage–so choose the shoes to work with the range of suits and pants you’re taking. Don’t for two belts to match the shoes!
Have a great trip, Glen.
[...] http://www.bebetterguys.com/2011/01/ask-the-guys-how-many-suits-do-i-bring-on-a-business-trip/ [...]
Good tips. What about a two-day business event (conference, 2-day meeting, etc)? Is it kosher to bring one suit and mix up the shirt/tie combo or am I better off bringing a second suit?
Yes, you can make it work with one suit–a dark, solid colored suit will make it less likely people will notice. Break it up with different pants, if you really think it’s an issue.