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Professional Image: Travel and Packing Tips
By Diane Parente, AICI CIP

The professional image secret to stress-free traveling is to stay light and unencumbered. You can do this with proper planning and careful consideration. Make sure you write down credit card numbers and keep them in a safe place, so you can cancel them if they are lost or stolen.

How To Pack

Put each hanging item in a plastic cleaning bag to avoid hard wrinkles. Then you can either fold it in accordion-fashion in a standard suitcase or hang it in a garment bag. If you use the accordion style, layer clothing to prevent wrinkling.

Carry an itemized list of what is in each of your bags for insurance purposes, in case your luggage is lost or stolen.

Cover shoes with shoe mitts or socks to prevent them from getting scratched or from soiling other garments.

Roll belts, hosiery, and scarves. Accessories should be packed in jewelry bags or similar bags to prevent them from snagging garments. Expensive or fine pieces should be carried on your person or in your handbag for added safety. However, you may feel more comfortable leaving good jewelry at home and taking better imitations or costume jewelry.

What To Pack For A Week-Long Trip

Begin by choosing basic pieces - jackets, skirts, and pants - in two colors, a light and a dark (for example, navy and camel or black and taupe). This way you can mix and match several pieces for many days' wear.
Pack eight pieces that can be coordinated to create several outfits; two jackets, two skirts or two pants, or one of each, four tops of various necklines, fabrics, and colors. One of the tops can match each of the skirts or pants for a more formal look.
If the flight is relatively short, consider wearing three of the pieces on the plane, such as a jacket, pants and top. If the weather at your destination calls for rain or low temperatures, be sure to take along an all-purpose coat, such as the ever-trusty trench coat. Also, packing clothes that can be layered will give you more flexibility if the weather changes (a thermal silk T-shirt is great for colder weather). Longer flights may require you to wear more comfortable clothing on the plane and to pack your business clothes.
Accessories can include two belts, two pairs of earrings, three or more pairs of hosiery, and two pairs of shoes.
Take along a few well-selected items to convert your daytime look into appropriate evening look, such as a dressy top, glittery or dangling earrings and a special pair of shoes.
Don't forget workout clothes; you may have an opportunity to visit the local gym.
Lingerie should be flattering, but not too bulky.
Separate toiletries from other items by placing them in plastic bags or a cosmetics bag. Lotions and creams tend to expand in the thin air of airplanes and could leak. Most travelers also find it helpful to carry a small first-aid and sewing kit for little emergencies.
Take along some extra plastic bags to separate soiled clothes from other garments.

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