Welcome back to the Gentleman's Gazette!
In today's video, we discuss what to pack on a short business trip.
For a short business trip, the small carry-on is ideal.
The big spinner suitcase has to be checked, it takes longer, and if you want to learn
how to pack the large spinner suitcase as well as the small carry-on suitcase, please
check out the respective videos in here.
So what is this video about?
We talk about what items you should bring so you have a very versatile, flexible, and
appropriate business model.
First of all, it starts with a choice of the right suitcase or carry-on.
Personally, I'm a big fan of wheels especially four wheels, not the two wheels, because you
can easily maneuver them with one hand.
Also, I prefer stiffer suitcases so I can put it back on top of it without it collapsing
on me.
So when you start packing, I suggest to first lay everything out on your bed or maybe on
a carpet, on a clean space where we have a good overview.
Depending on the length of your business trip, you may just need one pair or sometimes two
pairs of shoes.
I suggest you wear a pair when you travel and keep another one in your suitcase because
shoes last you a lot longer if you don't wear them consecutively day after day.
To save on space, you can put your underwear, as well as your socks, rolled up and stuff
them in your shoes, that works like a substitute shoe tree without having the extra weight.
Because shoes are dirty and everything is close together, I suggest to put your shoes
in shoe bags.
So what shoes to bring for a business trip?
Black is the ultimate color.
I suggest you go with a black cap toe Oxford.
Alternatively, you can also go with a black oxford half brogue or black oxford quarter
brogue.
A little bit of broguing makes it a little less formal, at the same time, it's perfectly
appropriate for everything, from boardroom meetings to general office meetings.
If you have a big foot and you have issues with the closed lacing system on an Oxford,
a derby shoe is acceptable as well.
Now the second pair to bring is a dark red or oxblood burgundy colored dress shoe.
It could either be a tassel loafer and you could travel with that because it's easy to
take on and off when you're through security or you could go with a Derby shoe or maybe
even an oxford.
I like the color burgundy because it's dark enough to be appropriate for most office and
business environments, yet at the same time, you can wear it interchangeably with any kind
of brown tone if you go to a more casual outing afterwards or during the business trip.
So if I had to bring just one pair of shoes on my trip and I knew there were events with
different degrees of formality, I would opt for an oxblood or dark red shoe.
Maybe during the winter, you can get away with a pair of boots oxford is the best business
shoe out there.
If your space constraints in your carry-on, I suggest to put one shoe on one side and
one on the other.
Ideally, by the wheels that way, the weight of the shoe won't squish your suits or your
shirts or any other garment on your carry-on.
Next up, I suggest to bring two to three dress shirts.
Even if you're just going on a one day trip, there's always a chance that someone will
spill something on you and it's much better to have something that you can change into
than having to figure out where you can have it dry-cleaned.
Honestly, I think plain white solid shirts, maybe cream, or light blue are perfect.
You can also go with pastel tones such as light yellow, light green,,
light lavender, and so forth.
Now, a proper business shirt usually doesn't have a chest pocket because you shouldn't
use it anyways and you also want double cuffs or French cuffs for cufflinks.
Now, if you travel to a climate that is warmer or maybe if you don't like cufflinks, you
can also get away with barrel cuffs.
It's acceptable in this day and age.
What about undershirts?
If you're not sure if you should wear one or not, please check out this in-depth video
guide here.
If you decide an undershirt is right for you, I suggest not to go with the traditional fine
rib wife-beater undershirts.
Instead, I suggest you get t-shirt like undershirts that sit fitted on your body with relatively
tight sleeves and a deep cut v-neck because that way, if you were a dress shirt without
a tie and you wear a dress shirt unbuttoned, people won't be able to see the t-shirt underneath
which is a style and fashion faux pas.
In terms of color, I suggest you pick something that
is as close to your skin tone as possible so don't go with white, rather go with black
or maybe heather gray or even skin tone colors if you can find them.
No, a regular t-shirt is not a good substitute because it's thicker than an undershirt and
has thicker seams that you can see on the outside of the shirt.
Next up is a suit.
There's probably no other garment that is more business appropriate than a dark suit.
If you have to pick one, I suggest to go with a navy worsted suit, ideally single breasted
with notch lapels, either one button or two button, side vents, maybe some cuffs at the
bottom of pants so they pull down the pants and prevent any potential wrinkles.
In terms of weight, I'd go for a three-season weight.
If you want just one all-rounder, you can also opt for something with an open weave.
That way, you feel the breeze because sometimes when you're in an office environment, it can
get quite hot but you know yourself if you're likely to overheat or if you feel cold all
the time.
If you are on a colder climate, you can also go with a flannel suit such as the charcoal
or gray flannel suit I'm wearing here right now.
If you decide you want to bring a second suit, I suggest to go with a double-breasted suit
simply to mix it up and have different degrees of formality.
Also, I wouldn't go with the same color but have maybe one in gray and one in blue.
If you decide to just bring one suit, I think the navy suit is ideal
because you can wear just the jacket with a contrasting pair of pants, either let's
say gray flannels or a pair of chinos and it looks like a blazer combination, that way,
you have a more versatile wardrobe and you don't have to bring on an extra jacket.
If you want to learn more about the details of a business appropriate suit, I suggest
you check out the video on what to wear is a lawyer which basically applies to all white-collar
professions or you can also check out what we're to an interview which is in general
a good guideline for most office environments.
When it comes to accessories I think a necktie is essential especially in a classic business
environment.
If you're a little more flamboyant or if you are maybe independent or in an area where
dress codes are a little more relaxed, you can also go with a bow tie, otherwise, I suggest
to stay with a classic necktie.
A pocket square can really help to make your outfit look more polished.
So if you have a white shirt, a white linen pocket squarw especially in a TV fold or a
crown fold, it can add a finishing touch.
You can find a selection of all kinds of pocket squares as well as regular neckties and bow
ties in our shop here.
When it comes to cufflinks I suggest to go with a simple pair such as a monkey fist knot
cufflink in silver gold.
Skip the colored enamel cufflinks as well as the gemstone or diamond cufflinks.
They're better for evening wear or areas or events where you know you can just be a little
louder.
If you want to travel light, I suggest to put the cufflinks right into the double cuffs
of the shirt before you fold them.
The same is true for your collar stays, put them in the shirt so you don't have to pack
them separately.
If you have more items such as rings or watches, you probably want to go with a travel jewelry
case.
If you work in a classic white collar environment, you probably don't want to wear a boutonniere.
I, on the other hand, oftentimes wear one simply because I can and I enjoy it and the
Green Fort Belvedere box is the perfect travel companion for that because it protects your
flowers and that way, they stay in shape and you can wear them wherever you are on the
globe.
Next up is a toiletry kit.
I suggest to keep a small bag that you can easily remove at any point in time because
sometimes at security, you have to remove it depending on your status.
To save on space, definitely go with travel sized items and don't bring your regular size
aftershave shaving cream or toothpaste.
I know it's just a little thing but all those items add up, they add weight, and especially
volume and bulk.
I also find that sample sizes of either cologne or shaving cream sometimes also shampoo are
perfectly enough for a short business trip and they hardly take any space at all.
So keep that in mind.
Rather than a safety razor or a straight razor which you can't bring in carry-ons, I suggest
you go with an electric shaver.
Yes you may also go with a cartridge system, however, I find the shave to be inferior to
an electric shaver if you go with a wet shave and it's my preferred item because I just
bring one item with one charge and I can use it, I don't have to worry about the blades
getting dull or having the right blades or a TSA agent not knowing what he's talking
about and who made me throw away something I actually need afterwards.
Of course, you also need socks and underwear but that goes without saying.
For a business trip, I suggest you go with over the calf socks because you will never
want to expose your calves with a gray suit, for example, a shadow stripe in charcoal and
gray is ideal with a blue suit I could go with a shadow stripe in navy blue or something
with navy and red if you want to be a little more unique and you can find a broader selection
of business appropriate socks over the calf in our shop here.
If you want a few more casual items, like a sweater or a cardigan, it's okay to pack
it.
I suggest to go with thinner cotton ones rather than bulkier wool ones because space is very
limited in your carry-on.
If it's warmer you also may want to bring polo shirts if you want to work out maybe
a pair of workout shorts and t-shirts.
All of these shouldn't be folded but rolled unlike your dress shirts which should be folded.
Personally, as an online entrepreneur, I always bring my laptop as well as my camera gear
in a separate leather bag that I can put on top of my carry-on that I can hook on so it
doesn't fall off and I can still easily push it with one hand while doing something on
the phone or checking things out so it's extremely convenient.
So last but not the least, something that you don't pack but I suggest you always bring
is either a type of overcoat in the winter which in this case could be something like
this grey blue and black overcoat with a black velvet collar and double-breasted or it could
be something like a single-breasted overcoat in either navy or black or charcoal or if
you travel during the warmer months of the year I suggest you bring a trench coat ideally
something darker.
Yes you can also go with a traditional kind of khaki trench coat but it stains more easily
then let's say a black or navy one.
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in today's outfit I'm wearing a classic business appropriate outfit which consists of a white
dress shirt with a classic collar I'm combining it with a madder silk red and green tie from
Fort Belvedere which you can find in our shop here just like the white pocket square in
the TV fold which is made out of Irish linen with hand rolled edges the suit is a classic
double-breasted suit with six buttons two closing buttons it's made out of a dark grey
flannel and it's perfect for winter I could also combine the
slacks with a regular navy blazer and so combining those two colors it's just always ideal and
makes for very versatile outfits in a business context for my shoes I opted for a black oxford
half brogue because it's a little less formal and it works well with the less formal flannel
texture of my suit for my socks I opted for a little bit of contrast in turquoise and
grey shadow striped socks from Fort Belvedere