In a world where first impressions are everything, your business travel wardrobe should be prepared for anything! Read on to find out how you can ace travel corporate attire for ladies!

Ardent viewers of the Netflix show “Emily in Paris” have probably wondered how she fits her entire stylish wardrobe in a tiny apartment with just one cupboard for two women! But that’s just TV. Fitting an entire week’s work wardrobe into one carry-on bag, though? It’s no piece of cake!

So, does packing light mean repeating outfits while you’re on the move, attending conferences, meetings or more? Not necessarily! It’s time you put together a travel capsule wardrobe with some timeless pieces that are both stylish and functional for every trip. Here, we’ll show you ways to explore the ultimate travel essentials and business travel outfit ideas that you can truly make your own!

What is a Travel Capsule Wardrobe?

Simply put, a travel capsule wardrobe is a collection of garments that when coordinated together can be worn in various ways again and again. These outfits are coordinated in such a way that the end creation is easy and hassle-free. It can work exceptionally well especially when you have to travel for work and ensure that you appear professional. 

Here are a few benefits of a capsule wardrobe:

• Saves time and money

• Helps you travel light 

• Quality over quantity

• Ease of decision making

• Easy to create a personal style 

• Multi-functional pieces 

Creating your travel capsule wardrobe

Assembling a wardrobe that works not just from coast to coast but also from casual to formal environments requires a little bit of planning. Here’s how you can create a travel capsule wardrobe using a few pieces(plus accessories) to create minimal outfits that can easily fit in a carry-on. 

The pieces:

A Black Trouser: 

A classic, tailored trouser gives you tons of value especially when you’re travelling. For instance, it can be worn with a nice formal top and also with a blazer. Pick high-waisted, slim fit trousers that can give you two distinct looks with one pair of pants.

A Black Blazer: 

A black blazer lets you stay professional and also has the ease of a sweater when you’re travelling to someplace cold. You can wear it over a skirt, a dress or pants. 

A Black Pencil Skirt: 

A black pencil skirt is another definition of versatile: it can be worn either with a blazer for a formal look or without for a slightly casual ensemble. 

A Formal Dress: Carrying a nice sheath dress is always a good idea since it can double up as a skirt when you wear a top or jacket over it. 

Dressy Tops: Carrying two to three dressy tops works like a charm since you can pair them up with trousers, a pencil skirt and jeans to create different outfits. Make sure to pick a patterned top so that you can bring a bit of variety to your colour palette. 

A pair of trouser jeans: Dark coloured trouser jeans are great for an airport look and can easily transition into semi-formal wear when teamed with a shawl collar blazer. 

A Shawl Collar Blazer:

Blazers and jeans never go out of style. A long slim shawl collar blazer in a neutral colour looks super chic when paired with jeans if you need a casual look since it’s semi-loose and easy to wear. 

Comfy Business Travel Outfit Ideas

A sheath dress with a black belt

Maybe you’re a little bit cautious about carrying a dress on your business trip since they may not look very professional, but you most likely may have to attend an evening event like a cocktail reception. A sheath dress works perfectly during such events. Pick an olive green striped sheath dress that you can pair with a sleek belt or a black blazer like Hina Khan’s all black ensemble for a more formal event. Accessorize with a pearl necklace and black pumps. 

A black pencil skirt with a collared top

Who doesn’t love button ups? However, one of the biggest pains while travelling is having to iron your clothes. Pick a green poly moss collared top that can be taken straight out of the bag. You can easily team it up with a black trouser or pencil skirt and flats for an effortless, professional look. It makes a great versatile top to add to your business professional wardrobe.

A mandarin collar top with a black pencil skirt and a black blazer

When you’re midway through the week and are exhausted but still need to look put together, you can opt for this three-piece ensemble. Wear a mandarin collar sleeveless top with your pencil skirt and blazer for a polished look that never fails. Add a pearl necklace to the mix and heels to easily boost the glam factor to this outfit. 

Black trousers with a matching top and a black blazer

Wearing a printed sleeveless top with matching trousers and a black blazer adds a fashion-forward element to the classic suit. Adding a printed top makes it more eye-catching yet professional. When you need an outfit to take you from meetings to a quick catch-up dinner with a friend, you can easily slip off your blazer for a more casual look in a restaurant. 

The shawl collar blazer with a blue top and dark coloured trouser jeans

While a pair of jeans is probably not the best pick when it comes to meeting clients,  on days when you need to travel or have to go sightseeing with coworkers off the clock, it would help to wear a top with trouser jeans and flats. When paired with a shawl collar blazer, it can double up as a happy hour outfit too. 

Dos and Don'ts of Building a Travel Capsule Wardrobe

It helps to dress stylishly while you’re on a business trip so your clients will know that you take care of your appearance. Since style matters in our world, here are some rules you can keep in mind when building your travel capsule wardrobe.

Comfort First

It goes without saying that you should always put comfort before style. This is especially important while travelling, for example, if high heels aren’t for you then skip them. You can achieve the same effect with low-heeled wedges which provide more comfort when you travel. 

Less is More

It’s tempting to pick a lot of different outfits, but your main aim is to travel light. This obviously doesn’t mean repeating outfits, but picking out a few staple pieces that can be worked around depending on the time of the day and the situation. Working with a few essential items to make great, professional outfits is the key here.

Pack your Essentials

Make a checklist of items that can be dressed up or down with the right accessories and jackets. Packing two or three blouses with two pairs of trousers and jackets work for most people, as they can be mixed and matched. On the occasion that you may need to attend a cocktail event, it’s best to take a dress along too. 

Pinstripe trousers are one of the most popular business trends that are extremely versatile. You can wear them to a business meeting with a shirt and a blazer and then restyle them later for business drinks with an overcoat for an effortless, dressed up look. 

Don’t Forget your Accessories

The right accessories can make any business outfit shine. If you plan on carrying a lot of dark colours with white shirts, you can add some brightness to your attire with coloured bags or a silk scarf. A designer handbag or satchel is a fantastic investment that adds a touch of business class to every outfit whilst travelling. Don’t carry more than two pairs of shoes while travelling. A pair of flats and heels should be enough to pair with all your outfits. 

Downtime

Remember to pack outfits that can be alternatively used for some downtime with your co-workers or if you plan to explore the city. All business trips may not require you to be in business attire 24/7, but since you’re representing your company, you will still need to look your best. 

In the business world, first impressions can go a long way so this guide can help you bring your best to your work travel wardrobe. Overall, while building a travel capsule wardrobe, stick with neutral colours like navy or black because they’re so versatile. Take one patterned piece to mix things up but keep it a minimum. 

The comfort and confidence that comes from the perfect business travel outfit is unparalleled. Your style speaks volumes and can change your approach to what you do and influence the way your associates look at you. We hope our travel capsule wardrobe has given you some inspiration!

Want to create your own travel-friendly capsule wardrobe? Shop from our collection of favourite work pieces and let us know how you styled them in the comments below!