Panels, conferences, and any boring or exciting business meeting have one thing in common– the clothes you wear. While suits come in all shapes and sizes, from three-piece to two-piece, to sports jackets or blazers, they all can be a headache to travel with. They can wrinkle, snag, and crease, leaving you looking like you rolled out of bed. This is why we have compiled our top packing tips for corporate trips; whether you are traveling by plane, train, or car, we have compiled our top packing tips for corporate trips. Keep reading to learn about garment bags, an innovative hanger, a traveling iron, and how to remove smells and odors.
Tip #1: Pack With a Garment Bag
You’re probably already familiar with garment bags, from the complementary ones you receive when purchasing formalwear, but those tend to be cheap and flimsy. A good garment bag is a piece of luggage (most often carry-on) with a compartment to keep your attire clean and wrinkle-free. We’ve quickly compiled our top three good-looking garment bags that get the job done.
Bennett Winch’s The S.C. Holdall
This garment bag is made for weekend adventurers and men with purpose. While it may look like a chic, sleek duffel bag, its hidden compartment for suits makes it ideal for the busy, modern traveler. Made in England from waterproof cotton canvas, a military-grade shoulder strap, and a removable shoe bag, this bag will see you through all the weekend’s insanities. It can accommodate one pair of pants and one jacket.
Briggs & Riley’s Wide Carry-On Wheeled Garment Spinner
This garment bag is made for frequent fliers and 2-3 day business trips. It is simultaneously sturdy and lightweight and can fit up to 3 garments. The wheels make it easy to transport, and its myriad pockets mean no travel necessities have to be left behind.
This garment bag is made for anyone on the go, from business executives to best men and bridesmaids. Made to secure onto your Away luggage, this garment bag is made of water-resistant nylon and has a minimalist cut. It easily fits two suits and comes with a hook to hang from your hotel closet.
Tip #2: Invest in a Long Garment Hanger
What is a long garment hanger?
Our Long Garment Hanger is ideal for travel, cutting down the size of your outfit in half with its innovative two-part components. It provides a beautiful yet functional way to hang your outfits without any unnecessary creases or snags. The best part? You can take it right out of the garment bag when you arrive at your destination and hang it in the closet, stress-free.
You say “Long” Garment Hanger, but what about suits?
Hang your shirt and jacket from the first component, which looks like a traditional component, and your pants from the second. If you need to hang your ties or vest, you can add a third part for a practical and space-conscious hanger. Our hanger can make a floor-length dress take the space of a mini one, but it can also take an entire suit and store it on one rack.
Alternatively, if you aren’t flying to your destination but driving, it is easier to hang your garments in the back. The Long Garment Hanger will ensure your dress or suit won’t drag on the floor or get sat on by other passengers.
Tip #3: Air out your clothes
When you arrive at your destination and you’ve done your laps around your conference or panel, it’s important to air your clothes out. Doing so will keep them fresh and clean rather than allowing them to soak in your body odor and moisture. Doing this will keep the clothes clean longer and means you won’t have to wash them as frequently.
Tip #4: Be Cautious of Wool
Once the colder months hit, you may find yourself pairing outfits with wool jackets or sweaters (for more casual outings). While wool is ideal for keeping warm, it can be tricky to care for.
For one, ensure you always dry wool by laying it flat; this allows it to keep its shape– otherwise, the wool can shrink and be misshaped.
When washing wool, you should never use hot or even warm water as that shrinks the fibers. You should also never use bleach when washing wool, making the clothes dull and lackluster. In general, always follow the instructions on the tags. Some wool clothes and coats are labeled as dry clean only and should be treated so as the fabric is easily damaged.
Tip #5: Avoid Wrinkles
To avoid wrinkling your garments when traveling, you can do three things. First, when using your garment bag, ensure everything is packed neatly, and components of the garments do not overlap in a way that will create a deep wrinkle. Next, layer your items when packing, creating pockets of space for things to remain flat. It may help to place sheets of tissue paper between garments. Finally, when you fold your shirts (if you’re not hanging them), fold them crossways instead of lengthwise.
Tip #6: Hang Your Jacket
It is best to hang outerwear when traveling to ensure you have a presentable outfit for your trip. Jackets tend to have many components that don’t fold flat– such as shoulder pads. Because of this, they can easily be crushed or wrinkled if you try to fold them.
Tip #7: Invest in a Handheld Steamer
Some wrinkles are unavoidable, so if you have the space, it can be extremely helpful to have a handheld steamer, such as the Nori Press, to ensure that you and your clothes look fresh and not wrinkled. It only weighs 1.4 lbs and is 14 inches in length because, let’s be honest, no matter what you do, your garment will be compressed in a small space for a few hours, and that always has the potential of leaving them looking rumpled. The hotel iron rarely does the trick; more often than not, damaging the clothes with excess water leakage and the like.
Tip #8: How to Remove Stains & Odors
Whether you’re traveling for vacation or for business, the likelihood that you’re going to damage, stain, or sweat in your clothes is pretty high. How do you get rid of them, though, that is the true question.
STAINS
- Ink Stains. Should be removed immediately. Using an absorbent material to gently blot at the fabric until you clean up as much ink as possible, then wash the garment immediately.
- Oil-Based Stains. These are trickier and require a special oil-based stain remover. Once you’ve obtained that, rub or spray it onto your clothes (allowing it to sit for a few minutes) before washing the garment as usual.
- Tough Stains. Try using rubbing alcohol to remove stains as well as odors, and use vinegar to remove mildew odors.
- General Stains. If you happen to spill something on yourself and you are unable to wash the garment right there and then, it is always good to be prepared and invest in a Nellie’s Wow Stick.
ODORS
- On Lightweight Clothes. Remove odors by mixing 1tsp liquid dishwashing detergent with 8 oz warm water, and then soaking your garment in the mixture.
- Stubborn Odors. Eliminate these odors by mixing ¼ cup rubbing alcohol and 1 cup water and rubbing it onto a damp garment. If the odor is very persistent, you can soak the entire garment in the mixture.
- General Sweaty Odors. Eliminate these odors by mixing ¼ cup baking soda, 4 tbsp liquid dish detergent, and about ½ cup water. Rub onto the odored garment and allow to sit for 30 minutes before washing.
- To Smell Good. Consider adding a Scented Ribbon to your luggage to ensure that your clothes smell good before they have the opportunity to smell bad.
If you are planning on going on a work trip, you probably have more to worry about than your clothes, which is why we’ve compiled our top eight tips for keeping your clothes clean and wrinkle-free while you travel. Including the importance of garment bags, an innovative hanger, how to keep your clothes smelling good, how to care for wool, avoid wrinkles, keep your jacket fresh, investing in a handheld steamer, and removing odors and stains.
