What to Pack: Another Work Trip

Soon it will be time to hit the road, the next business trip is about to start.  Several weeks out, so I need to think through packing.  Especially since the first week has me first in Asia and then UK and hitting the ground running for work agenda in both locations.  This trip is a bit simpler than the previous, with all destinations in Northern Hemisphere.  But given it is now cold and wintry here, I need to find summer things to pack !

It is always  an interesting task to work out how much to take and, what.  The task for a work trip is centred around how many days I will be in a single place with the same people, or a before I need to and can do a cycle of laundry in one of the hotels.  I need to also think ahead about transit outfits, to wear when traveling.  I always have something that can go from plane to office, though I prefer opportunity to change if I can.  I always have an outfit in my wheel aboard, so that plus what I am wearing give me two days of clothes, and those could be laundered to make 4.  It is enough time for the odd lost luggage problem to be resolved.

The real determinant of transit and work clothes is SHOES.  The packed bag and carry on will really only allow so many shoes (usually three or four, plus what I am wearing).  Transit and work day shoes need to be work suitable (no sneakers or thongs !).  Wearing work suitable shoes on flights is a bit dull, it would be nicer to wear comfy slipper like shoes.  But alas, I don't wish to carry an extra set of dressier shoes usually.  The wheel aboard is full as it is with all the take-with necessaries.  Weekend clothes and workout clothes also get packed.  But less critical for planning than the work and transit wardrobe.

My cases at the moment are a 29" Rimowa Salsa Deluxe in Dark Brown.  For the past year I had a 26' of this same case, but was always finding it a bit cramped for trips over 2 weeks.  I do many for 3-5 weeks, so a bigger case was in order.  I prefer this to having to have a second checked bag for the whole trip.  And my carry-on is a Mandarina Duck small sized wheel aboard, a model discontinued now I think.  I had one in blue for years and when it asked to retire, I bought the last of a like model in black.  It would be nicer to have a larger one, but this one is very civilised, I can hoist into overhead bins myself, and it fits on board on everything except the smallest propeller sort of jets.  I also carry a hand bag, but it varies depending on season, what my destinations are, how large a shoulder bag I want to lug around, etc.  A also take a Longchamp Le Pliage bag in the pocket of the Mandarina wheel aboard.  This can be used as a handbag, or for my work laptop or files when I am on location.

I travel with a wardrobe base of what I call Uncrushable Black.  This has been referred to as my "uniform"...which is a nice way to look at it.  The workhorses of the travel uniform wardrobe are a black jersey skirt and a silk tunic for summer.  The silk tunic is replaced by a micro fibre jersey top in other seasons.  The jacket or cardigan choice for these is based on destination climate.  Hosiery, heels (or flats), scarves and jewellery make it into an outfit.  Jersey slacks work on flights, with a jersey cardigan.  All Uncrushable Black, of course !

Stay tuned, for some posts soon on personalities and characters I'll meet on this trips inflight chats.  I have lots of flight time, some long flights.  And I always meet really interesting people along the way ;)

Micro Packing: The Make Up Bag

Micro packing for ladylike business travel....The Makeup Bag

I have been working on downsizing many things, including my make up bag that goes on the road. In fact, this is also what I use at home. Though, I have some extra makeup items to choose from there. But between trips for the past months, I have been trialling the items I use and seeing if I can filter it all down to a small number of standard items that work, without lots of extra stuff to have around. Or to have to pack.

So here it is, all sitting on the hotel bath vanity counter. Inventory as follows

Concealer, foundation stick, eye shadow stick, creme blush, eye pencil, mascara, eye shadow compact (also has a powder blush in it and an eyeliner), eye lightener (highlighter), lip pencil. Also a small compact with brushes. Lip gloss and lipstick are in my purse, but round out this selection. Twelve items, not counting the brushes. Seems pretty good. And I know this selection of colours works, having now used it as my base for nearly a year, for both home and travel.

I have been experimenting with foundation and tinted moisturizers. I like them at home, with all the things listed above. Especially helpful as the tinted moisturizer has a sunscreen SPF in it. But the foundation stick seems a good compromise for travel. Not a liquid, so does not have to fit into the dreaded ziplock bag for liquids that meets airport security screening. Which means the ziplock can have the hairspray, contact lens solution, face cream, and one small bottle of cologne.

I can't seem to manage for a trip or home with too much less, these are my essential make up go-to's ! Fits in a small mesh zip pouch, plus the eyeshadow/blush compact, and the small set of brushes.

Now if I can put the same spirit to work on my suitcase !

Begin forwarded message:

Sent from my iPad

New Departure, Boarding Now

Hi There, this new blog of mine has been a bit slow to take off (pardon the puns, can't help myself !).  But I have been traveling again recently and have some new content for posts in InFlightChat.  Some tips for travelers.  Some stories to share from my travels.  Maybe a rant here or there.  Travel used to be glamourous and exciting.  And for some people it still is exciting.  I love to get to work with other people and experience other places.  But travel is not glamourous any more, it is a hard piece of work to do.  Tips on how to keep one's sanity  and grace (as much as can be done) can be useful !

So who am I to have something to say on this topic ?  I travel a fair bit...I did 6 round the world trips for business last year, each of 4+ weeks duration on the average, and visiting 6-10 countries and that many or more cities.  Occasionally I also travel for personal vacations.  In the course of logging air miles, hotel nights, and other aspects of international business travel, I have come up with my own ways of coping and keeping productive.  I will share some of these in coming posts.

Today's post finds me at home in South Australia, in raging hot summer weather (tipped to be 43 C today, that is about 109 F !).  I have just returned  from arctic chilly Chicago this past week and am relieved to be back.  This is my second transpacific return trip from overseas in a month's time.

More soon, check back for the first of a short series of posts on Packing for on the go Business Travel (effective techniques also for non business travel).