Looking good... on the road again

With the majority of contracts inked on the road, looking polished for such an event can be tricky. The road is a tough place when it comes to fashion. Wrinkled suits and creased ties are not suave. Rather, they scream of poor taste, apathy and bad hygiene, which I suspect is not what you or your company are going for.

That said, how one packs is as important as what one packs. And what one packs can be confusing as hell, because who really knows what you’ll end up doing on those lonely nights away from home. Last time I was in Toronto, I happened upon a number of Fashion Week parties. Had I not traveled avec blazer, or had packed said blazer incorrectly, I’d have missed out on a fair amount of debauchery or looked like a schlep during it, which come to think of it might have been good, but certainly less eventful. Agreed, an empty suitcase can instill fear in the best of us. Here are a few tips to help you face it and remain stylish no matter where you end up.�

DO YOUR RESEARCH
How long will you be gone for? Where will you be staying? What’s going on in town during your stay? How long are your travel days? Will you have spare time? If so, what will you be doing and will specific clothing be required? A few minutes of simple Internet research will go a long way in helping you determine what items go along for the ride. Four days of meetings will no doubt mean you pack heavier on the dress clothes and a little lighter on the casual wear. And a NASCAR event on your day off will probably require different attire than Cirque du Soleil tickets.

PICK A BASE
While variety is the spice of life, you’re only allowed so much baggage before you start paying fines. By picking a base colour, you can mix and match between your dress and casual looks. The most obvious would be black. A black suit, dress pant, tie, dress boots and belt make up your base. Then pick cross-over staples. A white short sleeve dress shirt, for example, looks good under the suit, with the dress pants, jeans or a pair of pleat-less khakis, so it can be worn in both casual and dress situations. Note: sleeved undershirts are important.

GIVE YOURSELF A GIFT
Most guys I know treat themselves when on the road. Toronto, Montreal and Los Angeles are all shopping Meccas and therefore offer items unavailable back home. Want those white Diesel jeans? Buy ’em. Like that yellow Affliction T-shirt? Grab it. Don’t bring the flair. Buy it there. Doing so not only gives you something to look forward to, but allows you to expand your wardrobe and keep abreast of what’s hot.

ELIMINATE BULK
Because I’ve touched on this in a previous column, I’ll make it quick. Shoes are bulky, so less is better. The best way to eliminate an extra pair is by purchasing a good dress boot. It is versatile and can be worn with a suit or with jeans, leaving you room for a cool pair of casual trainers and a runner should you desire any physical activity.

ROLL 'EM
As for packing, roll your clothes. Jeans, T-shirts, sweaters can all be rolled up without wrinkling. Shoes should be placed in shoe bags and accessories stored in suitcase pockets. The best way to transport suits and dress shirts is via carry-on. A good suit bag can be hung open at the front of the plane almost always without issue. If there is, lay it flat in one of the overhead bins, take your seat and get ready to sign that deal. �