How to Curate a Versatile Travel Wardrobe for Your Next Business Trip

Years ago, when I flew on a commercial plane for the first time, I noticed that the first class section was filled with business suits. That front section of the plane had the best dressed (over heated from layers) passengers. We all grow and evolve, hopefully, and first class is no longer the "suit" section. We don't want to be sweating it out in the air. No, we want comfort. When we travel, we often are arriving to our destination only to hurry up and get to a meeting. In this era, we no longer have to wear the suit-y suits to look professional. But, we do need to look polished. We want breathable, comfortable, as wrinkle-free as we can get clothing. And...When we get to our destinations, we don't want to spend the evening ironing our clothes for the next day.

So, Let's pretend (kinda) that I'm going on a four day trip to San Francisco to present breakout sessions at a business conference. Let's build a versatile travel wardrobe for my trip.

www.kathybanta.com

It's going to be between 55 - 70 degrees while I'm there. Here's my itinerary. I'm going to break down each day by event and what I need to wear. It is my goal to mix and match as much as possible with out it being obvious and boring.

Tuesday

Flight at 9am/ arriving at 11am

2pm - check in

3pm - meet with conference lead to review conference information and need-to-know details. I'll be presenting breakout sessions for two days on "wardrobing in the workplace".

6pm - dinner at Miller & Lux restaurant with a client that lives in San Francisco.

Navy mixed media tank from Ann Taylor, Navy Athleta Endless High Rise Pant,

Black Ponte Blazer from Chico's, Black Kasper Suit Dress found at Macy's

Wednesday

10am to 11am - tour of textile manufacturing plant

2pm - speak at conference about the differences between "Business Professional and Business Casual"

3pm - second break out session about the difference between "Business Professional and Business Casual"

7pm - Beachside BBQ (conference attenders)

Seahaven Slim Italian Cotton-Linen Blazer from Banana Republic, Camel JCrew Blazer, Kick Crop pants from Spanx

GAP Mid Rise Baby Boot Jeans, Black Converse Sneakers, Black Aerosole Pumps

Thursday

10am - Q and A panel - women in business

2pm - breakout session "dressing for your body type"

3pm - breakout session "dressing for your body type"

7pm - dinner at The House of Prime Rib on Van Ness Ave with Conference coordinator and other conference speakers

Nic + Zoe dress, BNB Heaven bracelet

Friday

Fly home at 2:30pm arriving at 5pm

Nic + Zoe open front jacket

This will be a cram-packed group of days. I have not over packed or under packed. I have options to mix and match beyond my itinerary, if need be. I am prepared. We put together a versatile business travel wardrobe that I can use as a foundation for my next trip.

If you travel often, your luggage is an important tool of the trade. Protect your belongings with luggage from Travaloo. A travel steamer is a must when traveling for business. Because I have such hard water where I live, I purchase a new steamer yearly, just so I don't get out on the road with a steamer on the brink. This steamer by Jiffy is sold at a disposable price. Last, but not least, a functional toiletry bag is really important. This Samsonite toiletry bag holds all you'll be needing to bring along from makeup to shampoo to vitamins.

Bric's Bellagio 2.0 27 Inch Spinner on Travaloo

Traveling can be stressful, but when you make a plan and know your wardrobe options, you look good and feel confident. And if this is too much to think about, reach out and bring me in to help you organize your next trip's wardrobe.

Personal Stylist Kathy Banta

Happy Wardrobing (and Travelling)!!

Fashion Consultant Kathy Banta

Thrifting Fashions at Chaska Goodwill

If you follow me, you know that I love thrifting. I love the hunt for an expensive or unique piece that has a steal of a price. Most of my clients don't have the time, patience or interest in thrifting but, those of you that do, and have gone with me, you and I get the same high from finding a discarded treasure. My favorite finds have been my Oscar de la Renta black blazer, my yellow LaFayette 148 New York blazer (below) and my gold beaded St John pencil skirt.

Tuesday, I went to a client's home and spent three hours working with her in her closet. She didn't live far from the Chaska Goodwill so, I decided to stop there before heading home. It was a worthwhile stop. Here are my finds and how I styled them.

Hunter by Target 2018

1. I found this olive green shorts jumper in the coat section. I always check the coats and blazers because they are my favorite items to build an outfit around. This had been misplaced. It's an XL; I think a size large would have been a slightly better fit but, no matter, I wasn't leaving it behind. It's too good of a piece that I know the more I play with it, and wear layers underneath, it will be a fun option for a night out in the city.
   

Brand: Hunter by Target

Price: $14.99

Ann Taylor lace skirt

2. I found this burgundy lace skirt. I knew I had a burgundy sleeveless top at home and was hoping they would be of the same hew; they were! This gave me a monochromatic foundation to work with. I placed my white double breasted blazer over the top and grabbed my burgundy heels and I was almost done. Burgundy is typically a Fall color but the weight of this skirt is light and paired with the white blazer, it gives it an airy feel.

Brand: Ann Taylor

Price: $8.99

I also found this Alfani silver gray patent satchel new with tags on it. I bought it for $19.99.

To create a more casual look for this Fall I could pair this skirt with an oversized sweater or a turtleneck for a completely different look. A denim shirt would be cute, too.

Green Velvet Suit

3. This Hunter Green velvet suit was such an exciting find. The jacket and pants were not hanging together. The blazer was in the blazer section and the pants were in the pants section but, I have no doubt that they were donated together.

I paired this suit with a brown shell top from Ann Taylor, a leopard print belt from JCrew and brown Marc Fisher Heels. This gives me another reason to look forward to Fall!

Brand: No branding

Price: $8.99 pants

$10.99 blazer

Whether a Holiday Party or a December wedding, this suit will bring a festive look.

Black Velvet blazer by Talbots

4. Lastly, this black velvet blazer with satin sash lapels is beautiful. It has a built in dickie (button in place panel) that makes the blazer an all-in-one top with jacket. I doubt that I will wear it this way; it felt too dated. I'll wear a blouse underneath instead. I could pair it with a skirt bringing the waist higher but, these black tuxedo pants that I had in my closet went so well, that I know that this will be my first choice of pairing.

Brand: Talbots

Price: $14.99

Thrifting has always been an adventure for this Fashion Consultant. It is also an exercise that helps me stay on my creative game going into client's closets and making outfits out of what they already own.

Whether you like to thrift or not, maybe these ensembles will give you some creative ideas of how to pair a burgundy skirt, or velvet blazer. OR...maybe you'd like to meet me and go thrifting together. That could be fun!

Happy Wardrobing!

Wardrobe Consultant Kathy Banta

InStyle Workbook Interview: Help in Your Closet Refresh

Remember back in the day when we didn't have Pinterest or Instagram? I'd anxiously await for each monthly issue of Glamour, InStyle, Vogue, or Woman's Wear Daily. I'd scoured the pages for pictures of color and style trends. I'd read the short articles about accessories and up and coming shoe trends. Now, so much of it is online. Today, I was looking through an old InStyle workbook that included a booklet with a list of style questions. As I read it, I began to play along and write out my answers. It was fun and a little interesting, probing into my personal style preferences. Here are the questions and my answers for myself. You may want to ask yourself these questions, too.

My top five all-time favorite pieces of clothing?

1. A Good Pair of Jeans - This changes about every year and a half due to trends evolving. At the moment, I'm loving my Levi's flared leg jeans. I bought two pairs and had them hemmed at two different lengths (one for flats and one for heels).

2. A Statement Blazer - I have a straight body shape; I'm an Apple. A fantastic way to camouflaged lack of curves is to wear a third piece item ( a blazer or cardigan). So, I am drawn to blazers with personality! I recently was asked how many blazers I own and I gave a rough estimate. The person I was talking to looked unbelieving. I went home and counted and I was spot on. Let me just say, "I really love blazers!"

3. LBD (Little Black Dress) - Every girl needs at least one LBD. But, two, three, or more Little Black Dresses are fun, and can go to numerous occasions! LOL. There are so many varieties! But, one can often switch out the accessories to dress it up or style it more casually.

4. Black heel booties for Fall/Winter and White Sneakers for Spring/Summer - Again, these change yearly as the trends evolve. It's okay because, I wear them so much that they are tired by the time I need a refresh. booties Sneakers

5. A Simple Shell Top - For years I always bought the statement blazer and then went home and struggled to pair it with blouses. Once I found a simple black shell top, I realized everything looked good with it. So, I bought an Ivory and a Navy shell top, too. They are plain basics that are a must-have in a wardrobe. If you want to wear the statement pieces, you have to have the foundational pieces.

Thrifting Find - Cat Print Jacket @MODAInternational

Photo by Lucy Davis

Green Blazer @BananaRepublic

My Go-To Jewelry?

Photo by Lucy Davis

1. Gold Chain Necklace - to wear alone or to wear layered with other necklaces. When I started wardrobe consulting ten years ago, big gaudy jewelry was in. It's taken a turn and gone more minimal the last few years but, I see a shift happening again. Don't throw that jewelry out! What goes around, comes back around.

2. Over-sized Pearl Earrings - I love these! They are classic and yet, not minimal.

3. Statement Ring - What can I say? It feels feminine.

4. A Watch - I have to have a watch. I've been wearing one since 3rd grade. Last week the battery went out and I had to take it into the jewelers to get it replaced. I was a bit lost without it.

The Outfit or Item People always compliment me on?

I get compliments when I wear any of my green blazers. They look good over a black suit dress, navy foundation or paired with jeans. The green highlights my eye color.

Blazer @AnnTaylor

Thifting Find - Green Velvet Blazer @NineWest

Green Blazer @BananaRepublic

What's something I've always wanted and never bought?

Oh, I've always wanted an expensive purse. BUT...I'm really hard on purses. I stuff them with work items and personal items and I throw them around. My purses take a beating. I would feel horrible using an expensive purse for utility purposes. But, if I were to give into whims, I love the look of this Chloe purse.

Chloe

What's something I keep buying too many of and need to reconsider?

I have a weakness for buying jeans, even when I don't need them. The trends evolve and so, a new pair here and there is to be expected but, I have to limit myself so, I don't over indulge. When I was young, I often wore floods or jeans that were too tight, needing the next size up. I wanted new jeans but my folks couldn't afford them. I know this desire to buy more jeans is purely phycological. This a common issue with women who just can't part with clothing in their wardrobes. It's good to know our issues and know the reasons behind our hang-ups, setting reasonable limits. My favorite fit is a pair of Levi's mid-rise bootcut. I do go through my jeans yearly and donate what's dated or not being used.

What's My Favorite Trends from Spring 2024 Runways?

These are Trends I've been seeing but, my favorites are brooches, Trench Coats, and the Yellow Butter Color.

1. Brooches - I love vintage brooches so, seeing them in large sizes and clusters on blazers this Spring is exciting.

2. Satin Fabrics - Satin in bold and pastel colors has an energetic vibe.

3. Lace - It's feminine and pretty

4. Trench Coats - But, not a boring trench.

5. Sheer Skirts - Sheer skirts over Hot Pants is the thing. Maybe not at Grandma's but, it is on the runways.

6. Short Coats

7. Dresses over Pants

8. Yellow Butter Color

9. Denim on Denim
   

Carolina Herrera

Carolina Herrera

Georgio Armani

Givenchy

Cinq a Sept

Cinq a Sept

Michael Kors

Sergio Hudson

Kenzo

Akris

Ask yourself these questions:

What are your top five favorite wardrobe pieces?

What is your go-to jewelry?

What outfit or item do you get compliments on?

What's a wardrobe item you've always wanted and never bought?

What's something you keep buying too many of and you need to reconsider?

Questions help us understand ourselves better. Are you in a wardrobe rut? Do you need help going through your closet to find those quality, go-to pieces? Do you need styling for your lifestyle?

Reach out to me and let's make a plan. Kathy@KathyBanta.com

Happy Wardrobing!!

Kathy Banta - Twin Cities Wardrobe Consultant/Stylist