Image counts.



Especially if you are meeting existing clients or prospects.

Looking professional means grooming is paramount. Look immaculate. Clothes should be well pressed and fall flatteringly when you move. Nails should be well kept and makeup should not be overdone.

First impressions count. The way you look, the way you carry yourself and the image you project makes a difference in the direction the meetings might take. You want to impress you contacts, don't you?

Showing up in a crumpled outfit, no matter how expensive it might be, will not make a good impression. So unless there will be an iron in the hotel room you will be staying in, or you intend to lug along an iron to press your clothing, or the hotel offers laundry services you can count on to get you in well pressed clothes before the meetings, avoid clothes that crease easily.

For your jacket, skirt and pants, avoid 100% linen or 100% silk clothing as although they look and feel fabulous when well pressed, they wrinkle easily. Instead, pack in jackets, skirts and pants that travel well.

By the way, the most important piece of clothing you can pack into your suitcase for your business trip is a great jacket. That one jacket can smarten up anything, be it a dress, tank top and pants or camisole and skirt.

For this all-important jacket, go for one made of wool or at least a wool blend which falls flatteringly on your figure, yet travels well. At least it wouldn't crinkle like 100% linen or silk. Even artificial fibers like polyester and rayon travel well as they don't crinkle easily. A blend that of wool and synthetic fibers would travel well and may be just what you need for that business trip.

Pick at least 2 jackets in neutral shades. Black, navy, brown, white and gray are business-like colors that are easy to match. For example, if you wear a lot of silver and look great in black, you could pick a black jacket and a navy jacket. If softer colors look better on you, a gray jacket and a white jacket would be a better bet. If you look better in gold and warm colors, a brown jacket and a cream jacket might be more appropriate.

Next, pick camisoles and tank tops in colors you love. These can be worn under your jacket, paired with skirts or pants. You could spice up your neutral suit with a crimson camisole underneath, or add gravity to your look with a black tank top. You could even match the camisole to your eye color. Or go for fushia or pink to bring out your feminine side. Since they are worn under your jacket, you could go for satin. You might even get away with silk if you pack it in tissue paper carefully in your suitcase.

Get a skirt and a pair of pants to go with those 2 jackets. Ideally get them in the same shades as your jackets. For example, if you have a black jacket and a gray jacket, a black skirt and a pair of gray pants would be deal.

Then add on a dress or two. Your jacket would make your dress work worthy, as long as it isn't too low cut. It can double up as a fun dress on your off days, or if you extend your business trip to take a vacation,

Make all these clothing wool or at least a wool blend so that they will look great when you finally get to your destination. Okay, you can get away with lycra blend tank tops and synthetics as these travel well too. Rayon and polyester look and feel better when they are blended with natural fabrics like wool or cotton.

Still, if the weather permits, go for wool as natural fibers look and fall much better than synthetics. They look more expensive too, which makes them great for your image as a successful professional.