TrueColors, that is exactly it - taking lessons from the men! I am realizing the Road Warrior Men pack the way they pack for a *darn* good reason.
When I first started my career what seems like eons ago, it was in a similar travel-heavy role, it was also the late 80s, when women wore matching skirt suits and pantyhose and pointy toed pumps and shoulder pads-- i.e., the male version of a suit. Back then I adored colorful inexpensive pumps (and could comfortably wear them for hours on end!) -- but I quickly learned for travel like this - pack like a man. One suit jacket with matching skirt. One coordinating skirt that matched same suit jacket. Two or three blouses. And ONE pair of pumps - BLACK - and one pair of flats - also black.
Because I'm 5'0" tall. Priority is on not having to lug or drag a big bag around with me, and to carryon because the worse situation is having your luggage not arrive at your destination (hence my absolute paranoia about what I wear *on* the plane for business trips - it better be presentable when I arrive, just in case).
I went through a long phase in the 90s when I only owned black and brown shoes, like a man would, and was perfectly fine with that sensible, rational, closet sparing strategy. Even when NOT traveling.
I am back to loving shoes to add interest and went through a long period, around time I found YLF, and because of YLF, when I banned black & brown shoes from my closet! It really is more interesting that way. But black & brown (cognac) seem to be back and on trend - the 90s are here again - so I am embracing that with a vengeance that's also quite practical and well timed for my recent lifestyle change.
So I don't know. Am I going full circle, or what? But for travel like I'm doing lately, black clothes + black shoes... just really works. The difference is now I know to add an awesome scarf.... to choose the right black fabrics ... to add interest with shoes, even if they are black they have to have something special.... a fabulous coat or jacket...
I would love to do rich ink or navy instead of black -- totally agree it is more flattering. My trouble is that the vast amount of navy garments I find that fit my other requirements (packable, washable, etc) always seem not to be "rich" enough. This may be the petite factor -- petite manufacturers cut corners on fabric quality all the time -- I don't know. I just know that I have an identical black jersey dress in the navy version, and it looks dull, not rich, in comparison. The navy version looks cheap, even if the shade is slightly more flattering than black. So I skip over and over that one and wind up packing the black instead.
Unfrumped-- the conference room freezing factor is HUGE. I am still trying to figure that one out. I wind up multi-layered. I know your vision and share it too, but reality is: traveling this much is doing a number on my waistline, investing in pants/skirts with waistbands that don't stretch much means I would be needing to have them altered every few weeks... darn apple belly... which swells dramatically depending on 1) time of month 2) what I've eaten on the trip 3) airplane swelling. Pants are awesome -- until you pull them out of your suitcase after a long day of airplane swelling + more food than you usually eat and you can't friggin' zip them! That's why I'm learning just to pack ONE pair, in case I have perfect vortex conditions of freezing conference room plus minimal belly swell going on. LOL
Isabel, I am *totally* appreciating EB and similar sites that offer clothes designed for travel. Unfortunately, most of them are made for normal height, not 5'0 petite people, or else I'd be loading up and packing these versatile travel pieces!
I love travel & what to pack posts and wish YLF had a whole sub forum for that topic alone. I know not everyone is into it, but I truly appreciate those who are. I have learned so much from each and every such post. I am frankly jealous of your suitcase, TrueColors, because that's what I *would* pack if it wasn't for the darn belly/travel-expanding-waistband issues I seem to confront on every trip. Sigh!
