The Most Versatile Work Travel Clothes
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Readers had a great discussion the other day about their favorite versatile work travel clothes — so I thought I'd round them up!
We've talked a lot about work travel in the past, including everybody's favorite business travel products, what to pack for extended business trips, what to wear to a conference (and what to bring to a conference), what to wear on a long-flight for work, and what to pack for a one-day business trip.
(Over at CorporetteMoms we've discussed business travel when you've got kids, shared tips for pumping when you're traveling for work, and rounded up readers' top tips for frequent work travel!)
Can You Go on a Two Week Business Trip With Just a Carry On?
First, here was the commenter's original request:
What are your favorite versatile work travel pieces? The dress is business casual at most, so its flexible. I have this dream of going on a 2.5 week business trip with just a carry on, and I’m a bit of an overpacker, so this could be hard. I will have access to laundry. I’m planning on bringing the black Athleta endless pant I have – might also buy one in a lighter color if there is a sale.
Readers had opinions on whether or not this was doable. For a lot of them it came down to your comfort level if people are aware you're rewearing clothes. One commenter noted, “I think the main thing is you have to be comfortable understanding that someone will notice if you wear the same thing multiple times. Most people won’t, but someone will. This only works if you’re willing to just not care.” Other readers pointed out that obviously everyone is living out of a suitcase when they're traveling for business.
Another reader encouraged a capsule wardrobe —
I’d start with thinking in terms of that much-aligned wardrobe capsule, rather than individual pieces. In fact, I’d practice by choosing one or two base neutrals — let’s say black and cream, based on your (potential) Athleta pants. Your pants/skirts would be in those colors, and your blouses/tops would be in any colors that coordinate with them. Then pull a capsule of clothes out of your closet, based on those colors: 3 pairs pants, 6 tops, 1 or 2 toppers (cardigan, blazer, bomber jacket, cropped trench, denim jacket — whatever you wear). In fact, you can practice just by going to your closet and pulling out those 11 items to see if you can do it. Then you can see if you actually have what you need or what you might need to shop for.
Another reader agreed, saying she did the same thing:
I pick a base palette for bottoms and then a complementary palette for tops. In the summer it’s usually grey/navy bottoms and then army green/olive, purple, pink tops. One pair of colorful shoes, one pair of neutral shoes and one pair of sandals. I am always roasting these days so instead of toppers I’ll do dresses if I need a bit more formality. I will pack a shawl or a cropped cardigan but that’s about it.
A third reader cautioned the person packing her bag to keep shoes in mind that match the capsule wardrobe outfits.
That said, other readers disagreed that a 2.5 week business trip could be done because hotel toiletries would be limiting, and for a stay that long they'd want exercise clothes (and shoes) as well as weekend clothes. One reader gave a shoutout for her travel hairdryer, but only to note that she vastly preferred it to the ones usually provided by hotels.
The Most Versatile Work Travel Pieces
Feasibility aside, what can you pack that would be really versatile work pieces? We have a few suggestions…
Related: Corporette Readers' Favorite Items for Business Travel
Travel-Friendly Suits for the Win
There are several companies making travel-friendly suits, where the blazer, pants, and other matching pieces are all designed to resist wrinkles and be airy enough to wear multiple days. You can wear these pieces as separates as well.
Hunting for travel-friendly suits for women? As of 2025, some of our favorites include options from M.M.LaFleur, Talbots, Paul Smith, and Ministry of Supply. Uniqlo occasionally has suiting in their AirSense line.) You may also want to check out our roundup of washable suits for women!
Related: Traveling Working Moms Share Their Top Tips for Frequent Work Travel
Packable Work Shoes
There are also a number of designers making shoes that are specifically designed to be packable — they may squish flat, like Vionic's Uptown collection, or foldable like these popular Tory Burch flats (Boden also often has some!) I would also argue that this is a use case for a lightweight, fabric shoe like Rothy's, Vivaia, Skechers' Cleo, or others.
We've rounded up other more affordable foldable flats like these affordable ones that can be great for use as slippers around your hotel; I've also used flip flops.
Other Work Clothes That Can Do Double Duty
A cardigan can be great because you can wear it as a topper, a buttoned-up top by itself, or around your shoulders like a scarf for added warmth. This reader favorite cardigan even mentions the cardigan's reversibility in the description! We've also rounded up reversible business clothes like work dresses that have two different necklines, or have a different print on the inside of the dress.
I've also always been a fan of traveling with a pashmina or office shawl — you can use it as an extra blanket, a pillow, an extra layer of warmth even on top of a blazer, and (if you're in a skirt), as a lap blanket.
Some of our favorite office shawls as of 2025 include ones from J.Crew, Nordstrom, Tuckernuck, Quince, and this super affordable one from Amazon. If you're looking for more of a ruana jacket, I highly recommend the Brooks Brothers' ones!
Other readers sang the praises of these Eileen Fisher pants for being durable yet so comfortable. Athleisure can also take you far on trips like this — as readers noted, Athleta pants can be great for plane travel, nights at work, and weekend wear.
The Best Business Travel Items in General
These are some of the Corporette readers' favorite items for business travel…
{related: Kat loves this affordable, packable duffle bag}
Readers, what are your most versatile work travel clothes? Which ones do you reach for every time you pack a bag for work? What neutrals have surprised you for their versatility?
I’m an attorney and have recently found myself traveling more. I try to go carry on and I bring gym clothes. I bought a black pants suit and khacki/brown pants suit. I bought the pants on the bigger side so i can sit/ fly etc, depending on the length of the trip i wear black one day, brown one day, black pants and brown jacket, brown pants with black jacket. I bought a pair of sam edelman loafers that were posted here in brown and black that go with both looks (last conference before that i wore sambas). I liked to wear a closed shoe and a sock regardless of the season. I pack a big pashmina. pack one dedicated casual outfit, otherwise my pants suit is comfortable enough to wear all day and all night. that’s basically it.
I travel internationally for work regularly, and we only get economy tickets (can upgrade ourselves). Given the flights are often 8+ hours and overnight, we are all pretty casual and sometimes joke it’s like the camp bus. Athleta’s Headlands pants, with some kind of breathable tee and a cardigan, was my uniform for years — having extra (zip!) pockets when you’re juggling tickets and passport and headphones and such is so worth it. Mine don’t fit anymore and I am just dreading having to find a replacement.
Also, for a 2.5 week conference (not uncommon), I always check. I’ve spilled coffee on myself too many times at breakfast and needed a spare dress, or the weather changes dramatically, or I just can’t bring myself to do sink laundry after a 16 hour day. It’s a hard, long trip, so I give myself some grace. I do use a captain’s bag that has 48 hours of clothing in it, but so far (knock on wood) I’ve had a very good track record.