What to Pack for Extended Business Trips
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How do you pack for a business trip where you'll be gone for MONTHS? Reader B has a great question on long business trips, specifically, what to pack for extended business trips. Here's her question:
Can you give tips or do a post on how to prepare for short-term assignments? I'll be based in Hong Kong for 2-3 months for a project and I'm clueless on what to bring or how to pack. I'm tempted to take my entire closet! Help!
Excellent question. We kind of got at this in our discussion of what to wear for a month-long trial, but that's a bit different because a) you have to be on your best behavior, sartorially speaking — conservative, vanilla, “don't notice me for my clothes” kind of clothes — and b) well, that was a trial.
We also kind of addressed this in our advice to the person who was going to school abroad for a summer, but I suspect your need for backpacking-friendly clothes is slightly less.
These are some of the Corporette readers' favorite items for business travel…
What to Pack for Extended Business Trips
I'm curious to see what the readers say here, but here is what I would suggest: create a capsule wardrobe for work by picking a color family, both for your base color (for accessories) and then for your accent colors. For me this would mean a base color of black (for shoes, bags, belts, etc.) and jewel tones for accents (e.g. royal blue, purple, emerald green, mixes thereof). (Of course, check the weather before you start packing.) So I might pack:
- a black suit with as many pieces as possible (e.g., matching blazer, skirt, pants, dress maybe a second second, a second blazer)
- a gray suit with as many pieces as possible
- a white blouse or sweater (see our nontraditional style ideas on how to wear wear a button-front shirt)
- a black blouse or sweater
- black pumps (at least two pairs — or perhaps a black pair and a purple pair)
- 5-8 work-appropriate tees in jewel tones
- 2 cardigans in jewel tones (or in black, white, or a black/white pattern) (am I the only one who's always freezing?)
- 1-3 bottoms (skirts or pants) in jewel tones or with a fabric distinctly different from the blazer (e.g., if your suit is a tropical wool, bring a linen or boucle skirt) (this is kind of the converse of our advice for how to wear a black blazer with everything)
- silver jewelry (including at least one statement necklace)
- perhaps one or two items from our “surprise workwear basics” discussion — e.g., purple pumps, a colorful bag, or a pair of olive pants (if they fit with the rest of your color scheme).
- Another option: take a look at all of the reversible clothing out there right now!
This isn't to suggest that you have to wear a suit every day — but if you're going to wear black pants two days out of five, you may as well have a matching blazer to throw on if you want to. Yes, it gets a bit repetitive in terms of shapes (even if you're layering different colors with a tee/cardigan combo), but hey, I hear they have shops in Hong Kong, and this will let you adapt to local culture.
Consider Reversible Workwear to Get Multiple Looks Out of One Piece
Hunting for the best reversible workwear? There is a surprising amount out there right now — as of 2025, we'd recommend taking a look at DvF, White House | Black Market, Aday, Wool&*, and Akris. (Asterisks have plus sizes as well as regular sizes!)
The Best Travel-Friendly Suits for Women
Note that there are also a ton of travel-friendly suits for women these days!
Hunting for travel-friendly suits for women or lightweight suits? As of 2024, some of our favorites include these brands/lines: 1) M.M.LaFleur, 2) Ministry of Supply, 3) Paul Smith, and 4) Talbots. (Not pictured: Eddie Bauer and Suitably! Brooks Brothers also occasionally has suiting in their BrooksCool line, and Uniqlo occasionally has Airism suiting. ) You may also want to check out our roundup of washable suits for women!
Readers, how would you pack for 2-3 months worth of business travel? If you have taken such a trip, what were you surprised about — either in terms of what you didn't expect to wear but did, as well as what you thought you'd wear but didn't? Were there any surprise workhorses?
Updated images via Deposit Photos / bitpics.
2024 Update: Here are our latest favorite purple heels for the office — check out all of our favorite heels here!!
I have nothing to add but I’m posting so i get to look at the replies.
http://outfitposts.blogspot.com/2012/11/one-suitcase-business-casual-capsule_6313.html?m=1#.UO9GQbd5mc1
This is a great resource and I think it could streamline your packing plus give you ideas with outfit combinations
Thanks for this!
I think a trip like this would be an excellent opportunity to try out Project 333.
I have become kind of obsessed with this website, which espouses a sort-of Project 333 approach:
http://theviviennefiles.blogspot.com/
and am hoping to remodel my own wardrobe to something like this over time. It seems this would be a good template for packing for a long trip – limited volume, but many options.
FWIW, it’s very based on picking color families as K suggested in the OP. (That’s my problem with implementing – my closet currently looks like a rainbow and I can’t figure out how to pick the 3-4 colors to rebuild it around!)
Love this blog!
This blog is okay for ideas/the general premise, but I sort of stopped liking it when I realized she still buys hugely expensive items (like Hermes, YSL, etc.) that are pretty much outside the range of any average person’s budget. I remember one post where she was patting herself on the back for adding 3 or 4 workhorse pieces to her wardrobe at once, but they were such high end designers that her 3 or 4 pieces still totaled more than most people (even here) probably spend on clothing in a year. So, even though it was fewer pieces, it was still unaffordable and unrealistic. Take it for what it’s worth, I suppose, but this blog does not necessarily represent how the average consumer might build a capsule wardorbe from more ‘mainstream’ clothes.
This is a valid objection only if you’re reading the blog only so you can buy precisely the same things she is. For all you know, she isn’t even buying the expensive pieces. There’s nothing wrong with looking to the expensive for inspiration, and then buying the cheap knockoffs. A lot better in my opinion than looking straight to the cheap stuff, which can be sadly lacking otherwise.
Just a note: If you’re going to be in Hong Kong in Spring/Summer, it does get quite humid there, and in the summer, it’s pretty darn hot. So just some food for thought.
+1
I brought synthetic pantsuits (it was many years ago, don’t judge) for my springtime trip to Hong Kong and was sweating like a pig – and I’m used to hot, humid summers in my hometown.
But the insides of office buildings and taxis and restaurants and shops are air-conditioned to the point of frigidity (more than NY buildings), so take cardigans and wraps. Seriously. I had coworkers who had heaters and blankets in their offices in HK — in the summer.
Early TJ – For those of you with an office, where did you shop for items to decorate it? I have the large items (desk, chairs, table, etc.) but am looking for more decorative items such as lamps, pencil holders, and other items to personalize my space. I work in a conservative law firm, so I don’t want anything too outlandish, just some items to spruce up my space. Thanks in advance!
Target. They have cute desk accessories that aren’t too girly, and they have a nice collection of mix and match lamps.
Try Target and IKEA. I struck out at the fancy antiquey thrift store, but it was worth a look. If you can make friends with the facilities folks (which I highly recommend), they can sometimes hook you up with great unused stuff. I have beautiful old office chairs that were just sitting in a storeroom before I got them.
do most associates “decorate” at your firm? I ask because people really don’t at mine, unless it’s maybe a print on the wall (framed maps of favorite vacation spots are favorites) or your diplomas, plus a few pictures of kids/family and some plants. Otherwise, it’s firm-issued office supplies all the way (even for partners) and bringing in coordinated desk items would stand out.
I realize this is a KYO issue, though, so have at it if that’s the custom.
I always think the same thing whent his question comesd up. Do people really ‘decorate’ their offices? I’ve never seen such a thing.
Yes, attorneys here decorate their offices. That’s why I asked the question. Thanks to everyone for giving suggestions!
Container Store!
UnCommonGoods
Office Supply stores
Crate & barrel
CB2 (I think online only, saw real store in SF, but maybe that’s the only one?)
Art Institute of Chicago museum shop (online)
Gumps (le sigh, le faint)
Have fun curating your office.
Highly recommend IKEA if you have one. I switched out the bankers lamp on my desk for a $15 lamp from IKEA and got non-stop compliments on it.
I had to pack like this for my first summer in banking–we were based in NYC before moving to London. Anyway, my advice is as follows:
–every piece you bring should be a workhorse (well-made/not delicate, can be dressed up/down, relatively neutral (so you can repeat often)
–every piece you bring should be comfortable (don’t bring anything you don’t love/can’t stand in for a long time, etc.)
–bring work clothes and play clothes, noting that the split should be roughly 5/2
–bring clothes for a variety of temperatures, indoors and out, as well as things like wraps or “throwover” cardigans
–think about a few “out of the box” items you’d wish you had–raincoat, swimsuit, 1 formal/nicer dress, etc…those are the things that are hard to find when you’re working, don’t take up a ton of space, but are a huge pain to find on the fly
–remember that you can buy certain accessories, like nylons, undies (not bras), camisoles, etc when you get there, if you need more, so pack light
–always thing about weight–can you pdf documents, bring a warmer thin sweather rather than a bulky sweater, etc.
–plan your outfits around shoes that go with many pieces/color combos (think plain black pumps, plain black flats, etc.)
Yes, you may look more boring than your normal work attire, but you’ll be glad you have less stuff.
Last, you may want to put together a few “emergency mailers” of outfits that a trusted friend can send you if you go out of your mind and need a few “new” things. I had my mom do this and it worked great.
Have fun!
All great advice.
I’d suggest getting a good idea what the weather will be like during the period you’ll be there. I spent a summer working in San Francisco, relocating from NYC, and I did not have enough warm clothes (plus the stores had regular summer styles, no chance to buy warm cardigans…)
i love your point about how work/play clothes should be 5/2 – seems so obvious but i’ve never thought of it that way!! this could be really useful for my shopping in the future – thanks!
TJ: Ladies, I just have to share because I’m so excited. I just won my first trial and got an offer for my dream job post-graduation! (I’m a 3L.)
Congrats!
Congratulations!
Congrats! As a fellow 3L, I am thrilled when anyone gets a job.
Love your handle and so excited for a new episode tonight! I’m totally addicted to this show.
Congratulations!
Yeah! Congratulations :-)
Plus 3 pairs of jeans (1 straight/bootcut for heels, 1 for flats, 1 skinny), and an assortment of t-shirts for casual wear. Maybe 1 pair of shorts/sneakers. What about workout wear? Hotel gym? Swim suit? I would probably pack all the basics above & cram in all my “extras” in the nooks & crannies while weighing my bags frequently.
Three pairs of jeans? Dang. I would limit myself to one pair of all-rounders for sure. Those things take up space.
Compromise: wear one on the plane, pack one or two in your suitcase.
I probably wouldn’t pack three pairs of jeans for summer in Hong Kong. It seems like those would be hot and take up a relative premium amount of space. But I love all the other ideas you bring up — swimsuit, etc. That’s the stuff I always forget (how could I possibly leave my sunglasses behind for a 5 day trip to San Diego? still a mystery to me).
I’d recommend several basic color tops (grey, white, black, a few bold colors of your choosing) that can be worn to death with different scarves and jewelry (i.e. statement necklaces). A couple of cardigans in different colors would go a long way as well.
On a slightly different note, when you are travelling for a long period of time, it can be really nice to bring along a few things that will make your hotel room/short-term apartment more “homey”. When I have had to do this, I have brought a colourful throw, my favourite mug and small teapot, my favourite kitchen knife (I take my cooking seriously and my furnished apartment had a kitchenette) and a few framed pictures of my family. These made such a difference – when I got back to the apartment at the end of the day, it felt like home rather than an anonymous place.
This is such a great idea.
Agree! The mug is a GREAT idea!
Add to that a couple of small decorations for whatever major holidays you’ll be there for and extra bottles of any hair care or similar products that are *must haves* for you (could be shipped). A digital frame loaded with lots of pix might be good too. If you don’t have one, maybe take a USB with your pix and buy the frame there, if prices are comparable. Be sure to check if there’s anything like a VAT refund.
Agree with others here that life does not consist of work; take things for weekends, swimming, activities you love or will be trying out there.
And take your camera!
I travel a lot for work, and have taken to including a pillow sleep spray, so that not only do I get the sleep-encouraging benefits but also every place smells familiar instead of like boiil-washed cotton when I put my head down at night. Molton Brown make one, though the bottle is rather large and it has to be decanted if you are travelling with hand luggage.
I have never traveled abroad to Asia, but a friend of mine who taught English in Japan after college had a hard time finding clothes once there because her build was very different from the average Japanese woman (she is very curvy). I would stock up on bras if you are large of bust so that if something happens to one of them you aren’t SOL trying to find another one, and maybe plan to use all your clothes (basics) but stock up on accessories when you are there.
I have also heard (from another friend who traveled abroad in China) that China is a great place to get bespoke suits made. You can have everything tailored just the way you want – this would be a great time to stock up if your job requires you to wear suits daily.
Yes, especially Hong Kong. Bring a favorite suit or two and have a few copies made – you can always ship them home if they don’t fit in your suitcase.
Yes, the sizes are not the same. Also, if you are tall, nothing will be long enough!
I was going to say that my advice would be: go get a suit (or three) made for you! What a perfect excuse!
+1
Go get clothes made while in Hong Kong – cross the border into China and get a tailor in one of the large shopping malls. It’s a fun day trip and she can have clothes made in less than a week.
Take your favorite suit with you – she will then copy. You shop for the fabric upstairs, bring it back down to her, and she takes your measurements and makes you great, nice looking clothes that fit you like a glove.
Best of luck!
Yes, that’s what I was going to say, too. Get two or three suits (jacket, pants, skirt, sheath dress) made for you while you are in HK. Your coworkers will have local tailor recommendations, and maybe bring one of them to bargain on your behalf if you are not a native speaker. I also agree regarding sizing in Asia. I wear a size 2 at J.Crew and Classiques Entier in the US. I had to shop in the “plus size” nice clothes department at Takashimaya in Japan and only fit into the biggest size they had. One of the department stores didn’t even carry my size, I kid you not. Agree on bringing your own bras, makeup, and OTC meds (assuming they are allowed to be imported into HK).
From what I understand/saw, East Asian office-type workplaces and nicer restaurants/entertainment places seem accepting of hemlines far shorter than what would be acceptable here, but not sleeveless tops/dresses, not cleavage or low necklines, and not open-toed footwear.
Plus size?? Oh my goodness. And you’re so small.
Yeah, I thought there was a language barrier issue at first. Nope. They didn’t call me “fat” in English, but there were definitely some giggles and chatter amongst the shopgirls as I stood there dumbfounded. OTOH, the shopgirls in the plus size department were pretty nice. They looked at me, and immediately grabbed the biggest size they had to see if I could get into it, apologizing in advance if it was too small. I also have an XXL casual dress I bought in Singapore in the ladies section of a department store, which I can wear when I’m on the lower end of my normal weight range. All that said, I’d go back to Japan in a heartbeat. It was an absolutely wonderful place to visit, though not to shop.
Ah yes, I have an XL skirt suit from Singapore that has 3/4 sleeves and is still often too small for me. It is meant to have full length sleeves too. In one of the malls in Singapore there is a big sign out front that says “we carry UK and US sizes” and there is a picture of two very large women on the sign. There, Plus size = US/UK size. My mother in law lived there seven years and she said she would go shopping and a shopkeeper would just come up to her saying “no, too big, too big” and usher her back out the door.
I walked into a store in Hong Kong with my sister (both of us are about 5’5″ and 125ish pounds) and the saleslady immediately barked “YOU’RE TOO FAT TO SHOP HERE. NOTHING WE HAVE IS GOING TO FIT YOU.”
I think we both turned beet red and slunk out.
Something similar to that happened to a friend of mine in Italy after their luggage was lost. She might wear a 10 or 12?
I visit Italy yearly because I have family there and have not been able to buy anything there, EVER, even at my thinnest. I am also extremely short. The girls there are bird boned and the big grandmas all wear mourning house dresses!!!
Made me so sad.
That is one nasty saleslady – I would have whipped out my cellphone camera and snapped pictures (which could then end up on (insert social networking site of your choice). You are a perfectly ordinary size, even for Hong Kong!
My goodness that saleslady is awful.
Even if the OP were 10x bigger than everybody else, there is no cause to speak to someone like that.
OMG. I am a curvy 12-14 and apparently they would look at me like Gilbert Grapes’s mother if I ever went to Hong Kong. Good think I have no plans to go there . . .
5-11 here. Let’s go to Germany or Sweden instead.
Or the UK or Holland :-).
Don’t ever get your luggage lost if you go to France, which is hardly better than Italy. No women’s shoes above 40 (10US), even if Birkenstock makes them up to 43. No underwear. I packed carefully for my sister’s first wedding, but still spent 3 days trying to find a pair of pantyhose that wouldn’t have the crotch at knee level (Marks & Spencer saved me, thank the British!).
+1
Ship your clothes, beauty products, curling irons a week before you go. Let the hotel or corporate housing place know you are expecting a package. Then you aren’t limited on what you take, and at the end you can ship that and all of your souvenirs back.
This is exactly what I was going to say. Ship everything you can!
Everyone else has great ideas.
I read your blog regularly! Just wanted to say I’m a huge fan :)
thank you! :)
ooo, that is brilliant! i will have to remember that if i ever plan a long trip.
Depending on your complexion, packing extra cosmetics may be worthwhile as well. I have a friend with super-pale skin who moved to Costa Rica and has the hardest time finding appropriately tinted foundation… cosmetics are small enough that it seems worthwhile to pack 3 months’ supply of the right stuff rather than have to worry about it.
B,
I can help you here. I run a travel styling company that helps people pack for any trip. My specialty is a carry-on suitcase, but I can help you with your specific issue. Email me – hitha (at) portavico (dot) com. I’d love to help you out! You can also check out my blog for business travel tips – http://hithaonthego.com/
I think there’s plenty of good advice for you here but honestly I don’t see this as a big challenge. You’re going to one place for an extended period – you can pack a big bag and check it. When I travel it may be for three-four weeks, in several countries in both hemispheres. So I have to pack work and casual clothes, for warm and cool climates, in one carry on – because if I’m only in the country for two days there’s not enough time for my bag to catch up with me if it doesn’t make the flight.
Hong Kong has plenty of shops but for any recognizable brand I found that prices were 10-20% higher than the US. If you are OK with no-name locally made clothing you can have a field day, especially if you are petite. The Guardian had a piece about this a few weeks ago. If I find it I’ll add the link.
This may be obvious but check the weather expectations of when you are going. You won’t want to wear jeans outdoors in the summer, and you won’t need a heavy coat. But the usual problem of hot outdoors and overly air conditioned indoors does apply.
Although Hong Kong has a very built-up reputation there’s actually quite a bit of hiking, so if you like to get outside make room for some shorts and walking shoes.
Otherwise my main tip is that my favorite bar when I went was Quinary, at 56-58 Hollywood Road in Central.
Related to Kat’s comment about always being cold and this mornings discussion about finding dresses with sleeves, I have a problem with finding/wearing blazers and welcome some advice. I usually wear cardigans because blazers feel too mismatched, like a failed attempt at a suit. I have a lot of sheath dresses (think Calvin Klein from Macys) in black and gray or combinations thereof that I usually wear with a black cardigan. I also wear cardigans with a pencil skirt and button up blouse. Or a full suit, but never a blazer. What is a good basic, versatile blazer? Also for cardigans, I basically only have black and white. (OK one silver but that is not for the office.) In fact as I’ve mentioned before I tend to wear black and grey much of the time. Today: black dress, black cardigan, leopard print mary janes. I don’t necessary *want to* wear more color, but think maybe I should!
My black and dark grey blazers get the most wear (the grey one is wool/textured and seems to go with everything). I also have an orange blazer that gets a surprising amount of wear. My wardrobe also leans heavily black/grey. I think the key is the find something that is not necessarily part of a suit. I have a hard time ever wearing my suit jackets without their partner. I don’t know if it is something in my brain or something about the jacket itself.
I got a cute black blazer from The Limited. My workplace is pretty casual, so I feel too dressy wearing it with black pants. I find myself mostly wearing it with jeans and a graphic tee or knit top.
I’m having the same problem, so hoping you get some good advice. I feel like I really need a few blazers to go with sheath dresses or to throw on with a skirt and top when I’m not sure how dressy something is. Maybe it’s because I’m large chested that I have a hard time putting together that type of outfit and having it feel right, or maybe I just don’t have the right blazer. I can’t decide.
Would it feel as mismatched if you bought the jacket as a separate without the pant/skirt/sheath? I’ve seen some at J-Crew (if that’s your thing, I’d have to get shorter and straighter-figured) that are gorgeous colors and don’t necessarily demand a “mate” like a lot of suiting. There was one cobalt one I was DYING over but the price point was a little high for my student loan-fueled bank account. I have one or two blazers I can separate from their suit-mates, but it’s mostly because they fit perfectly. It’s a tough match but it can be done.
Also, Susie, I would love a pair of leopard print mary janes. Jealous :) That outfit sounds cute.
I guess I’m just not sure how to match the items. Which is why I wear dresses, I don’t even have to put together a top and bottom, plus the waist is not going to puff out like when I tuck in a shirt! I feel like a blazer will feel like a mismatched suit, but I guess the theory is to find something so completely different (color or material) that it doesn’t feel like you’re trying to make a suit out of it? (ie. not two slightly different blacks) I think that’s why I feel more comfortable pairing with a cardigan. I’m having a hard time trying to explain this, sorry if I’m not making sense.
I know what you mean. I have some where I have black pants that I bought from Store X and a black blazer from Store B that happen to be the same black, but that’s the only time I mix blacks–it’s just too tough otherwise. If you had a colored/patterned sheath, for example, a black blazer could tone it down for the office. You might like a more fitted silhouette? If you have a solid color sheath/dress/whatever that wasn’t part of a suit, it probably won’t look like one if you throw a blazer over it. I fully admit that this took some trial and error mostly because I was tired of wearing the same suits day in and day out during internships.
I do the dress/cardigan thing sometimes too, but if the dress underneath is a muted solid, I’ve thrown a patterned White House Black Market cardigan over it to jazz it up. I didn’t do that for court days (or I took a jacket to the office pretty much daily) but for days when I was just in-office it made life a little more exciting. That’s a know-your-office deal though, the places I’ve worked have featured dudes in ridiculous ties on a daily basis and female attorneys who wore rocking outfits all the time (I was impressed, anyway). I know some other places are a little more…muted.
I have had luck with blazers that don’t look like suit jackets – so no lapels or no collars, embellishments, fabrics like tweed, bright, non-suiting colors etc. If you are going to buy a blazer for a dress, don’t look for a basic or a neutral, look for something that is different in terms of color, fabric, pattern, etc, because it will work well with a more basic dress in a traditional color and fabric
I think the key is to look for blazers that are not made out of “suit fabric.” I find many around … Talbos, Boden, and the like. Then it is deliberate pairing of color similarities so it doesn’t look like I mismatched a suit piece. So I have separates galore, kept in the closet by color. Yes, I have many more black jackets, but I have red, blue, and purples and the rare grey.
Like earlier posts, my neutral is black and my accent colors are in the ranges of
red/pink
blue
purple
With that, all the sections of my traditional walk in (with 2 bars, one side for me and the other for DH) are all organized in the same color flow.
I usually start by selecting the blazer, then the skirt, and then a top (tee, sweater). Suits are held separately.
I had a similar issue years ago – I worked in Belgium for three months. And I packed horribly – my Southern California wardrobe could not even fathom the bitter cold. And their style of work clothes was way more conservative than what I was used to in my business casual tech office. I thought I anticipated all this, and packed more warm and formal than usual – and still woefully underestimated it.
You’d think – great opportunity to go shopping while in Europe! Wrong – sizes were all different, everything at that time seemed so weird and flimsy and polyester-y. I spent a ton of time looking but bought very little. Plus in Asia their clothing sizes run much smaller – if you’re an 8, 10 or above you may not be able to find things.
Oh – and make sure you’re well stocked up on hair products. It can be tough to find your brands in other countries. Plus many things are formulated for different markets. Shampoos, for example, are super harsh – because where I was it was the custom to wash your hair once a week.
Everytime I read your handle I get the urge to watch Up. Tonight’s the night, it better be on Amazon Instant!
Just have to say how much I love your handle!
Thanks, I’m moving to Belgium in a couple of weeks. I have the winter clothes and am familiar with the office culture, so hopefully I”ll be prepared. It’s good to hear about the differences in what you found there, such as toiletries and clothes. I’ve never shopped there. I might be doing my shopping in London instead for a while – I think it’s easier to find stuff there.
Or possibly Germany – depending on how close to the border you are, there’s some very good shopping close to Belgium, for example in Cologne and Düsseldorf.
Also, check the pavements where you’re going before you settle on footwear. There may be some people who can wear very high heels on cobblestones and walk long distances, but I haven’t yet met one…
I did a couple of 2 month stints in India last year and here’s what I learned from those adventures:
– Don’t forget weekend clothes! I felt like I had hardly anything to wear when I wasn’t at work.
– Pack gym clothes that do double duty to cut down on overall item count: tops with built-in sports bras and capri pants or yoga pants to supplement the weekend wear. Many times it was so hot on the weekends that I’d wear the workout clothes from the get-go because of the high anticipated sweating.
– A set of lounge wear. Comfy pants and a decent looking hoodie or something. It’s nice to have this to wear in your hotel room at night if you work from there after hours, just in case you have to run out of the room for something.
– Go light on the jewelry. You don’t want to lose anything while traveling and it’s fun and easy to buy cheap street jewelry once you arrive.
– Febreeze!
-1 pair of closed-toe shoes. Never know how conservative places/clients/meeting settings will be.
– I second the comment about bringing stuff to make your hotel room homey. I brought candles, a framed picture, my own slippers, a couple of full bars of soap, and some other stuff that totally helped minimize feelings of being a nomad.
Check out my blog for lots of packing posts (under the “Let’s Pack for…” series)! http://bschoolstudio.blogspot.com/search/label/India
Good luck and have fun!
Thank you, this is exactly what I was thinking. I’m moving to Belgium and will have a month of living out of my suitcase (with my two dogs no less, who are going to be upset at the lack of dog beds). I can create a work capsule easily enough, but then add in gym clothes, winter running clothes, weekend clothes (including going out with fashionable friends in London), warm dog walking clothes, etc. etc. Obviously much of this overlaps, but it’s much more complicated to create. The weather will be different from India, but I’m going to check your blog out for general ideas, thanks!
And don’t forget at least one set of flopping around the hotel clothes that aren’t pyjamas, in case you need to answer the door or something. (Or pyjamas that can do this.) Every time I haven’t taken these I’ve when travelling I’ve regretted it.
(For dog walking, I assume you already have something that’s wind- and waterproof, but given the weather we’ve been having on the continent lately, make sure you bring it. I can’t imagine walking dogs in a smart wool work coat would be much fun!)
TJ – I have had the same computer (an IBM thinkpad from college) for about 10 years. I think it is time to get something new, but I don’t know what I want to buy. Would y’all buy a desktop/laptop or would you say forget it and just buy an ipad?
I really only want to do itunes/go shopping/pay bills. Do you think it is worth it to buy something?
If it’s your primary computer I would get a laptop. A nice lightweight one. You could get a netbook too, but I personally like having a disk drive. iPads are nice, but not ideal for typing even longer emails. Of course a portable keyboard would help with that, but I would still go laptop or netbook. I have an HP all-in-one computer at home, a personal Lenovo laptop, another Lenovo laptop for work, and an iPad. I don’t use the desktop or iPad much.
If you’d really never use your computer to write/edit a document (although I have trouble fathoming that) then a tablet is probably fine. But I have found that some websites just don’t run properly on tablets (yet). I would say the laptop to tablet overlap (as in what you can do equally well on both) is probably close to 80%, but if you need to do that other 20% of things (write/edit documents, use certain websites, etc.) the tablet really doesn’t cut it.
Things I wouldn’t use my iPad for: TurboTax, storing and editing lots of photos, looking at websites with Flash, word processing, Citrix/working remotely for long periods of time. My iPad is a glorified useful toy, not a replacement for a home computer.
Why don’t you compromise and get a Macbook Air or similar netbook? That way, you could have the portability of a tablet with some of the larger processing power of computers.
+1 for the MacBook Air. I bought mine about a year ago after years of Dell/pc clones, and couldn’t be happier.
I haven’t had anything but a laptop in years for home. I have a wireless printer and use it for everything. The cool thing is that when I travel, I have my home computer with me. But I don’t travel with a work laptop. I have a Dell laptop that matches my quilt because it sits on my bed 90% of the time.
I was one of those women who depended on my husband for my computing needs but he uses the computer for work which left me and my son wrangling over the laptop. I finally bought a macbook air and I paid 100 dollars for unlimited help on the computer. I did not purchase an Ipad because of storage space and I like to use the computer at home to write and edit briefs. I love my macbook air. Love!
I have a laptop, desktop Mac, and ipad. Don’t forget with an ipad you still need a computer to start it with (iTunes), synch it and download new operating systems. Some websites do not displayy on the ipad or the shopping interface doesn’t work. I would be wary of having it as my only device.
Used to work in mainland China, so here’s my take:
– Buy new hair appliances (blowdryer/curling/straightening iron) there because your voltage may not mesh well with the local system.
– Ditto with the beauty products. I was able to find suitable shampoo/conditioner and body wash, but LIVED for care packages with American deoderant and beauty products such as moisturizer without whitening cream.
– Hong Kong gets disgustingly hot in summer (if that’s when you’re giong), so I recomend layers. Perhaps a bunch of sheath dresses and interchangeable cardigans that can come off when you hit the street.
– Keep your cleavage covered- it’s not appreciated over there. I’m not particularly busty, but wearing the slightly lower-cut American styles made me feel awkward many times. Perhaps a nice scarf is a good fix for this, especially if you can throw it in your handbag once you hit the (disgustingly hot) street.
– If you’re curvy or a larger size, you can’t bank on being able to buy clothes off-the-rack, so bring what you need.
– Bring a c*cktail dress- you never know when you need one.
– I also found that jeans weren’t that common for casual clothes among the professional adults from mainland and HK. If you have cigarette pants, those might be a good piece to double as work/casual.
I worked in Hong Kong for 3 years. Here are my thoughts/tips:
Temperature: Hong Kong is hot and humid. If you are coming from NY think those days in August when the Subway doesn’t work hot and humid. The weather will be fine now (Jan/Feb), but it gets warm fairly quickly, so be prepared and realize that you will sweat. That said, many, if not all, things are very well air conditioned, so layering will be your friend.
Clothes: The earlier poster is right. The HK market is focused on the (American) size 2, 4, and occasionally 6, and for people who are about 5’4’’. It is high end fashion (my office building had a Valentino, Dior and 3 story Louis Vuitton in it and that was the norm) so buying off the rack is hard, but there is an H&M, GAP, Esprit and other one off shops and you have stores like Harvey Nichols and big malls where you can shop. With the expat presence they are getting better about sizing, but sometimes it is a bit of hit or miss. Online is a bit weird – It was not a big thing when I was there (seriously, no online shopping!), but now some people seem to be ordering from ASOS and other sites to get it shipped to HK. However, you can get anything and everything made. Prices and quality vary depending on where you go, but the range is impressive. Anyone you meet in HK will have a tailor they use – ask for suggestions. If you are there during the summer (or even April) junk trips will be starting, so I would bring swimsuit/coverups. Dry cleaning is expensive. Bulk wash is cheap. Ask for recommendations based on your location. Oh, and there’s always a discount or room for negotiation on price… always.
Formality: Because HK is very fashion conscious and central is all business all the time, I felt that everyone was very formal so most people (including me) wore suits every day, especially because I would always run into clients. That said, I would see what your office does.
Shoes: You don’t *have* to walk around town (taxis are very cheap and the subway and public transit are very easy) but sometimes it is easier to walk. Notably, everyone seems to walk in heels, despite all the immense hills that HK has. They take practice, so my main advice is simply wear shoes that you can walk in (maybe that means investing in one of the classic black pumps that is not crazy high). I actually walked in flip flops a lot to work and had heels under my desk, but I was a tall white girl and people just let it slide (plus the one time I went into a store to buy shoes I was directed to the men’s section if I wanted something in a women’s size 10). And you can get shoes made, too.
As a separate note, CNY is coming up — everyone (bankers and lawyers included) goes away for CNY. You can stay in HK and if you are new it will be a great way to walk around, but note that almost everything will be closed and most everyone will be gone (yet another reason visitors travel).
If you have other questions, feel free to ask.
Agreed! A two to three-month stay in HK is the best opportunity to get some quality tailored things, be it shirts, suits, or trousers. You will be staying in the city long enough to be acquainted with the different tailors and go for second or third fittings. As someone who never found the right-fitting button up in the states, I have never looked back after going the custom route.
My favorite tailor for women’s shirts: Peter Lee at Lee Baron or W.W. Chan (both are located in TST, Kowloon).
Just a small side note: Nordstrom now does worlwide international shipping…
Try the following blog: http://theviviennefiles.blogspot.ca/
Its setup with 3 month capsules and is based on having 33 items of clothing (not including underpinnings and accessories.
Hey all, I am a 1L in Boston (used to spend time on here, but I have only visited a few times since starting law school) and had a few questions:
1. Would you consider a light grey suit proper attire for initial interviews/OCI? I also have a black suit, so I was thinking black for initial, then grey for any potential follow up interviews. (I know this sounds like I’m thinking far ahead, but I’m using these suits for interviews for 1L summer as well.)
2. For those of you who hire attorneys (especially law students), are there any suggestions of what stands out positively or negatively on resumes?
3. If anyone has general law school/1L job hunt advice, it is entirely welcome! I know generally what I want to do and am currently in the process of applying for summer positions.
Thanks in advance!
For number 2, my prior firm looked for someone that had something interesting and out of the ordinary on their resume. It gave them something to talk about. For me, it was corrections experience, someone else had a prior career as (forgive me for not knowing the proper term) a cosmetologist at funeral home. There was a guy that had been a professional photographer for the AP in the middle east and someone who had been a missionary. You don’t have to have a prior career to have something interesting. Did you volunteer somewhere? I also know someone who worked into either her resume or cover letter that she could quickly solve a rubix cube. She got a ton of interviews and was also usually tossed the rubix cube right off the bat. Make sure you are honest!
Thanks! That’s very helpful. I’ll have to think of what I can put that is out of the ordinary (in a good way).
Solving a Rubix Cube to start every interview must have been a great icebreaker!
1. No on the light grey suit–unless you are non-traditional with decades of experience. Interview suits are strictly black, navy, or charcoal. Pin stripes are acceptable. I would (and have) worn the same black suit for the OCI and the call-back interviews.
2. Negative stand-out: it drives me crazy to not see publications or patents cited to in proper Blue Book form on a law student’s resume. You don’t know what Blue Book is yet, but it will become your best friend. Use it.
3. Network, network, network. Talk to the attorneys at career fairs. I get so bored when I go to a career fair and just stand around because all the law students are hanging out at the bar.
1. Thanks – that’s what I was worried about! I think I’ll consider the position I’m interviewing for, but mostly stick with the black based on your and Alanna’s comments. I think that mine is more conservative than most light grey suits I’ve seen, but I would rather be safe than sorry! (I tried finding the suit in another color, but there weren’t any in the same style, unfortunately.) I also have an older, less quality black suit (I have a strange affinity for business clothes and suits), but I want to use the nicer ones for interviews!
3. Thanks! I love talking to attorneys at networking events, especially since normally nobody else is and so you can have really good conversations. I’m glad the attorneys feel the same way – at some that I’ve attended, it has felt like the attorneys just attended to see other attorneys.
I do not have as much experience as k-padi, but I do work at a business formal, white shoe New York Firm, and I would have to disagree on the light grey suit. It does depend on the suit, but I have a light grey suit that I wore at least one day of OCI’s and it did not make any difference at all. Also, definitely not non-traditional and did not have any experience. I don’t think anyone here would bat an eye over a light grey suit.
I will also be interviewing the OCI candidates this year, so there’s also that.
Re: no on the light grey suit. I agree-it depends on the suit. I have seen light grey suits worn inappropriately more than appropriately. So some of my reasoning was trying to give the best advice with limited information.
Cheap light grey suits are usually transparent and ill-fitting (even at the J Crew/BR/AT level). A dark-colored cheaper suit can hide it’s flaws better than a lighter colored suit. Non-traditional applicants are more likely than traditional applicants to have invested in a high quality suit and so it’s generally more likely that the suit won’t be inappropriate. I know, lots of stereotypes packed in there and I apologize for that.
FWIW, when I lateraled as a 3rd yr associate, I wore a medium grey suit to my interviews with a dark blue or red tee from AT underneath.
That makes sense–mine was Theory (from a sample sale!) so maybe this affects my view.
Understood – thanks for the explanation! I really appreciate all the help.
I did a semester in DC (almost 6 months) living out of a large suitcase and a carry-on. I bought most of my heavy coats there, since I had no reason to own them before (and they’ve never been unboxed since). I did essentially what was recommended here: pack as many staple pieces as you can, and then some fun stuff to work in some variety. It was not all that fun wearing the same three suits and two pairs of shoes for that long (yay for dry cleaners), but it worked out. I (think I) brought enough tops and such that it wasn’t too obvious I was wearing the same basic suits over and over. Men have it so much easier in this department…
This has been eating me away inside, and I need your help. Some items of jewelery were stolen from my home. I discovered it late. I started off searching for a pair of missing special-occasion expensive earrings and, in the process of going through all my nicer jewelery, realized other pairs of earrings and a gold/pearl bracelet are also missing.
I like to save and buy real pieces (pearls, gold, coral, etc.) and so the missing items are small but valuable. The items were not locked but hidden away, obviously not well enough. I am kicking myself for being so careless, though I am generally very frugal and careful. I have been wracked with worry, anger at my own carelessness at not noticing before, and at the potential thieves for betraying my trust.
There are 3 persons who have had access to my home at various points in the last few months when the pieces seem to have gone missing – babysitter, maid and housekeeper. All 3 were in my house for periods of time when I was not in the house. e.g. the babysitter watching my toddler, or the housekeeper who had the key and knew I would not be back until late.
I dont employ the babysitter or housekeeper anymore for different reasons (timings didnt work out for hkeeper, my toddler has different childcare now). I still use my primary maid who I’ve had for years and trust with the key, but she brings along assorted helpers/poor relatives each time she comes. While I trust her, I have in the past had misgivings about her helper – missing cash and the only person who had been in the room was the helper. At that time I discussed my concern with the maid and she talked to her helper who denied taking it. I let it go because I trusted the maid (still do) and asked her not to bring that particular helper again.
Now I have three questions – (1) is there anything I can do to try and recover the items? I assume contacting the police is no use since I dont even have exact dates when the items went missing (hazy recollection of what occasion I wore it for last, many months ago) or a reasonable expectation of which of these people could have taken it. Is there anything I can do to pursue the possible thieves? Confront them? Stop using the maid? Never call that babysitter again? Give her new employer a heads-up? I feel frustrated but helpless given I don’t know who it is.
(2) Any tips for getting over it? I’d normally discuss this with my DH but I’ve been blaming myself so much over it that I have mentioned it to nobody.
(3) Any tips for preventing this from happening? I know, I know, keep it under lock and key. But lock up the ipad and cameras every time cleaners come? What about some of the jewellery I wear on a daily basis and like to keep accessible and in rotation? How do you guys keep some cash at home for emergencies?
Thanks!
What about buying a nanny cam or something similar and setting it up since you have at least 1 (possibly more depending on the help you get in the future) people in your home? I would think of it as a safety measure that could also be helpful in case you have more babysitters.
I would also not alert your babysitter’s new employer unless you are absolutely positive it is her. It seems like an action like that could really damage her business (maybe livelihood? I don’t know the details here) unless you are absolutely positive it is her who took your jewelry.
Can you file a claim with your homeowner’s/renter’s insurance?
I would not continue to employ the housecleaner, as you have already missed cash that seems to have gone missing when her helper was in your home, and now jewelry. JMO.
A small lockbox/letter safe would be easy enough to slip in a closet and still give you access to cash and valuables.
This has been eating me away inside, and I need your help. Some items of jewelery were stolen from my home. I discovered it late. I started off searching for a pair of missing special-occasion expensive earrings and, in the process of going through all my nicer jewelery, realized other pairs of earrings and a gold/pearl bracelet are also missing.
I like to save and buy real pieces (pearls, gold, coral, etc.) and so the missing items are small but valuable. The items were not locked but hidden away, obviously not well enough. I am kicking myself for being so careless, though I am generally very frugal and careful. I have been wracked with worry, anger at my own carelessness at not noticing before, and at the potential thieves for betraying my trust.
There are 3 persons who have had access to my home at various points in the last few months when the pieces seem to have gone missing – babysitter, maid and housekeeper. All 3 were in my house for periods of time when I was not in the house. e.g. the babysitter watching my toddler, or the housekeeper who had the key and knew I would not be back until late.
I dont employ the babysitter or housekeeper anymore for different reasons (timings didnt work out for hkeeper, my toddler has different childcare now). I still use my primary maid who I’ve had for years and trust with the key, but she brings along assorted helpers/poor relatives each time she comes. While I trust her, I have in the past had misgivings about her helper – missing cash and the only person who had been in the room was the helper. At that time I discussed my concern with the maid and she talked to her helper who denied taking it. I let it go because I trusted the maid (still do) and asked her not to bring that particular helper again.
Now I have three questions – (1) is there anything I can do to try and recover the items? I assume contacting the police is no use since I dont even have exact dates when the items went missing (hazy recollection of what occasion I wore it for last, many months ago) or a reasonable expectation of which of these people could have taken it. Is there anything I can do to pursue the possible thieves? Confront them? Stop using the maid? Never call that babysitter again? Give her new employer a heads-up? I feel frustrated but helpless given I don’t know who it is.
(2) Any tips for getting over it? I’d normally discuss this with my DH but I’ve been blaming myself so much over it that I have mentioned it to nobody.
(3) Any tips for preventing this from happening? I know, I know, keep it under lock and key. But lock up the ipad and cameras every time cleaners come? What about some of the jewellery I wear on a daily basis and like to keep accessible and in rotation? How do you guys keep some cash at home for emergencies?
Thanks!
I t
I’m so sorry. As to item 1, the items are gone. Even if you are right that one of those people stole it, which you have no evidence of, it’s long since been pawned. I presume you listed them on your homeowners’ insurance, so look into whether it makes sense to make a claim. It’s wrong for you to accuse people without any evidence. For all you know, one of the mothers of your toddler’s play date stole the items. If there’s one thing I learned working retail, it’s that thieves come from of all types and backgrounds, even those who can easily afford to pay. As to item 2, I don’t think keeping secrets from your DH is a good idea. You’ll probably go through the five stages of grief. And as to item 3, we bought a hotel-room-sized home safe at Costco. It is certainly not going to stop a determined thief, but it does prevent sticky fingers. The passports, birth certificates, emergency cash, and most of my (modest) jewelry live in the safe. Before the housekeepers come, I put the laptop and whatever jewelry I’m not wearing that day in the safe too. Another thing we did, somewhat on accident, is key the deadbolt and doorknob to different keys. The housekeeper only has the doorknob key. On days she isn’t scheduled to come, we lock both locks, and only lock the doorknob on the day she is scheduled. I’d also get a nanny cam if I were you, and tell your housekeeper she is no longer allowed to bring people over to help, even if that means she has to stay longer to finish the job.
Oh along these lines, it’s super easy to swap out a door knob on a closet and fit it with a locking knob and a key that you keep on your keyring. That was a very low tech way my parents used to keep things out of our reach. It’s cheaper than a safe too.
Desi Lady, I”m sorry for your losses. I think SFBayA has the right answer – you need a safe. Our housecleaner has been with my husband’s family for 30 years (she cleans for his mom and cleaned for his grandmother before her death) and doesn’t bring any helpers, so I don’t lock up anything. But when we have housesitters when we go on vacation, we take laptops and cameras with us or to a friend’s house. Same thing when we have repair people who are not in our sight at all times.
It is very difficult to get good help. But be careful! I thought the SAME. Thing then found out that ALAN TOOK MONEY TO BUY VODDKA! He did it more then once so I stopped keeping cash in my undies drawer! FOOEY ON HIM! I caught him with his hand in there and he tried to say he felt romantic. When I was not there but I knew then he was after the cash not my pa ties! The next week OUT he went! Yay !!!
I have a more general question (sorry for starting two threadjacks):
Where would you suggest getting a shirt for under a suit? I’ve tried Ann Taylor, Brooks Brothers, etc. (feels like everywhere) and the shirts are either too revealing or don’t work under a suit jacket. I’m looking for light blue (so it is conservative and traditional but not just white) and/or white.
Thanks!
Why are you set on light blue or white? Boston-ites might correct me here but I wouldn’t limit myself. If you are a man, yes, then white or light blue are the only acceptable colors. Just like black suits are verboten for men but perfect for women, different rules apply. I wouldn’t go neon-yellow as a law student but with a black suit, you can go with any neutral and even jewel-tone shades. Personally, I might not do a pattern but I don’t see why not.
What kind of shirt are you thinking? If you have your heart set on a button-down, Brooks Brothers is the gold standard. I wouldn’t wear a button-down though. They have too much fabric for under a women’s suit jacket and get hot.
My number one priorities are a high neckline (three fingers below your super-sternal notch) and short sleeves (I got nervous-hot in interviews).
And wear shoes you can walk a few blocks to lunch in.
I was sticking with light blue or white to stay more conservative. Would you think a red shirt would be appropriate? I didn’t want to go too bold.
I’ve been looking for button downs since they seem more formal and thus appropriate for OCI interviews. I have had a tough time finding button downs that have a high enough neckline. Most of them are so revealing I wouldn’t wear them casually, let alone to an interview! The Brooks Brothers ones I tried just did not fit me properly, unfortunately. (I’d like something a little less expensive, but just want a high quality shirt at this point!)
I’m all about the comfortable shoes! I like the comment about walking to lunch; I can definitely see some painful situations otherwise.
Thanks again!
I think red would be great. Many men wear red ties so it’s not a “too bold” color for interviews. Besides, you’re going to be a lawyer–own it!
Shirts I wore to call-backs and received offers from:
– Lavender (black suit – I also love this pairing with navy)
– White with black stripes (gray suit)
– Pink (gray suit)
– Medium blue with a white stripe (gray suit)
– Something I’ve blocked out b/c the interview was so horrid (flirtatious older male hiring manager)
I wore the same pink/gray combo for OCI and felt like I stuck out – literally every other woman I saw was in a gray or navy suit with a white shirt. For that reason I might stay away from a bold color like red for OCI, but absolutely no need to limit yourself to true blue or white.
Jcrew’s shirts fit me well, in case you haven’t tried there yet. Depending on the store, they may not have very many actually on-site (not weekend-overpriced-trendy enough to warrant the floor space in some locations) but lots of options online. Talbots also has decent options and are cut well for an hourglass shape IMO.
I went to law school in the Boston area pretty recently… we were told button up white shirts for interviews were the norm.
I actually wore a dark pink/reddish silk shirt for my 1L moot court competition and I felt very risque. :)
I think for regular work, it is fine to vary from that & wear whatever color you like.
Boston is MUCH more more formal than the bay area.
Funny, I see absolutely no problem with a light gray suit for interviews but would never recommend anything underneath other than a white or light blue (or possibly French blue) button front cotton shirt or silk blouse (with collar and long sleeves, of course).
Well, this certainly shows that different people consider different things conservative! Thank you all for your advice – I’ll keep it in mind and probably look for a blue button down. I’ll check out JCrew soon, too.
I wanted to defend the theviviennefiles.blogspot.com website. Her Pinterest images tend to be of high-end designer clothes, BUT she has said you can substitute similar, lower-end clothes, AND anyone who would like her to do a blog post about a certain price point only has to give her a clothing budget. NO ONE who has complained to her about the price of her suggestions has come back to her with a budget. NO ONE. So if you like her ideas and want real life examples for yourself, just shoot her an email with a number–for an outfit, for a month, for a year, whatever. I myself do not have a clothing budget because I’m struggling with the concept where clothes are concerned, lol.
The comment about preparing care packages for someone back home to mail to you when you desperately need a fresh injection of your favorites is great! And the weather there in summer is unbelievably hot. My father visited during the summer for a very short trip. He showed me his dress shirts that had all these sweat stains all over, not just in the pits. I’d forgo synthetics completely. The above commenter who lived in HK for three years has some great ideas.
And I second the wise comments about bringing your own bras, raincoat, swimsuit, etc. Stuff that’s hard to shop for at home is going to be even harder to find over there, if only because of the language barrier and lack of time and not knowing where to shop. Especially bras, because if you’re a small back/full bust size like me (30F), you’ll be shopping online BUT shipping to Asia from the U.K. (where most small back/full bust bras come from) is more expensive than to the US.
If you’re somewhat busty and need natural fiber shirts to wear under a suit, try the shopping suggestions at thinandcurvy.com. Brittany even groups them into categories. Full bust and small waist is one. Full bust, not necessarily small waist, etc. Once you’ve checked out the selection at the websites she recommends, you can read reviews of some of those items at linked blogs.
Lots of great suggestions in these comments, so thanks! I hope never to go to Asia again during the summer, but I may end up there or somewhere hot and humid again anyway!
Yes, that’s how long it’s been. So much for participating in conversations!
For Zora! In case you need some screen shots: http://www.usmagazine.com/entertainment/news/matt-bomer-goes-shirtless-does-ab-crunches-on-the-new-normal-2013101
GAH!!! What are you trying to DO to me, woman!??! ;o)
Get back to work!!!!
Oh that episode was so good last night. I was thinking the show was getting too saccharine (after a really good first few episodes) but it’s back in my queue.
As someone who lived in Japan for a number of years (and had business trips to Korea although not China) I cannot emphasize enough that even a hint of skin below, say, an inch below the collarbone, is really going to make co-workers uncomfortable. This meant that most of my button down shirts were inappropriate, scoop neck tops, v-necks, etc. (and I have very little cleavage!)
It was always really obvious which women were new in town by this – what is considered conservative here is probably still too low! I can’t emphasize this enough – once I realized how inappropriate a lot of my shirts were I was really embarrassed to have worn them for so long.
Instead, go with crew neck shirts and button downs with higher buttons.
The link Kat used for the hunt for shirts – the first shirt is obviously too low, the button-down at the bottom of the page looks like it would be OK.
Looking at the Brooks Brothers page for example – the openness of the button downs is way too low for Asia – but it looks like there is another button which could be buttoned, making them OK.
http://www.brooksbrothers.com/womens/dress-shirts/0302,default,sc.html
OK, will get off my soap box. Obviously it is a hot topic for me. :)
I spent 4 months in London, in a very conservative industry where suits are the norm. I lived in corporate housing and had a washer/dryer combo in the unit. But those European all-in-one machines aren’t quite what we are used to here in the states. I was there in the winter, and heavy sweatshirts/flannel pjs took forever to dry, draped around the apartment. So i would suggest giving some thought to the laundry situation when picking what to bring. Similarly, dry cleaning was insanely expensive, so I got a lot more use out of the under suit blouses and tees that I could wash on delicate and line dry than the silk ones that required dry cleaning. My 3 suits made it to the dry cleaners only three or four times during my stay.
Sorry for any repeats…
I just moved to Shanghai a week ago so I can’t comment yet on how people dress for work here except for the fact that most offices aren’t heated, so be ready to wear your winter coat at your desk.
What I can say is that a lot of people smoke in China. Make sure you either have an allowance for dry cleaning or access to a washer.
In my quest for an apartment, there has only been one place that also had a dryer and it was actually a washer/dryer combo unit. Not sure how that works.
re: shipping items ahead and bespoke suits:
Our clothes and golf clubs were in customs for a week. We shipped 250 pounds of stuff air freight and it cost over $1,000. Most shipping places won’t ship personal items and everything has the potential to be taxed.
you can look into shipping by boat, but that takes 4 to 8 weeks. I have heard stories of leaking containers and ruined furniture, clothes.
Our shippers advised we only ship clothes. Bring your OTC meds, makeup, deodorant, etc. with you.
I had a suit made in Hong Kong several years ago. Great quality. But they wouldn’t make it the way I wanted. It was a copy of a Dolce and Gabbana suit. They made the skirt A-line rather than pencil and did the jacket a little different – it was more business-like was what they said. I had no say in the matter.
Grazie per il vostro articolo, mi sembra molto utile, proverò senz’altro a sperimentare quanto avete indicato… c’è solo una cosa di cui vorrei parlare più approfonditamente, ho scritto una mail al vostro indirizzo al riguardo.