How To Look Great When Traveling

Ebony, Sept, 2000

Beauty And Style For The New Black Woman

A challenge for many working women is how to manage the hassles of traveling for business and still look fresh and, more importantly, professional when disembarking at their destination.

Based on feedback from several women whose jobs require them to travel frequently, looking great while traveling is an achievable goal. But it requires that you be smart, that you plan ahead and that you choose your travel wardrobe carefully.

Jasmine Turner, a financial advisor in Los Angeles, says it is important that businesswomen do their homework before they head to the airport. "Know the climate of your destination and know the agenda as much as possible so you can plan your attire," advises the former teacher and winner of 14 beauty pageants, including the 1990 Miss Black USA Pageant. "Know the corporate culture of the company you will be doing business with so you cannot only dress appropriately, but know appropriate business protocol and etiquette."

Turner, who travels for business two to three times a month, and other businesswomen emphasize that what you actually wear while traveling is most important when you must deplane and go directly to a business appointment. While most women choose to dress casually when they travel for pleasure and personal trips, laid-back attire is not appropriate for business travel. If the work culture at your client's office calls for skirt suits, then that is what you should wear. If your appointment is with a company in an industry in which the dress code is more relaxed, such as the media or advertising, then a pantsuit will work. Regardless, it is imperative that you choose your travel wardrobe wisely.

Dress For Success

Alvenia Rhea Albright travels extensively for her job as director of Diverse Business Partnerships-Global for the American Express Company. "I am often meeting at airports, on planes and often stepping from one directly into the other," she says. "Thus my most desirable outfits for travel must be wrinkle-free, appropriately tailored and comfortable. I basically travel in knits year round." Albright adds that her fabric choices range from cotton, jersey and new polyester blends to wool, crepe and silk blends."

She says there are many times when she leaves the airport and goes directly to a meeting at her corporate offices. "I will have afternoon meetings with outside clients or in-house corporate staff," she says. "Then it's on to dinner or a reception, and/or to a black-tie event that evening."

Malaika Barnes, a paralegal specialist with the Department of Justice in Washington, D.C., says she prefers to travel in clothing that does not wrinkle easily and that is not constricting. "I like clothing that stretches and lets my skin breathe," says Barnes. "Nothing that is bulky."

Barnes, Albright and Turner all agree that linen and other fabrics that wrinkle easily are no-no's for business travel, even for business meetings. "Linen is a serious no-no," says Barnes, "as well as anything tight. Sitting in a confined space wearing tight clothing for possibly an undetermined length of time, due to delays, etc., is no fun."

In addition, Jasmine Turner emphasizes that clothing that travels well not only minimizes wrinkling, it also does not soil easily. She also prefers clothing that is not "fussy" and doesn't require extra items, such as pins and scarves, though some women prefer to travel with accessories that can transform an outfit for multiple uses. "No-no's for me," says Turner, "include fussy outfits, light colors, fabrics that are too light in weight, and outfits that fit too tightly or require special accessories or hardware to work, such as revealing necklines and short skirts, clothing that appears to be uncomfortable."

These successful businesswomen emphasize that professional women must keep in mind at all times that they are not only representing themselves, but also their companies and businesses. By following these tips, you can ensure that you will always travel with style and represent an oasis of calm and beauty amid the chaotic atmosphere of airport frenzy.

Travel for Business With Style

* Dress appropriately for your business appointment.

* Choose attire in fabrics, such as knits, that will be comfortable while traveling but will deliver you to your destination looking fresh and smart.

* To ease the wear and tear on your feet, travel in comfortable shoes, but keep your pumps handy in your carry-on bag or your briefcase.

* Keep hair style simple, easy to manage and appropriate for your destination. In your briefcase, keep emergency hair-care items, such as curling iron, gel, hair spray and hair pins.

* Even if you don't plan to stay overnight, have on hand items you might need if your plans change, such as cosmetics, change of undergarments and medication.

* To keep your skin looking great, travel in no makeup or very little makeup because your body, and consequently your skin, dehydrates in the climate in the airplane cabin. Once you arrive at your destination city, take time to apply your makeup. You will arrive at your meeting looking fresh, not travel-worn.