For all the ladies who travel for work and tend to spend the majority of that time with “the boys” this is your go-to carry-on packing list...

Shooting, boating, ATVing, and, oh yeah, a few sales meetings and product pitches sprinkled in. That’s a tough 5 days to pack for. Even tougher to cram into a carry-on sized bag. Is it any wonder why I felt the need to share this? If you're pressed for time scroll to bottom for the 5-day carry-on packing list.

Technique looks ok but I couldn't hit a broad side of a barn with a handgun! The shotguns were a lot more fun!

With regards to workwear, I face a constant struggle to find the right balance between professionalism, conservatism, and femininity. After years of being decked out in Carhart’s and bulky construction clothing, I cherish the fact that my current job has allowed me to reclaim my style identity. The conflict is that I also find it necessary to balance that femininity with looks that are conventional and help me fit in a male-dominated industry.

French women have nailed the art of mixing feminine/masculine elements that impart a sense of confidence in their power, but are ladylike and full of personality.

Marion Cottilard carries herself so well, balancing her feminine figure with silhouette-skimming clothing and timeless pieces in her wardrobe.

Some inspirations include Audrey Tautou, Josephine de la Baume, Clemence Poesy and my all-time fave Marion Cottliard. Don’t be scared, androgynous style as we know it today became popular thanks to Coco Chanel.

It’s not every day that you’re invited out to a sprawling ranch to bond with your coworkers over pistols and whiskey, but I think this style guide will serve well on many future mixed-activity business trips where there’s a requirement to pack for a 50/50 split of casual outdoor adventure and corporate meetings. Scroll to bottom for entire packing checklist (including tools, bath & body, and accessories). Here are the important elements to build the looks around:

1_ Denim

You will never catch me in an airport in yoga pants. I prefer to get through the airport looking polished while also wearing/carrying items that I don’t want to get wrinkled. The rule for this is always dress in your blazer. To feel more comfortable, simply pair with denim and white sneakers. The blazer and sneaker combo won’t be going anywhere for a while, so this is your opportunity to travel looking chic and feeling comfortable on your feet. The other option is to class it up with layered neutrals, but I'm not a fan of heels in the airport.

blazer and dark denim with white shoes.jpg

The other key item for this wardrobe was a light coloured denim button up shirt. Works well for transitioning from daytime to an evening around the pool table sharing stories paired with black stretch jeans. I got a pair from Citizens of Humanity that I constantly transition between casual and business casual looks. The denim shirt is also used for a second look, tucked into a grey pencil skirt with white slip-ons (it's a look that looks effortless).

2_ T-Shirts

Non-cotton t-shirts travel better and look more elegant, plain and simple. They also take only a small footprint in your bag so you can carry a few. Here I opted for a high-necked blue t-shirt blouse from Vince Camuto and a simple black single-pocket tee from Vero Moda. The black t-shirt paired well with the black jeans for our Saturday morning shootout—it was a wild! Keep in mind it’s weird for Canadians to see glocks, assault rifles, and shotguns during business meetings. Handguns aren’t really my thing but I was reminded of how fun sporting clays are when they paired me up with a suitably sized 28-gauge shotgun. Definitely would like to organize something similar back home for all the ladies!

3_ Black and white (pumps and sneakers...)

Embrace your inner minimalist! This is a carry-on packing list, not a capsule wardrobe. Which is why I don’t feel the need to complicate things with bringing a shoe for each outfit. These two staples are all you need for five days of business and adventure. If you don’t own the perfect black pump by now, do yourself a favor and bump it up to top priority on your shopping list. Keep in mind that if you plan to be on your feet for 14 hours a day, the quality of the shoe really makes a huge difference. I’m obsessed with The Legend by Stuart Weitzman because I get a pain-free four inches— but they are an investment. A more affordable, mid-height option is the Fifth from Nine West.

4_ Dresses

There’s no easier staple for business travel than a dress. This one simple truth offers us women a huge advantage when packing carry-on luggage as compared to men who simply cannot squeeze in the same number of corporate outfits (suits) due to the bulk and size.

I’ve recently discovered Sinequanone, a label out of Paris, that captures that powerful, minimalist design concept that I adore. The samples below are proof that black does not have to be boring. Unfortunately, the only places you can find it are small boutiques and I have a feeling that my blue lace dress with the sporty red and white collar trimmings was from several seasons ago (as are all great things we receive from Europe). Check out the website if you’d like to stay a few steps ahead. If you're a Canadian retailer reading this, they currently have NO representation in Canada and you should bring it back!

Dressing for your body shape is more important than the label, the colour, etc. I simply won’t be departing from my midi cut anytime soon—it gives me a waist and accentuates the taper of my calves rather than my knees/thighs (god bless all women who can relate to the term “soccer legs”). I was thrilled when I scored a Judith and Charles midi dress in classic black and tan on a big mid-season markdown. This label is Canadian-made, by the way!

Last but not least, I never travel without my grey pencil skirt. Grey is one of those building blocks that stretch your wardrobe so much farther (i.e. spring, summer, fall, winter) plus the pencil skirt itself is capable of running double duty as daytime corporate when paired with a blouse or casual chic with the denim shirt. Opt for cotton if you need it to work more on the casual end of the spectrum, or wool if you want to use it more for the office.

5_ The List

Striped bankers shirt (Calvin Klein)
Denim dress shirt (Calvin Klein)
White Tshirt x 2
High-necked short sleeve blouse (Vince Camuto)
Grey Pencil Skirt (J Crew)
Black Tshirt (Vero Moda)
Black Jeans (Citizens of Humanity)
Blue Jeans (Paige)
Navy Blazer (Theory)
Blue sport midi dress (Sinequanone)
Black and tan midi (Judith and Charles)
White slip-ons (Cole Haan)
Black pumps (Bandolino)
Sephora travel clutch crammed with mini everything—be ruthless! No full-sized anything allowed in my suitcase!
Gold tone jewelry: stud earrings, braided ring, and bracelet/watch