I will be traveling a lot this summer, for business and pleasure, and I’ve been spending some time standing in my closet trying to decide what exactly I should pack for all these trips. I’m looking for pieces that are easy to wear and easy to care for and versatile. I need things that can go to a meeting and go sightseeing, and I need outfits that will work for hot and cold weather. I am trying to steer clear of dry clean only anything, because I want to have the option to wash things out in the hotel sink, rather than wearing it once and stuffing it back in the suitcase.

That’s not too much to ask, is it? Nooo of course not! Not if you have the right strategies.

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Charlene wants to know about what to wear on a business trip:

I do at least one business trip a year and I always struggle with what to take and how not to take too much stuff. The company I work for is very casual so I like to look professional but maintain the casual feel. Also, keep in mind with what I do I have to wear a closed toe shoe at all times.

There are three simple strategies for packing, no matter where you are going.

Pack only things that you REALLY wear. A business trip is not the time to test out a new skirt or jacket; you want clothes that you will be comfortable and confident in.

Pack basic pieces. Think both in terms of shape and color; neutral pieces in classic shapes are your best bet (black pencil skirt, brown wool trousers).

Pack pieces that work together. Choose one color palette for your trip, to guarantee that the things you pack will do multiple duty. Neutral basics plus a pop of color, in a blouse or sweater, keep your look fresh and flexible.

MICHAEL Michael Kors trench coat, Nordstrom, $128.00

So what actually goes in the suitcase?

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I love handbags; I love them even more than I love shoes, if that is possible. A bag is a terrific place to test out bold color or texture. A bag is an easy, and inexpensive, way to change your entire look. And no matter how much bean dip you ate during the holidays, your bag still fits come January.

Work It, Mom! loves bags, too, and they have paired up with the lovely people at CareerBags.com to give one lucky winner a BRAND NEW bag, suitable for work and weekends. To enter, join the Career Bags group at Work It, Mom! and upload a photo of your bag.

Complete rules and all the Fine Print can be found here.

Come for the contest, stay for the contents of my handbag!

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Actual things people have said this week in the comments on your Flickr photos:

“I’ve got to get myself more Aerosole shoes.”

“Some days, the only thing keeping me from hopping on a plane back to the States is that there’s an H&M on every corner in Germany. That, and the preponderance of ZARA stores.”

“You dress the way I’d like to, if I were an actual grownup.”

“This looks like a catalog photo. You seriously should frame this photo and put it on your husband’s nightstand.”

“I taught English as a Second Language in China for a year when I was 23. I was only the American woman in a city of four million. And then I was mugged. And then I was almost deported. And then I bought a lot of jewelry. And then I moved to Alaska, back to New York, met a Canadian, got married and landed in Toronto. The end.”

“This whole project has made me think more when I’m getting dressed.”

I hope you all are enjoying the Flickr pool; I certainly am. I love seeing your faces and your outfits and learning more about you. And I thank you, from the bottom of my fashionista heart, for your kindness and incredible effort this past week.

Only three more weeks to go! You can do it.

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