Most women experience a twinge of anxiety when packing for a trip, especially if its business related. “What’s appropriate to wear? How many items should I bring? Will we go out on the town? Do I need accessories?” are all common concerns.

If you’re going on a trip which will be between three days and a week, the following items are particularly useful to bring. Please note the fabrics should be comfortable and the garments should be cut in a flattering style. Dark and neutral colours work well as you can layer them easily and mix and match them around.

Don’t bring anything your parents wouldn’t approve of like short skirts, or very low-cut tops, as this will likely be viewed as inappropriate by your fellow colleagues. With regard to make-up and personal hygiene, pack the amount you feel is most appropriate for you.

Over-packing is quite easy to do for most women. Follow our checklist to ensure you bring everything necessary.
It's round about now that you realise you should stick to the basics. By o5com (Flickr)

Clothing:

3x pants
· Black pants work well for going from a day time meeting to a night out on the town.
· Well-cut dark jeans are smart enough for a casual meeting, or any planned activities.
· Shorts which are only slightly above or below the knee are appropriate for warmer weather and outdoor activities.

2x skirts
· A smart pencil skirt in a dark colour is always useful, and can be worn day and night for a variety of occasions.
· A long neutral skirt can work for either a night out, or lounging around your hotel.

4x tops
· A smart t-shirt can be paired with jeans or worn under a blazer for a casual-chic look.
· A smart collared shirt in white or black for day-to-night meetings.
· A tank top can be worn under a blazer in warm weather, or paired with jeans for a casual look.
· A long t-shirt or collared shirt for cooler days.

Maybe next time stick to neutral undergarments.
That awkward moment when you realise everyone in the office is looking at your see-through shirt. By Victor1558 (Flickr)

2x jackets
· A neutral light jacket or cardigan can be worn for a more casual look, or when going out.
· A blazer instantly upgrades your whole look and can be paired with either jeans, pants or a skirt.

Undergarments:
· Pack enough undergarments to last a week. Ensure that there is nothing packed which will show through your shirt or pants, or cause embarrassment to anyone.

Accessories:

4 x shoes
· Smart heels to wear to meetings or for a night of entertainment and dancing.
· Dark pumps.
· Ankle boots, should the weather turn.
· Dressy sandals to wear out at night or for informal meetings.

3x bangles
· One in a classic style like a thin gold or silver bracelet.
· A bright or patterned bracelet for a night out on the town.
· A neutral colour like black, white, navy to pair with the business suite, or jeans and blazer.

Sitting, look lovely in a patterned scarf.
A patterned scarf can give your outfit a sense of 'fun' without detracting from it. By DioBurto (Flickr)

2x scarves
· One in a solid pattern such as black, white, gray.
· Another that’s patterned, which will work with both your jacket and blazer.

3x bags
· A smart bag which can be used for business meetings.
· A clutch bag for going out.
· A neutral clutch as a back-up, in case one of the other bags break.

Coco Chanel inspired pearls and diamonds add a touch of class for those evenings out. By gral (Flickr)
Coco Chanel inspired pearls add a touch of class for those evenings out. By gral (Flickr)

3 x necklaces
· A plain simple chain which won’t draw too much attention.
· A bold or chunky necklace to wear out at night.
· A classic string of pearls.

This is our list of items which will fit into a standard-sized carry on and are versatile enough to take you from a meeting to a club. Remember to always wear your bulkiest items, like the ankle boots, to take up less space in your bag.

Let us know which items you’d never consider travelling without, and which ones weren’t really useful.