Work That Business Trip

Photography: Ian Engelbrecht | Styling: Akim Jardine

A business trip can stressful enough without having to worry about what to wear. Do you believe everything Trip Advisor tells you about your destination? Is it safe to meet a certain coworker at the hotel bar? How much is your per diem allowance? Do you even get a per diem? You'll have to navigate these yourself, however, when it comes to what to wear you'll be glad to know that you can shop Superbalist for the perfect outfits to wear to lunch meetings, boardroom battles, casual dinners and even that last-minute catch-up with that guy from varsity who was in the same tut group as you. Here are five ways to look the business when on a business trip.

Print and pattern is your chance to make an impact. If you're an agency creative wanting to stand out from the men in grey suits, start off with checks, gingham and pinstripes, and say it loud with a subtle print on your trousers and socks. Balance out your look with a plain shirt and slick lace-ups.

Cropped pants are the pants for right now. Take yours out to a breakfast meeting and wear with a lightweight sweater and loafers for a look that will also keep you comfortable if the weather takes an unpredictable turn.

Time for that big boardroom meeting. Keep it classic in a navy suit and complete the look with high-impact details: an eye-catching timepiece, shiny monkstraps and a flawless, tailored fit. This is the corporate equivalent of putting on a suit of armour, so take things up a notch with Patrick Bateman levels of grooming paying extra attention to wearing a power scent. 

Things get slightly more relaxed after the big meeting is out the way, but that doesn't mean you should wear the type of thing you'd rock on a casual Friday. Now's your opportunity to look the part by channeling the most inspirational Pitti Uomo looks, with cropped pants, a white shirt and slip-on loafers. Wear a coloured undershirt for a quirky pop.

At the end of the day (or your trip if you’re practicing some self-discipline), unwind with a drink and a laidback look to match. Melange trousers bring you the soft comfort of sweats and smart look of regular trousers. And because you’re you, you can’t wear anything but a button-up, so try a Mandarin collared shirt.