Fits on the Road: Work Conference in Tampa

By: LL
After spending a few days in the snowy cold of Big Sky, I headed right off to Tampa, FL for some warmth and sunshine for a work conference. Talk about the shock on my body! What temperature is it? What time zone am I in? If I thought packing for a winter ski trip was hard, I found it even harder to pack for this particular work conference - why? Because there were so many dinners with industry sponsors, presentations, and a few moments to dress casually and relax in the sun. I had to break down and check a piece of luggage in order to get my attire to Tampa without too many wrinkles.

So what did I pack for all of these events?

I went with the fail-safe of a few standby dresses that can be casual or dressier, one summer suit with a few different tops to rotate through, and then one pair of shorts and a pair of dark skinny denim. For shoes, I went with black pumps (can't go wrong there), a pair of croc pumps, simple flats, and embellished sandals. And, of course, a few solid accessories.

{From left: Nine West Dress, The Limited Suit, Dorothy Perkins Dress, Merona Dress}

{From left: Dorothy Perkins Dress, LL Original Necklace, Merona Dress, LL Original Necklace}

{From left: Apt. 9 Pumps, Gianni Bini Flats, BCBG Pumps, Steve Madden Sandals}

Referring to Fodors, Travel Smith, and Real Simple for some advice on what to pack for a 4-7 day business trip to warmer destinations, there was a consensus: 3-4 bottoms, 6-8 tops, a light jacket and/or a universally matched cardigan, 2-3 pairs of shoes (err on flatter heels), and lots of small accessories (necklaces, scarves, etc.). They all recommend that you investigate the area prior to leaving and plan for the unexpected business engagement. It is also helpful to look at your itinerary when packing and plan each day's outfit accordingly, paying close attention to when you will need to move from day to night in the same outfit.

Also, don't forget your workout attire for some fitness on the road! For this trip, which has outdoor and indoor fitness opportunities, I packed one outfit that is functional in both areas and dries quickly. More on that later...