Put This On

The painter Adolf Konrad’s packing list, December 16th, 1973. From The Smithsonian’s Archives of American Art, via Salon.

(Thanks, Sara!)

mostexerent:

Packing for a 10 day trip that covers 3 Asian cities (Singapore, Hong Kong & Beijing).

Temperatures will range from >30c + 99% humidity to 5c..

FYI - I was not expected to fly out till this w/end not yesterday <12 hours to pack & Singapore was not part of the original schedule PAIN!

So what did I pack?

1. Chocolate herringbone weave cashmere top coat
2. French S130 wool navy suit
3. Grey + light blue window S130 wool check suit
4. Navy high performance woolsports coat
5. Grey high performance wool trou
6. Navy + Khaki cotton chinos
7. Navy + grey cashmere v-neck sweaters
8. White denim jeans
9. 3 random cotton button shirts
10. 5 white Italian-English spread collar shirts (to be picked up in HKG, part of new bespoke project)
11. Various dark hued silk ties as well as knit ties
12. Brown + black dress shoes
13. Navy suede bluchers
14. Navy calf & suede gloves
15. Socks & underwear

This is an effing clinic on dressing for business travel.

Speaking of which: I’m headed to Seattle tomorrow to officiate a listener’s wedding(!). Things may be a little slower on PTO through the weekend. If you see me wandering around the Emerald City, do say hi.

Unlike MistahWong, I’m a horrible photographer, but given the packing questions folks are always emailing us, I thought a rundown on what I’m bringing on an upcoming work trip might be informative.

I’m headed to Calgary next week for the Calgary Folk Festival.  I’ll be there for six days, conducting interviews for The Sound of Young America and, on Wednesday, giving a talk about new media called “Make Your Thing.”  (Buy your tickets, Calgarians).  I’ll be wearing a suit for the talk, but for the rest of the trip, I’ll be shooting for something like professional casual dress.  I’ll be checking a Filson Pullman, though if it weren’t for the need to carry on my audio equipment, I wouldn’t check a bag.  Weather in Calgary is expected to be mild with rain possible.

So… what am I bringing?

• A navy mid-weight suit.
• A light blue dress shirt, plus tie and square for the talk.
• Two jackets - a summer-weight Billy Reid and a cotton pique navy blazer by hickey.
• A v-neck cashmere sweater in dark red.
• Two blue oxfords, one in a maroon stripe, one in a red white and blue plaid.
• A lightweight gingham casual shirt.
• A pair of Levi’s.
• A pair of khaki chinos and a pair of lightweight white ones.
• Desert boots, plus oxblood loafers and a pair of shell cordovan wingtips.
• Black, maroon and navy knit ties (the lattermost with pindots).
• A couple simple bow ties in case the mood strikes.
• An oxblood shell cordovan belt, and one in brown elephant hide.
• White, white with maroon piping and white and blue linen pocket squares.
• Socks and underwear, of course.

If it still looks like rain, I’ll throw an umbrella in there, too, just in case my hotel doesn’t have loaners.  One the plane, I’ll wear the desert boots, jeans, oxford, black knit and the Billy Reid coat, which is light enough to be worn comfortably both in LA’s relative heat and Calgary’s relative cool.  And who knows, maybe a hat, too.  We’ll see.

Added post-facto: it all fit comfortably in my carry on-sized bag.  I replaced the loafers with some wet weather shoes after visions of muddy fields and rainy concerts flashed through my mind.

The best dressed guy we know (well, know of), MistahWong, details his packing list for a business trip.

mostexerent:

I’m off to Singapore for 2 night & 2.5 days.. It is going to be >30c + >90% humidity..

What does one pack in a cabin size roll-on (other than wearing a combination of the below)?
1 x navy wool 8oz “Phasco” 3 roll 2 single breasted BlazerSuit (3 patch pockets + brown horn buttons + soft unlined jacket. Pants are single reverse pleat with side tabs) - can be worn separately
1 x dark grey wool 8oz “Phasco” 3 roll 2 single breasted BlazerSuit (3 besom pockets + ticket pocket + brown horn buttons + soft unlined jacket. Pants are single reverse pleat with side tabs) - can be worn separately
1 x white oxford cloth pin-point cotton button down
1 x white oxford cloth pin-point cotton Italian/English spread collar
1 x white & blue bengal stripe on herringbone weave fine cotton button down
1 x chocolate knit tie
1 x navy with chocolate paisley tie
1 x blue with mid blue polka dot tie
3 x cotton boxers
3 x navy cotton socks
3 x cotton hankies
3 x pocket squares (colors are built around white, light blue & brown)
1 x red cotton/lycra chino pant
1 x navy cotton polo shirt
1 x dark brown suede U-Tip brogue
1 x antique cognac calf austerity brogue
1 x dark brown baby alligator double ring belt