Opening that suitcase after arriving at the hotel on a business trip is kind of like playing the slots at Vegas. As the zipper peels back your either a winner or a looser. Your clothes either come out looking great or you’re stuck wearing a wrinkled mess. Have you considered that your packing style might be to blame? Here are some great tips to help you look your best on the next business trip.

1.       Layout everything you will need for the trip, and then put half of it back. We all over pack and this is a great way to make sure you are picking the essentials and not planning for every conceivable social gathering. All your options should be in the same color family so you can mix and match. If that skirt only goes with one top, it stays behind. Pack more tops and cut back on pants or skirts. If you are on a four day trip, bring four blouses but only three pants/skirts. Also, grab your cottons, knits, or wools because they resist wrinkles. Remember the average 22 inch check in bag fits roughly two pairs of jeans, three sweaters, two dresses, and five shirts.

2.        Roll Softer Clothes and Fold the Rigid Ones. T-shirts, jeans, underwear, cotton pants and knits won’t wrinkle when rolled. Then take great care folding blazers, skirts, dress pants, and laundered shirts.

3.       Pack in layers. Pack your bag like you would make a care or build a doll house. Start with a solid foundation, your rolled clothes. Next, the folded garments. Start with the longest items first and alternate waists and hems so the bulky waists do build into a pile.

4.       Cover with dry cleaning bag.  This is a lifesaver. The slippery surface of the bag will keep those creases in your folded clothes from becoming wrinkles. You could even separate layers of your folded clothes with the dry cleaning bags.

5.       Top it off with clothes you need first. If you know there is a meet and greet the evening after you arrive, those clothes go on top. That way in case you are running late, you just have to open the bag and grab you clothes, avoiding hanging everything up till later. And because of how you packed, it should all be okay.

6.       Belts and makeup bags snake around the sides of the bag. This keeps your packing layers stable and its easy to find the accessories you need.