Planners walk a fine line between professional and practical when it comes to choosing business attire. It has to look sharp, but since they’re always on the road, it also has to pack well. Once on-site, there’s little time to spend with an iron.
Industry associations have picked up on the call for comfort and tweaked their dress codes accordingly. Some industry events now use ‘Comfortable’ as their dress code guideline, encouraging attendees to still dress for business but in a more relaxed way. IMEX’s website reads: “Most people wear business casual. We encourage you to wear clothes you feel most comfortable in.”
This new way of dressing is liberating for planners, said Rich Vallaster, senior director of industry relations and community engagement at A2Z Events. “It used to be really hard. The market catered toward the ‘business boardroom tailored suit’ and not the environment event professionals operate in. Sometimes we might be on a ladder at the last minute fixing something, or helping clean up a mess, and then jumping over to an upscale reception before we head to the airport to the next location.”
His go-to brand is Bluffworks. “They have suits and blazers, all machine-washable and wrinkle-free. It’s easy to dress up for events and then I can toss it back in my bag with no trip to the dry cleaners needed.” There are also various no-iron options for button-down shirts, like Land’s End’s, which is 100% cotton.
Age influences people’s perceptions of what to wear, said James Bacon, CEO & founder of We Are MEaT, 40. “Our perception of how to dress is very different than the younger generations. For Gen Z men, the rulebook is going to be ripped up, if it hasn’t been already,” he said. “This is where businesses are going to have to educate employees, or they will need to accept that they simply do not want to wear the traditional attire, and adapt.”
For the Women
For women planners, the game changer in comfortable businesswear is unquestionably Chico’s Travelers, a line introduced in 1997. Attire includes a variety of items, from cropped pants to a jacquard cardigan to a full-length sleeveless dress, in classic colors like India ink, soft slate and, of course, basic black.
Independent planner Gloria Nelson said she still has hers from years ago. “They travel beautifully and have retained their colors well. No fading, if you can believe it! And they’re just ‘roll and go,’ with very limited wrinkling.”
Other brands featuring stretchy, comfortable business clothing include J. Jill Wearever, Eileen Fisher Travel, Cabi, Betabrand and Coldwater Creek.
Several women who spoke to Skift Meetings shared their relief that they can now wear the same comfortable clothing for business that they used to reserve for travel. “It makes our lives so much easier and it’s a lot less stressful when flights are delayed, or baggage goes a different route. I can do a quick refresh and go right into a meeting,” said Nanci Gage, marketing and patient programs at Proton Therapy Partners. “I work in private equity and healthcare, so our dress code is not always relaxed, but I can disguise my athleisure wear as a business suit pretty easily.” Her go-to’s: Spanx, MM laFleur and Vuori.
Of course, there are still those who prefer to keep their attire more ‘uniform’ when on site. “I admit I’m the meeting planner who loves to have the staff in some form of uniform. I think it looks classy and it keeps it simple for packing,” said Missy Madden, founder of Iconic Incentives. “On planes, I still like to wear something comfortable and stylish. I hate when people look like they just rolled out of bed!”