What to Pack for a Business-Casual Work Conference

This year has been full of home office work, Zoom-from-the-waist-up meetings, and in-the-field market appointments here in Jamaica. (Gone are the days of getting up early for work, putting on a full outfit, and running out the door to catch my 8:30 train to the office.) Most of it was spent figuring out how to launch an international business, which involves a decent amount of travel. That has made my work wardrobe lean quite casual. I rarely pulled out a polished look unless it was for a special occasion. Still, I revel in any moment to get dressed and feel like the businesswoman I’m growing to be.

This past month, I was chosen to be part of a leadership fellowship for Debra Lee’s Leading Women Defined. Twenty-five women, including myself, attended a jam-packed leadership conference in LA that included everything from community building to panels packed with executives. We grew in professionally and personally, and created connections to last a lifetime. And when it came to getting dressed each day, I knew I needed to dust off some of my favorite workwear pieces—plus add a few special items to the mix—to feel as special as the weekend itself.