Please help me pack my bag for my business trip!

[Onlyrainbows]

My DH and I can't agree what is it that I'm supposed to wear for that week long conference/business trip in the American SW. Most of it is business casual and he thinks trainers will be ok (I think it'd be more like flats/nice sandals) but I don't have either. There's one casual night, and one cocktail night. I just spent aroun £400 on clothes because I had nothing but I'm still not fully convinced if I should take a padded jacket or a woolly coat. If boots are a good idea, or just take my lacey keds. He seems to think my converse would be ok, but I genuinely don't think so

Have you looked at the weather forecast/general weather info online to decide whether you need a coat/jacket. Although I'm always cold on planes, so I would wear a jacket that would be suitable on the plane. You'll also appreciate it during the UK leg of your trip.

As for shoes, you need something nicer than Converse for the cocktail night at least, and you always need at least 2/3 pairs of shoes for any trip in case one breaks, gets wet or whatever. Trainers and jeans might meet business casual if you're in the tech industry, but otherwise, business casual still means shoes, jackets etc, just not at the very formal end.

It's a few years since I went to our company conference in the US but the typical attire for men over there seemed to be chinos, polo shirt or shirt and "proper" shoes for the conference time. I wore my usual office attire during the day - black trousers / skirt, top and shoes. Some people got changed into jeans / more casual for dinner and the evening activities. We didn't do anything as formal as cocktails!

Business Casual there you'll see men in smart trainers for sure. Ladies I would say less trainers as such but converse I would see being fine.

You'll want to change in the evening for sure, even on the casual evening.

I've done AZ quite a few times. It's a low of 7 there currently so you'll probably want something for the cooler evenings.

My business casual was smart dark/black jeans, boots/flats, and a smartish top.

Chinos and polo's is 100% the mens uniform. lol

Temperatures range from mild to got/warm it (15-28) it does get colder but that's only between 12-9 am, so I'd ont think I need a coat. And yes it's a tech company :)