The Diplomat’s Suitcase
- Christine Lusk
- May 3
- 5 min read
It's Guest Blog Time!
I was inspired to say the least when I met Elizabeth several years ago. She was preparing to serve as U.S. Ambassador to Togo and delegated her consumables shipment to DiploDash®. Climbing the ranks of the U.S. Foreign Service has long been reserved primarily for men; however, since 1939, women have slowly made their way to the top.
Besides her ability to organize, plan, and strategically navigate a PCS, Elizabeth has style. At the time we had featured Ivy Calvert, another personal stylist with an impressive career path. Elizabeth shared that she and Ivy worked together as stylists and from there we knew that someday DiploDash and Diplomatic Dressings would collaborate.
A lot of attention is given to what goes into your UAB (Unaccompanied Air Baggage) as that shipment should arrive to post first. In reality, what arrives first is you and your luggage. We have helped clients to organize and pack starting with their suitcases many times. As we approach the peak of PCS season, we invited Elizabeth to share how to pack a diplomat's suitcase because who better to enlighten us than a retired U.S. Ambassador.
Guest Blog by Elizabeth Fitzsimmons
One of the biggest challenges of the diplomatic lifestyle is what I affectionately call the “suitcase wardrobe.” We find ourselves living out of our suitcases at the very moment when we are trying to make the best possible impression on new colleagues, supervisors, and host country friends and colleagues. Combine that with jet lag, settling children in new schools, and the inevitable “how do I use this oven/shower/washing machine” roulette and it can feel like you are drowning.
This challenge can feel particularly consequential when you are moving into a new role for the first time. Maybe you are an entry level officer transitioning from another industry with a different dress code. Or a first time Section Chief or Deputy Chief of Mission moving into a leadership role with public-facing responsibilities. Or a first time Chief of Mission whose walk off the plane will be on the front page of the next day’s newspaper.
After thirty years of navigating these challenges myself, I’ve founded a comprehensive personal styling company to share what I’ve learned. A few simple tips will make these days/weeks/months of getting dressed every day while limited by the clothing choices from your PCS suitcases quicker, easier, and maybe even fun!
"Buy well, buy once, wear and repeat."
Find Your Uniform
Most women wear 20% of their clothes 80% of the time. Buy well, buy once, wear and repeat.
This is actually good news for the “suitcase wardrobe” since it means you only need to pack the part of your wardrobe you are actually wearing and everything else can wait for your HHE to arrive (or be donated or consigned ahead of time to save weight and hassle.). Once you put together the right pieces for you in a defined color story, those early weeks at post will feel so much easier.
You won’t have to wonder what to wear for welcome receptions, introductory meetings with the host government, or back to school night for the kids’ new school. If this feels overwhelming, I’ve put together two sample wardrobe options here to inspire you:
Warm Suitcase Capsule is for women who favor warm colors and features navy as a neutral with merlot and camel.
Cool Suitcase Capsule is for women who shine in cool colors and it’s based on black neutrals and jewel tones.
Avoid Uncomfortable Shoes
Let’s face it, swollen feet after a long flight in an economy middle seat are an occupational hazard. And shoes are heavy and bulky in suitcases where every pound counts. Planning ahead ensures that you bring a streamlined and carefully curated shoe wardrobe that compliments your clothing capsule. The only shoes that deserve a place in your “suitcase wardrobe” let you breeze through a long day and an evening representational event with a smile. Because believe me, no matter how much you think it’s worth putting up with a little discomfort for “the cute shoes” those pinched toes will show up on your face as the welcome reception drifts into its third hour. There are a few basic styles that work well for a lot of the women I’ve worked with. Try this sample shoe capsule to get you started.
PRO-TIP: Uncomfortable shoes show on your face, it is best to avoid wearing them at all costs
Fit Is Key
Size charts for women’s clothing are ridiculously inconsistent. Fortunately more and more brands are offering measurement based size guides. Get in the habit of taking your bust, waist, and hip measurements at least annually and use those measurements to make purchasing decisions. If the size number causes you anxiety just cut the tag out. I promise that shopping according to your measurements and buying clothes that fit your body just as it is now will ensure your clothes look and feel more comfortable and more elevated.
Bonus tip: Good news - this is a real advantage of the diplomatic lifestyle. In many of our posts, we have the opportunity to have quality tailoring done at a fraction of the cost of similar alterations done in the U.S. The adjustments I recommend most often to clients are:
Hemming pants to your preferred heel height and then add an invisible internal button/buttonloop on each side above the hem to be able to wear the pants with flats.
Buying trousers/dresses/skirts to fit your widest measurement (hips for most women) and then nipping in the waist to create a streamlined silhouette.
PRO-TIP: Fit is the overlooked element in most wardrobes. Know your measurements and shop accordingly.
Invest in Headshots
In our social media saturated environment your headshot broadcasts your personal brand before you say a word. Professional hair and makeup and a curated outfit are a great investment. This is another place where a professional can help you objectively evaluate what image you want to project and the best colors for your outfit. In general you should redo your headshot every time you transition posts, taking into account colors that might be particularly meaningful (or that you need to avoid) in your new host country.
I hope these tips are useful. If you want help making your next PCS your most effortless and most chic, Diplomatic Dressing is here to help. I offer a 30% discount for diplomatic colleagues off my regular rates and am happy to work virtually wherever you are in the world. Best wishes for a safe and stylish PCS!
Elizabeth's Bio
Elizabeth Fitzsimmons is the Founder and CEO of Diplomatic Dressing. A retired United States Ambassador with 30 years of experience in international diplomacy, Elizabeth is an expert at designing a wardrobe that will ensure you communicate your personal brand to the world before you speak a word.
With an intimate knowledge of the wardrobe conundrums women face, especially as they move into public-facing leadership roles, Elizabeth will work with you to understand your lifestyle, decode your personal style, and set you up with a wardrobe that makes the best use of your budget and your most precious resource — your time.
Elizabeth started her personal styling journey as a client, experiencing first-hand the benefits of working with a professional to refine and enhance her wardrobe and personal brand. She is a graduate of DC Style Factory and Real Life Style’s intensive training on body type styling, fabric, silhouette, color, and brand. A global citizen who has lived and worked on six continents, Elizabeth brings her organizational experience to clients' closets and lives. Her styling expertise has been featured in Alexandria Stylebook, The Washingtonian, Wardrobe Oxygen, DiploDash®, and Foreign Policy.
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