With stores everywhere filling up with the finest of Spring 2012′s bright, cheerful offerings, it’s hard not to have a getaway on the brain. When you combine that with unseasonably warm weather in New York this week, I’m feeling more impatient than ever for the arrival of spring, or simply the arrival of my next vacation.

Sadly, that’ll have to wait until at least after Fashion Week, but right now, I’m mentally packing the Kate Spade Japanese Floral Medium Suitcase as my carry-on and jetsetting to, I don’t know, Bali? Bali sounds about right, I think. It’s my imagination, I can go wherever I want.

When I first looked at this suitcase, I thought, “Well, it’s very cute, but who would actually use a hand-carried suitcase anymore for real travel?” I took a close look at the dimensions and got out my measuring tape, though, and then I realized that the case isn’t all that much bigger than my large Proenza Schouler PS1. It would be big enough to fit a 15″ laptop and everything that you want to take on a plane for entertainment during the flight, or perhaps big enough for a short weekend car trip, but not so big that it would be uncomfortable to carry without wheels to aid in the process.

This bag is a luxury item for sure, in that it’s for a particular type of traveler that’s far more interested in style than comfort. Those women do exist, as evidenced by the number of people I see trekking through the airport in sky-high heels, but for anyone else this bag probably seems like a slightly silly purchase. On my imaginary vacation, though, the pretty print and classic shape make perfect sense. Buy through Kate Spade for $828.

Sale season is starting to wind down, but if you’re willing to look hard, there are still some great pieces to be had. The small accessories treasure trove is especially plentiful this time of year; during the milieu if discounts and bargains and coupon codes, most people look for big items like bags or shoes or coats. If you’re so inclined, a new wallet or cosmetic bag can likely be yours right now for far under retail.

I’ve done some looking, and by far my favorite deal in small leather goods right now are the Valextra International Passport Holders. Even though the brand is known for being a little bit pricey (above and beyond the normal price levels for this industry), at more than 50% off via Barneys, I can assure you that you’ll never misplace your passport again.

The original retail price on these cutout leather sheaths was $300, which I honestly don’t find all that obscene. Plenty of brands will charge you that much for a similar piece covered in logos or made out of canvas, so a bright, cheerful alternative with a cute design and real leather doesn’t seem all that terrible, in the broad scheme of luxury prices. That being said, $119 is even better, which is what these covers have been marked down to with Barneys’ latest reductions. If you consider yourself a jetsetter, you have to pick one up. Buy through the South American, Australian or UK versions through Barneys for $119.

Thanks to Amanda for holding down the virtual PurseBlog fort while Vlad and I spent Christmas in Germany and the Czech Republic. I planned to do some work while abroad, but we spent every minute of every day exploring new cities and taking in the culture (and cuisine). For this reason, I took a straight eight days off work and it was glorious. But now I am back and Amanda will get a little downtime before 2012 begins.

I’m not the only person who spent the holidays traveling, as this is the season for millions to leave home. I have finally come along to the idea of having a more luxurious carry on bag, and the Bottega Veneta leather travel trolley is my latest want.

Ok, so I know it seems like a total waste to spend money on bag that gets banged up and thrown in the dirty luggage scanning belt, but I still have an easier time justifying an expensive carry on versus expensive checked baggage. Bottega Veneta is known for their premium leathers and superb quality, and that gets me thinking that this trolley would be the ultimate luxury.

The chocolate intrecciato leather is the perfect hue of neutral that will also not show wear as quickly as other colors. The black acetate handle extends as you would expect from any trolley and the inside has a zip-fastening compartment, padlock, and detachable protective twill sleeve. Seeing as how Bottega’s classic Veneta bag costs nearly $3,000, the price tag for this spacious piece of luggage seems reasonable. Buy via Net-A-Porter for $4,900.

Luxury travel accessories usually fall into two categories: Pretty things that no one actually uses or needs and things that are pretty while also being surprisingly useful. The Mulberry Travel Adapter, complete with its bright pink leather carrying case, is one of the few that fits firmly in the latter designation.

For anyone left who doesn’t know this, American plugs don’t work in foreign outlets and vice versa, and some foreign plugs don’t work in other foreign outlets. To make your flat iron work everywhere on the globe, it’s necessary to take a converter with you when travelling overseas, because god knows you don’t want a frizzy mane while on vacay. Now that Mulberry has stepped up to the plate, you can ensure electrical compatibility in chic pink leather.

Ok, sure, usually you can pick up one of these converters at Best Buy for $15-$30, depending how much fanciness you want. But for those people who treat $300 like most of us treat $30 (they’re out there, trust), this is an unexpected, chic gift with a case that can also be used to corral phone chargers and other various and sundry cords when travelling domestically. Or, alternately, if you know someone who’s just gotten a new job or promotion that will be taking them overseas a lot in the new years, this would be a wonderful token of your congratulations. Priced at $230 via Net-a-Porter.

And really, what better way to perk yourself up for an unpleasant trip through a couple of airports during peak travel time than a new bag? We have three options in three different styles that all run less than $400 (and don’t worry, they all have shoulder straps, even though they’re not pictured). In fact, I bet at least two of these bags are less expensive than your plane ticket; they’re definitely less expensive than mine.

Whether or not the brightly colored camo on the LeSportsac Joyrich Large Weekender is “chic” is probably debatable, but I love a bright, even garish, pattern when it comes to travel bags. Not only does it help hide wear and tear, but you can spot a bag like this from a mile away in a sea of black luggage at the airport. If you’d rather have a different pattern, LeSportsac makes a ton of ‘em. Buy through ShopBop for $178.

If you’d prefer something with a more utilitarian look or an ethical source, check out the Alternative Apparel Sierra Nevada Bag. Alternative Apparel is an Atlanta-based company that uses sustainable materials and ethical manufacturing processes, and this tough canvas duffel is typical of the company’s industrial aesthetic. The military surplus aesthetic is chic in a totally casual, easy way. Buy through ShopBop for $98.

Pendleton’s classic plaids are enjoying a fashionable resurgence, and if you prefer your travel accessories to be a little more dignified and traditional than our two other options, the leather-trimmed Pendleton Portland Collection Luggage Bag option might be right up your alley. Buy through ShopBop for $348.

As if we ever expected anything less from superstylist and brand new mommy Rachel Zoe. That’s eleven suitcases and two Louis Vuitton bags, for those of you who are keeping score at home. At first, this seemed like an outrageous amount of luggage when we saw the photo on Fashionista, but is it really? Let’s do the math. (Also, take note: These are real suitcases, not fancy, flashy kind. Real travelers know when the utilitarian luggage is warranted.)

We can see Rachel’s husband Rodger in the picture, so that’s two people who we know are there. Based on our dedicated viewing of The Rachel Zoe Project, we know that at least one of Rachel’s assistants probably traveled with her (Our guess? Joey.), and it wouldn’t surprise me if the couple had also brought their brand new baby. So that’s four people (even if one of them’s an infant – Skyler still counts!) who are spending a week or more overseas, and it’s for what basically amounts to a fashion trade show. That requires lots of different hair and makeup looks, particularly for someone as high-profile as Rachel.

So that’s two suitcases per person with an extra (for shoes, natch.), which doesn’t sound so completely outrageous as it does when you think they’re all for Rachel. But maybe they are all for her, and Rodger’s sad, lonely Samsonite is trailing along behind him, too low behind a mountain of black luggage for us to see. I’m merely impressed that anyone owns that many suitcases – here I am, whining about finding storage space for two. And on top of all that, I don’t even want to contemplate the baggage fees.

So here’s the deal, cats and kittens. As you guys know, Megs and I are based in New York City, but we both come from places that have had severe hurricanes in the past. With the warnings about Irene at the end of last week, we figured that discretion is indeed the greater part of valor and we got the heck out of the city. As a result, we’re sitting in a hotel room in the Lehigh Valley right now, as we have been for a few days. That makes doing any meaningful amount of work tricky, so until we get back tomorrow night, things might be a little slower than normal around here. We appreciate the patience.

New York seems to have dodged the worst of the storm through nothing but sheer luck, but our little Pennsylvania adventure still brings up an interesting question: What do you bring when you’ve got a short-notice, high-pressure weather situation bearing down on you? In my case, I brought the LeSportsac Soft Train Case. Except I didn’t take a train, I took a bus. Tangentially related: I really don’t recommend ever going to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in New York if you can avoid it.

Considering that, my LeSportsac bag served me quite well. I bought this exact model in a different pattern before I moved to New York in May, and it has served me well indeed. It’s the perfect bag for a long weekend; the three large main compartments keep you much more organized than a traditional duffel or weekender bag. You have one for your regular clothes, one for pajamas, underwear and toiletries and the last for your laptop, Kindle, and all the various modes of entertainment with which you might travel and their attendant cords and chargers.

The bag also has large exterior pockets on both the front and back, one of which has a zippered opening in the bottom to allow it to be slipped over the extended handle of a rolling suitcase, a trick which I’ve used several times and which works very well. As if that weren’t enough, it also comes with a little pouch that contains a collapsable nylon tote bag, just in case you need it. The construction of the bag is quite sturdy and LeSportsac’s famous patterns keep the company’s bags from showing wear, even after a trip through the world’s bleakest bus terminal. Buy through Zappos for $144.

I know I’ve asked before, but seriously, where did summer go? School is no longer out for the summer; it’s back in session and the month of August is nearly gone. I spent much of the season traveling on short weekend getaways, and each time I began packing I ran into the same problem: I don’t have an overnight bag that I love. Large luggage with rolling wheels is in a very different category from spacious but efficient large duffel bags; one is much harder to find than the other.

Of course Balenciaga has an answer for my travel bag woes, and in a bright, eye-catching fluorescent color at that. With small details that are oh-so-Balenciaga, the Voyage 24H in Rose Fluo is a statement piece for every girl who loves a quick escape.

You know that moment right before you are supposed to load up the car and run out of town, yet you can not find the right sized bag to throw your essentials in? I know that moment well, because I always end up with a bag too big or a bag too small. I have a good feeling about this BBag and hope the 13″W x 16.5″H x 8.5″D will make a great overnight option.

Now let me talk about the color. With a brand known well for their wide variety of hues, this is one of my favorites to date. Neon, bold and almost too-in-your-face for most, I find myself wanting this bag in a major way. Make room for bold colors, because the pale and muted palettes are taking a backseat with many of our favorite designers right now. Buy via Balenciaga for $2,245.

I’m not much of a crafty girl, but the trompe l’oeil knitted look of the pattern (indeed, other bags in this collection are actually made out of a woven material) provides just enough kitsch to balance out the tough look of a skull and crossbones. Instead of weaving, the bag is made of durable coated canvas that might actually survive a trip through the airport ringer.

Even thinking about the airport makes me cringe. People claim that air travel used to be a glamourous journey, but now, it’s little more than a human cattle-call where you might get groped. At least with a cute carry-on, the entire process can be a little more fashionable, if not any more pleasant. Also, I doubt anyone at baggage claim would mess with the girl pulling skull luggage off of the conveyor belt. Buy through ShopBop for $595.

Lulu Guinness is set to launch her first collection of travel bags next week, and to celebrate the launch, she has released the above video in collaboration with British filmmaker Vicky Mather. I only wish that all of my handbags danced around so happily, not to mention that lips seem like a pretty good way to make sure your suitcase stands out at baggage claim. Photos of the collection, after the jump.