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. (more…)

I’ve been thinking about luggage ever since we talked about that Jimmy Choo shoe case earlier in the week, and that the Lanvin Amalia Voyage Leather Suitcase should show up on Net-a-Porter right now is nothing short of fortuitous. I maybe have been a bit of a party-pooper when it came to the aforementioned shoe luggage, but I can’t help but swoon over all this luscious Lanvin lambskin.

Although the price is high – well over $3000 – when you compare it to other designer luggage, it seems much more palatable. Not that I wouldn’t be filled with anxiety by the prospect of taking such beautiful leather through an airport, of course, but if I were the type to spend that much money on a suitcase, perhaps my nerves wouldn’t be quite so raw. A fat savings account tends to have a calming effect on most people. (more…)

It has now been above 60 degrees for two days in a row in Georgia, and the sunshine is giving me the travel itch something fierce. My fair skin has never ingratiated me to tropical vacations, but the advent of warm weather is making me wish that I were laying in a beach chair right now.

Perhaps spring makes you want to do something different – go hiking in Colorado or maybe (if you’re lucky) shop for your summer wardrobe in New York City. Wherever you want to go, we’ve got some bright and cheery travel essentials that don’t skimp on functionality to get you to your destination of choice. (more…)

If you’re sick of losing your luggage in a sea of black Samsonite nylon on the luggage trolley at the airport, we may have an alternative for you. And no, we’re not going to suggest that you put a brightly colored pipe cleaner on the handle – too many people have caught on to that trick, and where do you buy pipe cleaners, anyway? Like, what aisle are those on at Target?

If a more stylish option is your cup of tea, consider the Tumi Voyageur Python Avignon International Carry-on. (more…)

On the one hand, I think the JCrew Lugano Leather Suitcase is really pretty. It looks really well made, and J. Crew‘s website says that it’s manufactured by some big-deal Italian manufacturer called Dell’Ga. I’m sure they’re awesome, and I’m sure this is a wonderful suitcase. BUT IT’S BASICALLY WHITE! I know the color is called “stone,” which implies that there’s some grey to it, but still. Almost white. And a decent-sized suitcase seems like it would be the single most impractical thing in the world to manufacture in such a light color.

Airports are disgusting (at least to me) in pretty much every way imaginable, and I don’t like putting my cheap duffel bag on the dirty conveyor belt to be checked, let alone a nearly $2000 piece of nearly white handcrafted luggage. It also doesn’t have any little wheelies on it, meaning you’re lugging it by yourself, and it weighs nearly nine pounds when completely empty. The price, the color, and the lack of functionality lead me to only one conclusion – these bags are made for those that have OTHERS that see to it that their luggage arrives safely at their destination. Buy through J.Crew for $1800.