Gender neutral luggage

A male friend asked to borrow luggage for a trip. I willingly obliged but was told, "Never mind, your luggage is kinda girly." I thought about it and thought, "Yes, it is kinda feminine," matter of fact most of my luggage has some kind of detail that makes it stand out. But do these details make them feminine? The most gender neutral piece I own is tan with brown leather sides and handles which I find quite durable but was deemed "too small". I had to wonder would a man carry even this piece or is generic black and blue all men are allowed?

Large bag trend: how large is too large?

I was out with The Gentlemen and A Friend and was teased about the size of my purse: a wonderful woven white tote that holds a week's worth of supplies and paper. Originally intended for travel I couldn't resist using it for everyday. And true fashionistas know how hard it is to score trendy white bags. Now I admit that I'm always prepared so when we needed hand wipes I had some, when we needed Chapstick I had an assortment of lip glosses, and friends know I always have eye drops, so an oversized bag helps keep everything in one place. But by the end of the week my bag is noticeably heavier...time to clean it out.

Is it better to downsize and sort or always be prepared? When I try to downsize I inevitably need something that I conscientiously left behind. But when I take a smaller bag I manage just fine with bare essentials. My solution is to bring both: the small comes with me, the large stays in the car just in case.

My Largest Bags:

• white woven beauty by Guess, was on sale on their website and they also have luggage
  
• blue & gold custom canvas tote bag made by Zoras of St. Thomas, purchased on vacation and never regretted!
• black graphic image luggage tote and matching rolling carry-on from The Limited, purchased 10 years ago and still in service (Express occasionally sells luggage also)
  
• black graphic image baby bag by Nine West, which provides a great laptop pocket (Kohl's sells Nine West luggate regularly)
  

Have you seen the $10 Gift Store? Bijoux Terner

Bijoux Terner is a company with stores in airports only. I first encountered this mecca in Europe many moons agains, then most recently in Puerto Rico: before I reached my destination I had bought 4 purses to match a number of formal outfits. On my return I picked up a few more to make sure I always have a matching bag. At $10 I felt they were a bargain because the styles were "influenced" by high end designs and large enough to hold my essentials. I was recently complimented on one of these gems, which is the litmus test.

The company is great about changing the merchandise to match with current fashion trends, and they sell accessories from scarves to sunglasses, and men's accessories now also.

So while traveling be on the lookout for this great concept store! Or check out their locations before you travel...maybe you can schedule a stopover...it's totally worth it! Just make sure you have enough packing room to bring home all your purchases.

The house is finally done!

So the house is finally done and we finally get to indulge in some serious decorating cravings! I've missed opportunities to purchase great items (furniture, decor, tchotchkes) because of lack of storage while the house was in progress, but something new always comes along and that's the best part! Then again the design aesthetic of the color scheme (brown and Frost and modern) and the space limitations of an older home renovated with the same footprint (small rooms) means I'm going to have to reduce possessions, contain clutter, and keep it streamlined...that's what the house is asking for!

The problem with the carry-on bag and the personal item...

The problem with the carry-on and the personal item occurs when one wishes not to check a bag: chances are high that even if you pack carefully once other people take up all the overhead space you may still be forced to check your bag and risk reaching your destination without your bag. Chances are reduced when the bag is taken just before boarding, but then someone could walk off with your bag. A bit paranoid, yes, but having just returned from a trip where I minimized my carry-on baggage and the checked suitcase with all my gifts and toiletries reached my destination 5 days after I did bears witness to this problem. The other problem is for shopaholics: packing for your trip is not the problem, returning with all your new stuff is!

Friends should be wondering why I'm thinking about my next trip when I just returned from one.

Answer:

(1) always evaluate what worked and what didn't from your last trip,
(2) I was reminded that we are celebrating a friend's graduation and birthday in the next 4 months.

On my most recent vacation, to head off laundry I packed too many clothes: cardinal rule is figure out what you can/will wear more than once and remove other items accordingly to minimize your travel load. I also had issues with my carry-on bags: I packed lightly but my duffel bag's design was cute and cumbersome, and I carried a great purse that was so small I couldn't fit items I use in-flight close to me (read: constantly had to go into the overhead for my in-flight needs).

Solutions:

I'm obsessed with those uber-sized handbags stewardesses (politically correct: flight attendants) carry because they are "personal items": they're these huge purses that can carry SO MUCH STUFF! I just spent 2 hours trying to track one down. They're this great leather and larger than the average purse. I have visions of carrying my toiletries along with my *substantial* arsenal of daily essentials and a carry-on for my next trip instead of a bulky rolling carry-on box to minimize my carryings.

What I found that fit the description was the Stewardess bag from Coach, which explains the great leather, but no generic and less expensive brand. So I'm thinking Coach rightfully patented this design (since they did of course invent it) and no other company reinterpreted it because flight attendants are such a small market. I'll have to investigate this theory further at my local Coach store ;,).

Some NICE alternatives are available from many designers of course:

• Louis Vuitton invented the custom travel bag category: I'm salivating for the XL bag because of it's a cute sack, the Marina GM because it's a structured sack, and of course the Speedy because it's iconic . These 3 options could stylishly stow plenty, you'll just have to eat Top Ramen for a month.
  
• Dooney & Bourke has some great items also: I love the idea of a roll-up tote for inevitable shopping, and this carry-all references LV's Speedy at a lower price point, and I saw this travel tote in a magazine and thought about my love affair with the vehicle of the same name. The preceding are lovely but I blew my monthly fun budget on a Zebra duffel and matching purse, justified because travel bags should be functional and stylish! Why clear? The clear versions are less expensive than the leather or cloth versions and a friend once traveled with an LV clear logo diaper bag (just for its roominess) that was flyy...I've been obsessed since then. Money being no object I would have a Zebra duffel and medium sac in grey/white (medium so there's no question about fitting under the seat in front of you). The Croco duffels are not bad either...
• Diane von Furstenberg has designed some great luggage that you can find anywhere from her flagship, to Macy's, to eBags, to your local Ross or Marshall's. I first saw her luggage in Ross: a black suede with tan leather trim, that came with packing accessories and a brush for the suede. Matching pieces were readily available also. Salivating? The only reason I don't own that piece is the suede would never last if I were asked to check my carry-on. Her luggage is always stylish, on trend, noticeable and admirable.
• Jansport has some VERY CUTE offerings at VERY REASONABLE prices: I saw a blue polka-dot print at a luggage specialty store at my local mall that I had to walk quickly away from, and many are available at eBags. Perfect rolling uprights, backpacks, duffel bags, and personal item bags.