On The Road : Traveling in Style
Once upon a time, the choice was form or function. The new agenda: equal parts style and savvy. Whether you’re in town, country - or on the move between the two - here are some ideas to keep you organized in the finest of fashion.
Shorthorn Bag
Birds of Sausalito has co-branded with San Francisco’s iconic Mulholland Brothers to offer one of their most popular weekend bags - the Shorthorn. Hungry for anything you can pack, the Shorthorn is a classically handsome overnight bag - and can even accommodate a week’s worth of clothes for the disciplined packer. (Greta Garbo is said to have traveled with one pair of pants and four shirts, which is pretty much our travel philosophy, too.) The Shorthorn features a generous outside pocket front and center for anything you want quick access to, a pair of rolled leather handles, and a detachable padded shoulder strap. Unzip the top center zipper, and the bag’s top stands up and open, making loading and unloading the contents hassle-free. Inside is a large, wide-open space with a single zippered envelope pocket. Best of all, in these turbulent times: Bullet-proof nylon lining.
$735 at birdsofsausalito.com
Monkey Bed Esplanade
Designer Simeon (homophonically, but not homosexually, "simian") Margolis has come up with a witty winner. The largest entry in his monkey bed line is that rare bird: a concept product that actually works. Available in five colors (we love mod green or rad red), this oversized messenger bag crafted of "ballistic nylon" is much more than meets the eye. Well-nigh perfect as a beach bag - it even contains a zip-in blanket (ask for the sexy striped design) - it could easily double as a two-day overnight for us minimalist types. With pockets for everything from quart containers to wine bottles, a day at the beach or in the country never had a better friend. All this plus a zipped laptop compartment! We’ve never had a boyfriend both gorgeous and groovy, but this monkey’s our man.
$135 at select boutiques and at www.themonkeybed.com
Briggs-Riley Basline
It’s hard to beat Briggs-Riley for the perfect union of style and substance. This expandable wheeled carry-on from the company’s Baseline collection is ideal for those of us who want one beauteous bag for domestic and international flights alike. The shorter and wider configuration ingeniously offers maximal packing capacity while - yes! - still fitting in the overhead compartment. Plus, the bag expands by 2.5" for 24% greater packing capacity than others its size. Big brilliance: The Outsider® handle system: look, no wrinkles, Ma! Depending on bulk, you can fit either one or two suits, and the SpeedThru™ pocket allows for quick storage of items at security checks. Need a traveling companion for longer jaunts? Spring for the Wheeled Compact Tote. It actually fits under your seat, thus providing tons more room than the tiny tote you usually put there. (Always check with your carrier for their specific carry-on rules.) Best of all, Briggs-Riley’s "simple-as-that" warranty covers functional parts of your luggage for life. Choose your new best travel buddies in black, olive, or chocolate.
$369, carry-on, $249, tote; at luggage stores nationwide; carry-on in select Nordstrom and Bloomingdale’s, both online at www.briggs-riley.com
güs Passport Folio
Foreign travel is fun, but it can be an administrative nightmare. How to organize one’s whole life for an overseas business trip? This very handsome passport folio is how we do it. Nothing is left to the imagination here. Among the life-saving features: seven card pockets for business and credit cards; two large pockets to stash receipts, foreign currency, and that special someone’s picture. (We have a webshot of Rafa Nadal - sigh.) Good thinking: there’s also a side "ticket" pocket that will hold those special theatre stubs- both before use and as mementoes. And how modern is this: two SIM chip pockets. Hand-crafted in Italy, using vegetable-tanned Italian leather, calfskin lining, and available in black or brown, this folio is fab.
$200 at www.gusstyle.com
Lilypond Rainshower Bag
This one’s supposed to be for the ladies. But we’re confident enough of our oozing masculinity to sport it around town when we need a bag for our pocketless pants and don’t want to schlep a knacksack. We love the front zippered easy access to keys, phone, or wallet. There’s also an inner compartment that contains a soft-sided pocket organizer with wide pocket for a cell, plus - how thoughtful! - a mini-iPod® sleeve. It’s waterproof, too, and the jacquard webbing accent is too cool.
$69 at select specialty retailers and at http://www.lilypondusa.com
Earth Diva Kashmir Bag
Go global! This handmade krewel work handbag is made by a working women’s cooperative in Kashmir. The fabric of the bag is cotton and wool yarn is hand stitched creating unique floral motifs reflective of that region. At 12" by 12" , it features a zipper top closure with a large interior pocket that with a handy velcro closure. Perfect for short jaunts around town! With our yoga pants and Birkies, we look like a California boy (until we whip out our Gitanes and skinny jeans later in the day).
$24 at natural food stores and at at www.earthdivas.com
Bra Bag and Pantie Bag
You’re a star; so shouldn’t it be Hollywood or "bust" for your bra and panties? Whether you’re a biological or aspiring lady, the bra bag keeps your support system in shape-no more dented bras upon arrival! The Panty Pak means that you can keep your not-so-pristine unmentionables in their own traveling case, and not in a skanky plastic bag. Travel in style and arrive in form with these brilliant bags for bra and bootiewear!
$50 for Bra Bag and $30 for Panty Pak at www.thebragcompany.com
San Francesco Messenger
At once classic and contemporary, the San Francesco takes the messenger bag to the boardroom. Crafted of fine Napa cashmere leather made in Thailand, this accessory announces you as a man of taste almost before you’ve walked into the room. This bag boasts the full complement of interior organizer pockets, as well an easy-access fore and aft pockets for must-have documents. The back padded compartment holds a netbook or laptop up to 15.4" long, and the front flap snaps closed for security. Four colors are available, though we think cognac’s awfully rich. With a lifetime guarantee, this messenger’s a must. Be prepared to answer the question "Dude, where’d you get that bag?"
$220, now on sale for $176 at www.careerbags.com
reisenthel travel e1 bag
A weekend bag for the ladies that’s drop-dead gorgeous and utterly utile? Yes, indeed: that would be reisenthel’s travel e1. Fashioned in Germany of tearproof polyester, this one goes from the office to the weekend in superlative style. Featuring both a short handle and shoulder strap and an interior strap, you can actually change the size of the bag by unzipping an all-around zipper which increases the length by more than 50%. Available in two colors and one floral print, but we think the ruby red really rocks.
$30 at www.touchofeurope.net.
Pouchee
We just lost our cell phone, and it’s never going to happen again-not with Pouchee around! Pouchee has specialized compartments for credit cards, cell phones, pens, sunglasses- making it easy to find exactly what you’re looking for. Available in dozens of colors in either leatherette or 100% cotton, the Pouchee is topped with handy rings to allow for ease of changing purses and bags. And did we mention the compartments?! There is a place for everything: Outside pockets for pens, sunglasses, mobile phone, keys and more. The inside pockets are perfect for lipsticks or small flashlights, plus additional zippered pockets for change or personal items. Your life-only more organized.
$23 at specialty stores across the U.S. (see store locater on website) and at www.pouchee.com
Targus iPad Sleeve
We love iPads’ sleek silhouette. Why hide it in a bulky bag? The Targus Hughes Leather Portfolio Sleeve for iPad features a soft interior twill lining to protect the iPad from dust and scratches. Constructed of smooth oil-tanned leather material with a secure magnetic closer, the sophisticated case has the look and feel of a high-end executive portfolio. Whether you’re taking your iPad to high-powered meetings or stashing the sleeve inside of another carrying case for added protection, you go in spirit and style.
$60 at Best Buy and and at www.targus.com
Lori Greiner Weekender
Tiger stripes butch enough for boys? Lori Greiner got it! For a weekend jaunt or an extended trip, there’s no reason to pack tons of bags. Keep all of your getaway essentials - including toiletries, of course - organized with just one bag. The toiletry case niftily snaps into the lid, and there’s a separate cosmetics case for guyliner and gel. A telescoping handle and 360-degree multidirectional wheels make mobility a breeze. Measures 17"L x 15"H x 13"D for carry-on status, domestic and international both, and comes in black and leopard, too.
$64 at www.qvc.co
North Face Backpedal
Some messenger bags look great but just don’t hold a day’s worth of stuff. This one’s cavernous compartments make this one a functional beast of burden for carrying your work essentials, gym clothes and more. The main compartment features a padded laptop computer sleeve (good news: it holds up to a 17 incher, along with mesh organizer pockets for peripherals, cords and the like). The large secondary compartment is stocked with a zippered organization pocket, zippered storage pocket for dirty clothes and large zippered mesh pocket. You can even stash a yoga mat between the two compartments -and head off for a day of zest and zen.
$129 at www.northface.com
Lug Moped Messenger
Kiss me, ya big lug! That’s what you may be saying after falling deep in love with this hip, handy mini-messenger bag. The magnetic closure makes for easy access to all the essentials - and we love the built-in compartments for keys, coins, and gadgets. There’s also a fully adjustable strap that fits you to a tee, and the water-repellent finish keeps the Moped - and you - looking supersharp. In groovy shades. Hey, kiss us again, lugster!
$45 at select Whole Foods stores and at www.luglife.com
Healthy Back Carry All
Here’s an ingenious way of getting around carry-on restrictions. This "carry-all" bag comes in five fashion shades and gives you much more room for stuff than an attaché or purse. Designed for back health (our messengers sometimes leave our shoulders bent way out of shape), this kidney-shaped beauty has enough room to fit a laptop, magazines, books and more. The bag conforms to the natural curve of your back, making the large load feel lighter and more comfortable. We love the cleverly placed organizational pockets, too.
$70 at www.ameribag.com
