Forbes.com 05.17.07
You've got the Cartier Tank, the Maserati Quattroporte sedan and a Fifth Avenue pied-a-terre.
But few things are more luxurious than time off.
Of course that requires a luxe tote for the car or plane.
"What you carry your clothes in is almost as important as what you are wearing on vacation," says Jono Waks, owner of Jono Productions, a marketing and strategy consulting company with clients including Catherine Malandrino, Yeohlee and Cynthia Rowley. "There is a certain cache attached to what you carry your travel gear in, and trust me, I have received 'once over' glances from people [in the airport]. They weren't interested in me or what I was wearing."
But stylish hand-held luggage doesn't come cheap. Take the $5,950 limited edition Bottega Veneta Cabat Uomo carry-on bag. It was introduced during the men's Spring/Summer 2007 collections last fall. It can hold a change of clothes as well as plenty of beach reading and bottles of wine or a hostess gift.
Good luck finding one. Only 50 were made.
Chic Choices
A less expensive, but just as elegant option is the $725 Smythson Casablanca On Board Travel Bag. Made with gray linen and boasting yellow leather handles, its interior can fit important work documents and a sweater in case it gets chilly on the plane; outside pockets house a cellphone, a BlackBerry and keys.
On the preppier side? The $525 Burberry Quilted Nylon Tote is small enough to fit under the seat in front of you, but large enough for a change of clothes, a switch of shoes and a toiletry kit.
Sporty options can also be had. The sleek Coach Nylon Weekend Tote will maintain its shape even if you put four changes of clothes in it. And the Jack Spade Waxwear Weekender may be made specifically for men, but it's roomy enough to pack both your clothes as well as your significant other's.
With trends in luggage changing as rapidly as planes change gates, how is a frugal traveler expected to stay stylish?
"My suggestion is to purchase luggage that has a long shelf life," says Waks. "Anything in solid colors or classic shapes will not only take you through several seasons, it will take you to all sorts of destinations in style."