How I pack in 2024...
When you hit the road every month, you learn everything from the best suitcases to travel with plus what exactly to put inside them
*This is a long, information-packed post so make sure you press download entire message’ if reading this in your email.
I seem to spend my life in transit. Next week I’m off to France for work. Two weeks ago I returned from San Francisco. The week after next I’ll be in Germany. When you spend a good portion of your life living out of a suitcase you figure out systems, as well as who makes good luggage (and not just good-looking luggage by the way, but sturdy, fits-everything-in and lasts the distance luggage). You also become adept at figuring out the best seat on a plane, how to make a hotel room feel like home, what trousers to travel in, what make-up to take and which table to reserve at a restaurant as a lone female traveler that won’t make it appear as though you are soliciting. (Sadly an issue in some countries in my experience)
So this week I wanted to share with you all of the above, plus so much more that I genuinely wished someone has shared with me years ago.
Suitcases
Confession, I have a bit of a thing for suitcases. So much so that we have had to split my office in half so that the suitcases (all mine btw) have their own little room. Is it a disease? I think it might be. Basically I have two weekend bags, two carry-on cases (one much better than the other I should add and i’ll tell you why); a suitcase that is perfect for a week away and another two that are great for long haul/big shopping trips. You however probably only need three: a weekend bag, a carry-on and a big grown-up suitcase.
Weekend bag: I have a lovely old grey leather Mulberry weekend bag and a foldable Longchamp one. The Mulberry bag barely gets used because it’s so heavy and thus only suitable for weekends away when travelling by car. But the Longchamp bag (it’s the classic Le Pilage by the way and they now do it in an expandable version, which is a bit ugly when expanded but super useful). Herve Chapelier also do an excellent all-rounder that folds up to the size of a napkin that I would highly recommend. If you like to travel super light and like to be hands-free then Rains do a very stylish patent extendable back-pack that I have my eye.
Carry-On: My issue with so many carry-on cases is that they make you look like a Swiss pharmacuetical executive. I have two. The first is a simple silver aluminium Rimowa (it’s called The Cabin). It’s completely fine. Smart. Sensible. Fits two pairs of shoes- at a squeeze, and enough clothes for one or two nights away, but it’s a bit corporate- something about the shape, I think. Still, as you’ll see Rimowa is my go-to, but only the aluminium versions which look better over time and great littered with hundreds of stickers.
If money were no object, and I know it is THE object for most of us, I would actually invest in a, wait for it, Louis Vuitton carry-on case. Forget a Birkin bag (those I know who have one say it plays havoc with your tennis elbow anyway); the LV Horizon 55 carry-on would be the ultimate splurge. Here’s why: it never, ever dates. It literally fits a week’s worth of clothes in it because it expands! I once got an upgrade to first class (FIRST CLASS!) and I swear it was because I had this with me. Mine is the monogrammed version and has my initials hand-painted in the corner (yes, this is cute service they offer). In retrospect I think the monogrammed version is a little flashy for me and if I had my time again I would go for the black leather version which is supposed to be for men but it’s basically unisex.
