I wish I could have experienced flying in the 60s and 70s, when it was more of an event, a cocktail party.  People dressed up as if they were going out to dinner.  Now granted, they actually did get booze and dinner served to them, so it was a bit of an upgrade than what you can expect now, a 50 calorie pack of pretzels and half a can of soda in a plastic cup.

I don’t necessarily enjoy airports with the long security lines and schlepping of luggage.  Then the flight isn’t much better, squeezed into a seat next to strangers, but still I try and make the most of it and look presentable.  So if I’m going to be hauling bags around all day, I might as well make them stylish and truly act as an accessory to my wardrobe.

I have been shopping around for the perfect weekender bag and finally decided on this beauty.  I do not have a history of being a big fan of logo printed items, but they are making a comeback so I’m embracing it.  Actually what usually made me shy away from the Louis Vuitton bags was the leather detail, the light tan leather color.  It just doesn’t fit my wardrobe, I wear a lot of black, white and gray and I just didn’t think it looked right.  But then enter the Louis Vuitton  Monogram Macassar, which is the logo print with black leather detail as opposed to the tan.  This particular bag is listed under the Men’s section, but that didn’t stop me, I think it’s unisex.

 

 

I know I may be late to the game, but I just discovered Youtube has a ton of videos of people showing their designer bags.  I confess, the first night I stumbled upon this I think I watched 3 hours of videos, I was addicted!  The great thing about it is you can get a better idea of the size, shape and overall look of the bag and people offer pretty honest opinions.  This bag comes in multiple sizes, 45, 50, 55 and 60.  I was trying to decide on which one to get and decided that the 55 was perfect and I also learned it is the largest size that is still allowed as a carry-on which is important since this is not a bag you would want to check.

Louis Vuitton Monogram Macassar Keepall 55

I have been a loyal Tumi customer for over a decade and still have a few but I was looking for a larger roller bag to use this Summer but I didn’t want to spend too much because I rarely use a size larger than a carry on.  I have had a marble obsession lately so when I found these Calpak pieces, it was meant to be.  These will be my first hard case bags, although they are still slightly pliable.  They are actually reasonably priced and come in a white marble and several other colors and designs.

 

I just took the larger of the two on a trip and it held up quite well.  I will say that on the way home I was one pound over the weight limit, so had to take out my makeup bag to make it regulation.  This is why I usually avoid taking larger bags, my tendency to overpack and the fact that I do not like checking luggage unless absolutely necessary.

 

 

Luggage: Calpak / Bag: Louis Vuitton similar here / Shoes: Rag & Bone

 

 

Here are a few combos I have found below.  I would invest a little more in your luggage if you travel often, think about the wear and tear and how much you will use it.  Shop these and more below!