Stylish Suitcases

It’s said that it’s better to travel hopefully than to arrive. Personally, I like to do both but if, like me, you’d do anything to avoid the packing part of the process, then some encouragement in the form of a snappy new suitcase might help. Another reason to think about some new luggage is size and weight: If you’re still toting around suitcases from “back in the day,” they may well be bigger than airlines now allow in the cabins, and considerably heavier than current cases, reducing already pared-down baggage allowances still further.

If you’ve ever stood at a luggage carousel after a long flight watching an endless stream of identical bags circling around for what seems like days or, far worse, had your identical bag mistakenly taken home by another passenger, you’ll have made a mental note that your next suitcase will need to have some distinguishing features.

Whether you want a hard shell, soft sides, just a single piece or an entire set, the good news is that you won’t have to travel far to find what you’re looking for! I found a fun selection at Marshalls—vibrant solid colors, abstract patterns, New York skylines and my particular favorite, a stylized London scene complete with soldiers in red tunics and bearskin helmets. Whatever your suitcase style, a distinctive, colorful piece will save you time and your sanity at the other end.

Fashion expert Cheryl Lampard is the founder of Style Matters International, www.stylemattersinternational.com