As a travel editor and writer, I spend more than 300 days on the road every year. My trips range from short to long stays in cities ancient and modern, tiny islands with nary a smooth surface in sight, and, if I’m lucky, somewhere remote on a tiny plane that won’t allow for rigid luggage. All this means I have a ton of luggage, and, because I’m tough on it, too, I’m always looking at what’s new on the market.
I’m a big Rimowa fan—and while I love the way the aluminum looks, I prefer their polycarbonate luggage for its color, and because it’s lighter than the original version in steel. The Essential Cabin Lightweight is my favorite in-cabin bag, and the Essential Trunk Plus is the best trunk. (Yes, I’m an overpacker, and I check often.) I have them in green, but I’d gladly have them in white or cedar brown. Maybe a matching set of white for summer?!
My husband and I love to collect vintage Gucci luggage, especially the weekend bags. Alternatively, the Gucci Savoy Cabin Plus, which feels very old Gucci, is brilliant.
Delsey is a great French brand that makes an international rolling carry-on that is so well constructed, looks sharp, and is incredibly priced. They were also the first to create suitcases with wheels, in 1972. I like their Chatelet in brown or blue, but this Roland Garros model is also very stylish.
If we’re going somewhere where there aren’t going to be surfaces that are ideal for rolling (a road trip, islands with uneven roads, the desert … you get the idea), we bring a canvas duffel. Filson is my favorite.
For a weekend getaway, there’s nothing more stylish than the Métier Perriand. It’s functional and well organized, but also so beautiful. It almost makes me want to plan a trip just to use it.
The best carry-on for sitting on top of your in-cabin suitcase is the Paravel Weekender. It’s elegant and has an easy strap that keeps it securely on the suitcase handle so it doesn’t swing off as you’re rolling through the airport.
I also adore the Hermès Herbag Zip—it comes in such good colors (I love the red), and the shoulder strap is a big plus.
I always like to pack an extra foldable bag in case I find too many treasures on my trip (which almost invariably happens while antiquing in France). The Longchamp Le Pliage foldable canvas bag is great because it grows, while the Paravel Fold-Up Bag is great if you want to chuck it in the hold.
Yolanda Edwards is the founding editor of Yolo Journal. A longtime magazine editor, she was previously the creative director at Condé Nast Traveler. She lives in New York, Rome, and Médoc
