STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

Metric · Gucci

travel purse

Hermes

We usually take a black leather backpack to label ourselves as typical Americans I also have a black nylon body sling type of bag with zippers etc. - both are pickpocket resistant. I guess it depends on where you're traveling - typically, when traveling overseas, if not using my sling bag, I just put whatever I need in the backpack or in my husbands pockets in the evening when we go out (lipgloss, etc.)

Tashina · Kate Spade

i don't really get to travel anywhere exciting, but we do get to vegas at least 3 times a year, and i allways take one simple go with everything evening bag and a messenger bag. i like the messenger during the day, because it is extremely comfy and i can keep it kind of towards the front on the side and i can really feel if someone is trying to get into my bag.

Accessory Style 29752 this is usually my evening bag of choice. it goes with just about everything, and it holds a little more than the average clutch. it is a lot more elegant in person.

montmarte · Kenneth Cole

In the big cities, I like to carry my goods in a bag that's pretty but practical! This is the bag I used on my trip to Athens this past year...

by Crystalyn Kae $135 (www.starsandinfinitedarkness.com)

I like it because it's roomy, super durable, and has two options of wearing it (it has snaps so it's collapsible).

I currently have my eyeballs on this ugly-but-I-really-like-it bag by Anna Sui that I saw in Lucky (June). I don't have a pic, but it's black/creme striped, wool. Looks a bit Moroccan. It's not in the store yet but I'm thinking about getting it for my trip this fall. Hope you have a great trip and lots of luck in finding that perfect travel bag!

rlutz · Chanel

I usually carry a large but fashionable tote of some sort to I can cqarry everything I need and when a by little things I can put them in there...when I was in London i carried around a teal leather tote from Urban

relrel · Marc Jacobs

not that im traveling or anything...but i thought it might help you to know what bag i generally carry.

i carry a reload messenger bag that i self designed!

so it looks like these bags (and yes, im posting more than one...but i really love the bag and i take any chance i get to spread the word about this company):

seriously, aren't they the coolest? mine is green with burgundy trim, the design is a bamboo branch in two shades of tan. basically any design you bring them, they can make.

anyway....i think that you would be good with a larger tote/messenger bag (which could be used on the plane) and a smaller purse for evenings and such. i don't think a clutch is totally necessary at all for any trips you might have this summer, just a cute smaller purse would be fine.

Maddie · Coach

Depends where I'm going. I'm buying this bag for my trip to Sri Lanka...

It may seem impractical, but you're wrong (however, I do plan on taking those stupid pins off). It's canvas, so I can just wash it when it gets totally disgusting. I also like something I can carry on my shoulder, so my arm is always over it and I can swing it around in front of me if I'm in a pick pockety looking crowd. Also, it's big enough to hold a notebook, water bottle, camera, guide book, etc.

If I'm in New York, Dublin, Paris, whatever, I tell myself that I'm in a big city and I need to carry around a regular bag. Just cause I'm on vacation doesn't mean I need to bring all the things I think I do. If I lived in Madrid would I really take a water bottle with my for a day of shopping? So I limit myself to a normal purse. I've been known to rip pages out of a guidebook so I can take them with me without bringing the whole book.

-- Edited by Maddie at 13:27, 2006-05-20

cc · Marc Jacobs

When I'm going on a big trip I always bring a giant canvas tote from H&M which has a lot of different pockets. It has two handles so you can wear it over your shoulder and a long detachable strap if you want to wear it across your chest. I like it when I'm going to be on planes and trains since I can get to things easily and even pack a change of clothes in case of emergency.

Then in my suitcase I pack a smaller bag or two, depending on my plans and how much space I have. Usually I bring a small, lightweight fabric tote or messenger bag for the day - like Maddie, I don't carry that much around with me when I'm sightseeing because as the day goes on my bag just feels heavier and heavier anyway and I rip pages out of my guidebooks or print stuff from travel sites so I can throw them out when I'm finished.