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NEWS
STORY
Looks in Luggage
Its
not just psychiatrists and the entire population of France who take August off.
If the number of recent "out of the office this week" return e-mail
messages is any indicator, it looks as if a serious August exodus has already
begun for the rest of us, too.
And for whatever you're taking with you on
that getaway, roll out and carry on are two of the best ways to go.
Many travelers already own suitcases on
wheels that roll and glide over pavement, up curbs and along long airport
concourses. Today's better luggage has in-line skate wheels, using quiet, smooth
ball-bearing technology. And increasingly, wheels are on carry-on luggage. Many
airlines have tightened their rules for carry-on bags, to a maximum of 22 inches
wide by 14 inches tall by 9 inches deep, although some airlines, given an inch
or two variation, are somewhat lenient. Best to check with your airline each
time you fly.
Luggage manufacturers are focusing on the
very mobile traveler, and choices in carry-on and checked bags have expanded
considerably. They're lighter but stronger, more manageable, more portable and
more colorful — a nod to fashionistas, as well as a deterrent to thieves —
and easier to spot on a moving carousel of identical black bags. If you're going
to stick with that old black bag, at least mark it with bright duct tape, or put
a vibrant key chain or pompom on the handle.
The luggage pieces highlighted here make
great mobile companions.
When the Sky's the Limit
The Henry Beguelin bag is a carry-on,
although its generous size (23 by 14 by 7 inches) may be a shade too large for
anything but first-class travel. According to Cristina Nicolete, the owner of
the Beguelin shops in the United States, Beguelin luggage, made in Italy, is for
people who aspire to coordinate all visible accessories. A Beguelin suitcase,
then, is ideal for those who already own any of the company's handmade supple
leather handbags, shoes or belts, sold at its shops in Aspen, Colo., and Malibu,
Calif., and at Barneys New York .
The $1,400 Beguelin carry-on is made of soft,
hand-stitched leather and has ball-bearing wheels, a pull-up handle and a
leather carrying handle. It comes in red, black, dark brown, off-white and
yellow, and can be ordered through the Beguelin shop in Aspen: (970) 920-2925.
Surf's Up
Summer campers are only one audience for the
giant football of a duffel bag that L. L. Bean calls the "rolling adventure
duffle." Popular with skiers and surfers, the tough, 6-pound-5-ounce bag is
36 inches wide, 17 inches high and 14 1/2 inches deep, and folds into a
rigid platform when not in use. It can be pulled on its in-line skate wheels, or
carried by hand or over the shoulder. Cinch straps compress the contents if the
bag is not fully packed. The duffel comes in black and 16 colors (made of nylon)
and prints (made of polyester) and is available for $99 at www.llbean.com/traveler;
(800) 809-7057.
Style and Substance
The Duchess of York has already asked T.
Anthony to custom-make a larger version of its 14-inch-wide, 10-inch-high and
8-inch-deep cosmetics case. Made of Scotchgarded, triple-ply cotton canvas
stretched over a rigid wooden frame, the $425 case has two satin brass thumb
locks, a leather handle, an interior lid mirror and a leather strap for securing
bottles.
Also handy for the Orient Express and
chauffeured drives to the Hamptons, T. Anthony's $750 hatbox with handle, 17 1/2
by 18 1/2 by 8 inches, ensures that there will be no bothersome reblocking
at the other end. The cosmetics case and the hatbox come in red, black or the
store's signature blue. They are available at www.tanthony.com;
(212) 750-9797 (New York City); (973) 376-6789 (Short Hills, N.J.).
Adventure Travel
Patagonia's M.L.C. bag, an abbreviation for
"maximum legal carry-on," was shrunk a few years ago to meet the
latest size restrictions: it is now 22 inches wide, 14 inches tall and 8 inches
deep, and old or new, it may have seen more legitimate adventures than any other
bag the company makes. Made of heavy-duty basket-weave cloth coated inside with
waterproof polyurethane, the M.L.C. can be carried by its leather handle or as a
backpack, with waist straps. Meant for three to seven days' travel, it can hold
a huge amount of gear, according to Howell Thompson, Patagonia's marketing
manager, who swears he took no other luggage for a one-month trip to Thailand.
The M.L.C., which folds up when not in use, has internal and external pockets,
internal straps and a zipper lock, and costs $155. It comes in black and silt, a
brownish-gray, and is available at www.patagonia.com;
(800) 638-6464.
A Better Cart
Folding black luggage carts made by the
Products Finishing Corporation of Brooklyn are a definite improvement over the
sometimes flimsy luggage trolleys bought on the run at airport shops. They have
better wheels, longer (40-inch) adjustable handles and strong attached straps,
and fold up neatly for overhead bin storage. For airplane travel, there are
sizes that can carry 75, 150 or 250 pounds. They are sold at varying prices at
Target and Wal-Mart stores, or at www.foldingcart.com;
(800) 354-2278. - by Suzanne Hamlin
New
York Times
太太's
current favourite is Rimowa luggage, which she got as a birthday gift from
Harrod's. That plus the Longchamp travel bag, is the ticket.
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