Off the Cuff - Carson Kressley [44]
Personally, I think a leather duffel is the perfect thing to hold a weekend’s worth of clothes. It’s good-looking, handsome, and classic, just like a Baldwin! And it will get better with age, unlike your sex life.
A leather duffel doesn’t need to be made by an expensive designer; just be sure to look for good quality leather, stitching, and overall construction. It should be roomy, and ideally will have a nice silk or rayon lining. Don’t get crazy and demand all sorts of pockets and pouches. They’re like bad wedding gifts; you never use them.
LUGGAGE ,OR EMOTIONAL BAGGAGE
There’s nothing sadder than noticing a hot guy at the airport and then seeing him retrieve a bag from the carousel that’s covered with teal and lime green oversized tapestry flowers straight from the Cindy Brady collection. Handsome luggage is important. I’m not sure why the worst dressed people in the world are always at the airport. Just don’t be one of them. You’re traveling, not cleaning out your basement or getting an MRI.
Good luggage can be expensive, but remember you’re probably never going to go on safari for a month, so your luggage needs are actually pretty modest. Register for it when you get married! Or just invest in one good quality suitcase and one high-quality garment bag with lots of storage compartments. If you also have a leather weekend bag, you really don’t need much more. When shopping for luggage, keep in mind that larger items that need to be checked through your friendly airport baggage handling system might not receive the greatest of care, and should be as durable as possible. Remember the American Tourister gorilla? You should be so lucky.
What to Pack for a Weekend Away
Walletts: Is That a Wallet in Your Pocket, or Are You Just Happy to See Me?
Personally, I like to see guys with a big bulge in the front and not in the back. And if you sit on a bulging wallet all day, it can lead to back problems and other strains: total chiropractic moment. You also shouldn’t keep a big bulky wallet in the breast pocket of your jacket because it will make you look like you have lopsided gynecomastia.
A big overstuffed wallet is a liability in any case, because if you keep everything that’s important to you in there, you’re so out of luck should you lose it or become the victim of a pickpocket. All of your favorite pictures of your dog, your high school girlfriend’s graduation picture, and the ones of hot frat boys you’ve downloaded from the Internet would all be gone, as would your credit cards and other important personal documents.
Keep your wallet sleek and small and keep the rest of your important items at home in a safe place. Personally, I keep a nice simple little wallet that has a bit of room for my driver’s license, two or three credit cards, and a few dead presidents. Cash is so vintage.
I don’t think it’s even that crucial to have a matched set of luggage; great-looking pieces that look better on their own are more important. How often do you really run around carrying all of your luggage at once? Unless you’re costarring with Bette Davis in some 1930s movie about star-crossed lovers and ocean travel, you should be fine.
Modern luggage is not only great because it looks good, but because it has this amazing feature: I don’t know if they’re new, but they’re called “wheels.” I’m always amazed that there are people who still haven’t caught on to the wheeled luggage phenomenon and are carting around old buckled suitcases with huge Naugahyde handles that look like they came from the Sanford and Son’s estate sale. Hernias are so not cute. Also keep in mind that if there’s duct tape anywhere on it, or it needs to be closed with the help of a bungee cord or strap, it should be tossed.
Pack Your Bags! A Carson How To . . .
Packing your suitcase is like making lasagna. It’s all about the layers. You want your bag to be bottom heavy, so your shoes should always go in