Today in Texas it is rainy, cold, and just kind of crappy in general, weather-wise. Tomorrow it will be colder here than in Chicago. Yes, I know we desperately need rain. I just wish it didn’t have to be so darn cold at the same time! All of this dreary grayness is making me long for warmer, prettier weather.  More spring-like weather. Spring is, after all, our reward for living through August. So here are a few things that help me remember that sunnier days lie ahead. And don’t forget, daylight savings starts this weekend!

Love this colorful, stripey dress from JC Penney. I saw it and immediately wanted to go on vacation to an exotic beach so I could wear it. When I showed it to the Home Warrior he said, “Wow, that would be great for a cruise!” Excellent idea, dear. Its silky feel, on-trend color blocking, maxi length, and dramatic colors all say, Pick me!! And the price doesn’t hurt.

I’ve been dreaming of bright green ballet flats for a while now. For some reason, they just sound so happy and colorful—the perfect way to banish the blahs. Finding a pair that matches up to my imagination, however, has been near impossible. This basic pair is inexpensive, and pretty close to what I’ve been searching for. They are also available in several other fun colors! And of course, flats are great for travel.

Even though my black purse is awesome, and I love, love it, sometimes a girl just needs a brightly-colored purse. Exactly like this tangerine laptop bag from McKlein USA. It’s a good size, sturdy, has high reviews, and will give your outfit just the punch of color you’re looking for.

Finally, even though it’s not really travel related, I found these outdoor pillows at JC Penney and I love them. They just seem like spring on a pillow! So I bought a couple, and they are waiting for the day that I can sit outside with them.

Readers, what makes you think of spring? Are you ready, or are you still enjoying winter?

It seems like more and more travelers have TSA friendly laptop cases. For those of you who are unfamiliar, it is a briefcase or bag that opens a certain way, and you don’t have to take your laptop out at security. According to the TSA website, there are a number of guidelines to look for:

• Your laptop bag has a designated laptop-only section that you can lay flat on the X-ray belt
• There are no metal snaps, zippers or buckles inside, underneath or on-top of the laptop-only section
• There are no pockets on the inside or outside of the laptop-only section
• There is nothing in the laptop compartment other than the laptop
• You have completely unfolded your bag so that there is nothing above or below the laptop-only section, allowing the bag to lie flat on the X-ray belt

I guess my main concern with these security friendly bags is that, while they make going through security a little bit easier, as a rule they look rather utilitarian, which is not exactly my style. (Shallow? Maybe. But if you’ve read my blog for any period of time you know I love a nice purse!) So I’m just wondering what you guys are doing. Do you have one of these bags? Why or why not? How’s it going for you?

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Anyone ever seen one of these? My mom found it in one of her magazines, and it looks so interesting. It is the Zuca Travel Pro Carry-On. The highlights: five removable packing pouches that stack like drawers, a TSA-compliant toiletry bag, and (seriously) a metal frame that doubles as a seat. Crazy! It doesn’t look like any conventional bag I’ve ever seen, and is actually kind of funny looking. I have never noticed one in an airport before. You can bet I’ll be looking now though…..

Another cool item featured: a travel wallet that fights hunger. The Essential Travel Clutch Wallet is specifically designed to to hold passports and maps, has six credit card slots, and four open compartments. Handmade in Cambodia, they say purchasing this item will fund “50 cups of food.” And it’s pretty! Everyone wins.

What do you think about the Zuca suitcase? Interesting? Cool? Too weird?

I’m feeling in a very “bag” mood today. And I started thinking. I love my L&S tote that I use for travel. It is the best travel bag I’ve ever owned. But it’s black, and while I appreciate its versatility, it’s nice to have a little “pop” once in a while. This is why I own a bright orange wallet (love, love it!) and my wristlets and clutches are all colored and fun. Plus, it’s very handy to have a small purse while traveling when my tote is just too big. Having a colorful clutch is a great way to express personality in small doses. For example, the full-size bags from Anuschka are beautiful, but may be a tad much for a professional environment. The Mini-Travel Companion, though, is the perfect size for such an interesting and dramatic print. So here are a few of my favorite wristlets and clutches.

Jill-E Designs Lime Green Wristlet is an affordable, sassy clutch with an interesting shape and room for all of the essentials. I love that it comes with both a wrist strap and a longer strap, so you can use whichever is more convenient for your situation.

I actually own this Lilly Accordion Organizer from Latico in a purple color. It is so fabulous–it holds a ton of stuff, the adorable floral lining makes me smile every time I open it, and it hangs at exactly the right length.

The lovely Anuschka line is what inspired this whole post–each piece is handmade and hand painted, so each one is unique. I so love the Peacock Safari print, an interesting mix of color and neutrals painted onto leather. The Mini Travel Companion with lots of pockets, a good size, and a long strap make it seem like, well, the perfect travel companion!

After my purse was stolen last month, I despaired of ever finding a wallet I would love as much as I loved my old one. My sister had purchased it from Nordstrom (it was the Nordstrom house brand) five years ago, then tired of it after six months and gave it to me. I never dreamed that I would have it for five years–I don’t keep anything like that for five years! It had the perfect amount of credit card slots and pockets, a divided interior, an easy to access zippered coin purse, and was an adorable apple green to boot. Sigh.

Knowing I had to get a replacement, I went shopping only two days after my bag was stolen. It was probably too soon, as I was still in mourning for my stuff and had a hard time finding anything that was even remotely acceptable. But since my old wallet had been from Nordstrom, I figured I would go there and at least try. After circling the wallet counter for about twenty minutes, carefully inspecting every wallet, I saw it.

The bright orange is what got me at first–how can you lose a wallet that color in your purse? Once the clerk had it out for me and I got a chance to really inspect it, I knew the Hobo International Nancy was perfect. It has a divided interior, sufficient credit card slots (fewer than my old wallet, but it’s probably time to pare down), multiple pockets, and is cuuuuuuuute. The coin purse has a kiss closure, which is even easier to open than a zipper, and is made out of adorable black and white fabric. I’ve used it for about six weeks now, and it is highly functional. It works beautifully for travel, holding all of my receipts, membership cards, and boarding pass. I highly recommend it for anyone who wants a beautiful, functional wallet that is great for travel.

A reader recently sent me this question:

After a few business trips, I’m starting to get pretty good at going through security quickly. But I’m not totally sure what to do with my purse! I see some people put their purse in a bin, and some not. What is the correct way to do it?

Great question! I don’t know that there is a “correct” thing to do with your purse; it really depends on what will get you through fastest and with the least amount of fuss. Does your purse have a zipper? If so, I have found that the easiest thing to do is zip it up and put it directly onto the belt. If your purse doesn’t zip, then I definitely recommend putting it into a bin. The last thing you want is for stuff to fall out and then spend a lot of time having to wait for it to come through the scanner and pick it up! At least if stuff falls out in a bin, you can pick the whole bin up and move it out of the way. On days when my purse with a zipper is too full to zip, which happens sometimes, I will just throw it in a bin.

Hope this helps!

Building a Business Travel Wardrobe is a new series here on Road Warriorette. The focus will be on the key pieces a woman needs to build a wardrobe that is ideal for travel. Based on the “capsule” wardrobe model, each week will feature an item that is professional, stylish, and that travels well.

You guys didn’t think I was going to forget about bags and shoes, did you?

When shopping for a business travel capsule wardrobe, some of the hardest working pieces are your shoes and purse. During travel, you will be taking your shoes off and putting them back on, walking through miles of airport concourses, and then having to look polished during your actual work. Your bag will have to hold your laptop, files, and normal purse stuff, get stuffed into overhead bins or under plane seats, and still look professional. Is it any wonder that I get the most questions about shoes and purses for travel?

What to look for with shoes:

• Comfort. I know I say this every time, but it is especially important that your shoes are comfortable. I never travel in heels, because I know that I will have to be on my feet so much. Try adding gel insoles for additional comfort. This sounds like a no-brainer, but please don’t wear shoes for the first time during travel.
• Easy to take off/put on. Make sure that you can quickly and gracefully slide your shoes off and back on for airport security. I have seen people with shoes or boots that buckle or lace up, which definitely takes longer.
• Neutral color. Colored flats are one of the great joys in my life, but I had several pairs of black shoes before I branched out.  I strongly recommend that you start with cute, comfortable shoes that coordinate with your suit first. They don’t have to be the same color–for example, if your suit is taupe, you can wear black or brown shoes. If your suit is gray, I recommend black shoes.

What to look for in a travel purse:

• Size. Make sure it will hold everything you need for work and for your flight.
• Pockets. A divided interior is very helpful, and small pockets on the inside will help corral items such as keys and cell phone that could otherwise get lost. Exterior pockets are great for holding your boarding pass.
• Comfortable straps. Too-narrow straps will hurt your shoulder, so look for straps that are at least an inch wide. I also like double straps.
• Looks. It goes without saying, make sure your purse is durable enough for travel and professional enough for the office.

Great travel shoes are available in a variety of price ranges and locations, so shop around for the right pair. Here are a few of my favorites.

These Bruno Magli flats are gorgeous, professional, and, well, pricey. But wow! Love them.

Geox is an Italian brand that designs shoes specifically for travel. These Sheila wedges are lovely, and would work with pants or a skirt.

DSW has a bazillion pairs of shoes online and in their stores. These Rocket Dogs brown suede flats look comfortable, professional, and adorable.

Travel purses are a little harder to find, but department stores and eBags are great resources. Wherever you end up buying from, make sure you know their return policies. Sometimes what looks like a great travel purse can not even last one trip. Once I had different purses break  three trips in a row!

I did a review on Lo and Sons purses last week, so you guys know how great these bags are. Perfect first business travel bag.

Ebags has tons of purses that would work well for travel, but this is the first time I’ve seen this green Samsonite laptop tote. It’s adorable, and very well priced.

Searching for the best purse for business travel is like searching for my holy grail. You really don’t think about how much a purse can affect a trip until you have a bad one. The right purse can make weekly trips better, easier, and of course, more stylish.

While scouring the internet, searching for my next bag, I discovered Lo & Sons. Helen Lo is a former road warrior who never found the perfect travel bag, so decided to create her own. Working with her sons, Helen has created the best travel purses I have ever used.  Once she sent me the larger O.G. (Overnight and Gym) and the T.T. (Travel Tote) to try out, I immediately fell in love. They are both fantastic, and earn high marks from this Road Warriorette.

Great things about these purses:

• Appearance. I love the interesting, not just rectangular, shape of both of these purses. They are very sleek looking. I also love that backstrap designed to go onto your suitcase handle looks like a pocket, so the purses don’t look like luggage—they look like purses.
• Size. Sometimes it seems like I could fit everything I own into the O.G. and it would keep its shape, zip up, and fit under the seat in front of me. It’s big enough to hold all of the essentials, plus a lot of extras, but is small enough to fit on an airplane. The T.T. is slimmer, and will hold all of your necessities, and a few extras. It’s definitely enough purse if you are a minimalist, and great for day trips.
• Pockets. Oh my, the pockets. These bags have a pocket for everything under the sun. They both have a specific compartment for a laptop, another compartment great for magazines or file folders, an internal zipper pocket, and two small pockets on the inside, and an additional external zipper pocket. The O.G. has a bonus pocket on the side for shoes.

A couple of caveats. When I first got the purses, the zippers were a bit stiff. By the second and third uses, though, they worked great. These bags are incredibly lightweight, which is great because I put enough weight in them with all my stuff. However, that means that when my laptop is in there they get heavy to that one side and won’t stand up on their own. I don’t know if it is even possible to fix though. Finally, practice sliding the purse on and off your suitcase handle. It took me a few tries to be able to do it gracefully and quickly.

All in all, I love these purses. It’s like the bags I’ve been waiting for my whole traveling life have finally appeared. They are easy to use, hold all of my stuff, fit smoothly onto my suitcase, and are beautiful to look at. I have gotten tons of compliments each time I’ve used them. Maneuvering around the airport has gotten so much easier! I highly, highly recommend Lo and Sons purses to any traveling woman.

Editor’s Note: The O.G. is the purse that was stolen last weekend. I loved using it so much that I am purchasing a new one.

You guys know that I love purses. I mean, I LOVE them. I will shop for them, look at them, and talk about them all day. Having a cute purse makes me happy! When I get questions about purses, I rub my hands together and dive into shopping mode, I mean, research mode. Recently, I have been getting this question a lot: Are backpacks appropriate for women business travelers?

Here’s the deal. I’m not really a backpack person. While shopping for a new purse, it wouldn’t even occur to me to look at the backpacks. Not that I have anything against them. Both of my sisters have very cute leather backpacks that they use as purses, and whenever I’m up there I think, maybe I should get one. But they live in Chicago, have to walk to work, and work in non-traditional fields. So my reference point for backpacks is not exactly crystal clear. Many consider traveling to be a special situation, where practicality sometimes supersedes traditional rules. It would certainly be better for your back and shoulders to distribute the weight of your laptop instead of carrying it on one arm. But would people subconsciously associate school, and therefore immaturity and youthfulness, with your backpack and possibly you?

Let me be clear. I’m not talking about that canvas Jansport you had in college. I’m talking about a sleek leather backpack, similar to the one pictured above from Le Donne.

For the most conservative offices, backpacks are probably not appropriate, and people who work there are pretty aware of who they are. For the rest of us, I wanted to get my readers’ opinions. What do you think?

ETA: Let me rephrase the question. Are they appropriate in a professional setting, like as a purse? During actual travel, I guess it really doesn’t matter what your bags look like. At some point, though, someone you work with is going to see at least one of your bags. So is it appropriate to use a backpack as a purse once you get to the office?

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Now that I am in the market for a short suitcase, I find myself noticing them everywhere. On a flight this week to DFW, the woman next to me had a fabulous white leather short suitcase. In the security line in the San Jose airport, the man in front of me had a very cool red Samsonite spinner short suitcase. They are everywhere!

Researching my options, I have realized that there are two types of short suitcases. The “rolling briefcase” and the “rolling tote bag”. While a rolling briefcase may be great for some, that is not what I want. I have a great briefcase-like bag (that I will be reviewing soon for all of you!) that I love, and no need for one that rolls. What I do need is simply a small suitcase, preferably a cute one, hopefully with spinner wheels.

Here are a few I found on eBags that I like. Decisions, decisions!

The Atlantic Infinity Elite 16″ Wheeled Carryon Tote is functional, has a large compartment, and multiple good-size pockets. The reviews are overwhelmingly positive, and it’s priced right at $101.99.

My favorite thing about the Victorinox Avolve Wheeled Companion Tote is, of course, the spinner wheels. It also looks like it will hold a lot of stuff and it’s very well priced for Victorinox. The colors aren’t that exciting, but hey, it’s a suitcase.

I really like this Briggs & Riley Transcend Rolling Cabin Bag. The Briggs & Riley brand is a great one, the red is a fun color, and the compartment is large and opens fully. It is at the top of my price range, but I am seriously considering it.

Readers, do you have a short suitcase? What brand do you have, and do you love it or hate it?

During a recent overnight trip, I realized that I may need a short suitcase. Until now I have always used my normal sized rollaboard suitcase, regardless of length of trip or how much I am taking. But for that particular trip, my suitcase wasn’t even half full! So while I was traveling I looked around to see what other people had. I saw several short suitcase, but it looked like people were using them as wheeled briefcases, not carrying their clothes.

So my question to you is, do you have a short suitcase? Do you use it as a briefcase or for clothing? Do you recommend that I get one? My main reason for not getting one is that I am running out of room for storing travel-related items, so it has to be worthy of the closet space and therefore super useful for me to bite the bullet.

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