After my last couple of day trips, it is very clear to me that I need a rolling briefcase. I just carry too much stuff in my purse for it to be comfortable, especially for huge airports like DFW. Even though I’ve been talking about getting one for almost a year, it just hasn’t been high on my priority list (like, say, shoes). But I promise you, here and now, I will have a rolling briefcase, that I love, before the end of May. Part of this is spurred on by the fact that I have three conferences over the next three months—my poor shoulders can’t handle the weight of my purse. Of course, one of the reasons I haven’t gotten one yet (and I know this will shock those of you who have read my blog for a while) is that I’m just too darn picky! I want all the features I need, I want it to be cute, and I want it for a good price. Is that too much to ask??

Here are the features I want:

• Lots of space inside. Of course it will need to have room for my computer, files, and purse stuff. But it would also be great if it had room for me to stick a change of clothes in for overnight trips. I often feel silly bringing my normal suitcase on a trip when it’s only half full.
• Outside pockets. Internal space is important, but I need to have a pocket on the outside where I can stick things I need immediate access to—my keys, phone, boarding pass, and lipstick.
• Sturdy construction. While I love my existing purse and my suitcase, I am rough on them. They get stuffed to the brim, shoved in tight spaces, rained on, dragged, and dropped on occasion. I need something that will hold up to serious wear and tear. Also, because I will likely set stuff on top of it, I need something that is pretty square—not just a purse on wheels, like so many of the rolling briefcases marketed to women.

Here are two of the ones I’m considering:

This houndstooth rolling briefcase by JKM and Company  (pictured above) is really, really cute. It looks to have plenty of pockets for clothes, files, a computer, and purse stuff. It’s also nice and square, and has good reviews. Plus it’s under $100!

I also love this McKlein USA Willowbrook Detachable Wheeled Briefcase. It comes in six different colors, is leather, has two main pockets, and it’s detachable if you don’t need the wheels! It’s a little smaller than the houndstooth one, but I do love the turquoise… It’s available from eBags for $206 and Amazon for $158.

Readers, do you have a rolling briefcase? What brand? Do you love it?

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A reader wrote:

Where can I get those Steve Madden knitted boots featured in your article about not getting your best shoes ruined?  Love them!

I love them too! I got those Steve Madden knitted boots three years ago from DSW. Obviously they don’t have those exact ones anymore, but I found their latest version, as well as a few others.

This seems to be the latest version of the Steve Madden boots I have, at DSW in black for $44.95 in limited sizes.

Here is a cute, similar pair from Target, also in black, for $34.95.

This pair from Amazon is available in black, gray, and brown, for $21.99.

I would definitely weather proof these boots before wearing them out in the elements—I just used Scotchgard. Oh, and these are NOT rain boots, even if they are weather proofed. I wore them all over Chicago and other wintery places in the snow. They scrunch down when you’re wearing them, and are super warm and cozy. Hope you enjoy them!

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Technically it’s winter. Even though here in Texas lately it’s been in the high 70s and even 80 some days (sigh) the typical winter colors are everywhere—dark and somber grays, blacks, and other neutrals. I woke up needing a shot of something bright and happy, and not much makes me happier than looking at purses! Looking around, I found a bunch of amazing bags in cheerful colors and prints. I seem to be in a “pink” mood, as many of the ones that popped out are in the hot pink family. Here are my favorites!

LOVE this Mobile Edge pink and brown TSA checkpoint-friendly laptop bag. It’s great because of its cheery striped lining and multiple pockets, it will fit larger sized computers, and you don’t have to take your laptop out at security! Win. (On sale right now too!)

This Kailo Chic Pleated Laptop Tote is available in multiple colors, but I love this brown and turquoise version. It has a specific pocket for the laptop, plus additional pockets for all of your items. The lining is adorable, and it has gotten great reviews.

With spacious pockets, sturdy straps, many color options, and at 50% off for a few more hours, the McKlein USA W Series Briefcase has a lot going for it. The turquoise is my favorite, but the other colors are lovely.

The most interesting bag that caught my eye was this Maggie Bags seatbelt laptop bag. I can’t decide if I like it or not, but it sure is different!

Readers, have you seen any great bags lately?

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The V-Moda Crossfade Noise Isolating Headphones are stylish, compact, and super-durable. What else does a traveler need? These headphones have been constructed with military-level quality so you don’t have to worry that your rough handling will damage them. Grammy-award winning musicians assisted in the design, so you know the sound is good. Plus they are ergonomically designed to be super comfy. Win! They are currently for sale on Amazon, regularly $230, now $199.

Also, in case you’re planning your Christmas shopping, Amazon has put together a list of recommended electronics for travelers (among other groups). I took a look at it, and I think they did a decent job of compiling items that I would like to have. There were headphones, lightweight computers, mp3 players, cameras, GPS units, and of course, the new Kindles. Make sure you check out their Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals, which they are updating frequently. Last week they had a Kindle Fire on sale for something ridiculous like $139, but I missed it. Hope you have better luck!

Shop Amazon – Black Friday Deals Week

Shop Amazon – Cyber Monday Deals Week

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I’ve been feeling in a very “shoe” mood this week, enough so that I think I’m going to go shoe shopping here in a bit. Hooray holiday sales! I’m torn, honestly. In a couple of weeks I’m going up to Chicago for my sister’s baby shower, so I think possibly I should look for snow boots. But I’ll use those twice, maybe three times a year. Perhaps I should look for flats instead? I’ll use those a lot! Decisions, decisions.

DSW has a lot of stuff on sale, both online and in the stores. Looove these Bare Trap Emilise boots. They are brown suede, with faux fur trim to keep you nice and warm. It’s all water resistant, of course, so you stay dry.

Or maybe these Caroline boots from Totes? A quilted waterproof upper keeps you toasty even when it’s frigid and snowy outside.

But on the other hand, what about these fabulous flats from Yellow Box? The Sabrina Flat has a pink and brown animal print (although I’m not sure what animal) topped with a large jewel.

These Mojo Moxie Jackie flats feature an oversize houndstooth print, lending a sophisticated air to any outfit. Available in black houndstooth and grey houndstooth. Fun!

So Readers, what kind of shoes are you looking for these days? Any sales I should be checking out?

This is an answer to a recent post from Australian Business Traveller. They had a very helpful post about what men should wear for a long flight during a business trip, but it wasn’t really any help at all for women. Balance can be tricky while flying 14 hours. If you want to look professional yet be incredibly comfortable, here is what I have found to be the best combination.

Jersey dress. The right jersey dress will feel like a long t-shirt. They are stretchy and soft, yet can be worn to work. My favorite is the Everyday Jersey Dress from Boden (currently on super discount, but available only in limited sizes. You won’t go wrong with any jersey dress from Boden though!).

Leggings. Leggings are my answer to pajama pants during travel. Same as the jersey dress—they are soft and stretchy. Also easy to take off once you land and are headed to the office. The ones I wear the most are from Old Navy and cost around $10.

Compression socks. A must-wear!! Keep your feet and ankles from swelling too much, and reduce your chances of DVT. Available all over, including online (Amazon and TravelSmith come to mind) or at a drug store. (Another option: Instead of leggings and compression socks, try compression tights.)

Comfy flats. Flats are great because they are easy to put on and take off. Pick ones that are a little too big, because your feet will inevitably swell a little bit.

A couple of other comfort tips:

• Wear minimal makeup. Wear as little makeup as you are comfortable with. For me, this is basically tinted moisturizer, mascara, and a little powder. The less you have on, the less you can get in your eyes while you sleep. When you’re about to land, wash your face (or use a face cleansing wipe) and apply your normal makeup.
• Pull your hair back. I wear a braid or low ponytail when flying for a long time. This way it won’t irritate my head when leaning back, but keeps it out of the way. A braid is better for me, just because I don’t get that annoying crease from the rubber band, but sometimes my hair is too short.
• Wear your glasses. If you normally wear contacts, I recommend wearing your glasses for long flights. This way your eyes won’t dry out from the arid airplane air, and your contacts won’t bother you while you sleep.

So there you are! Professional yet comfortable options for long flights exist for women too!

This is one of my favorite posts to do all year. I get to spend time searching the internet for the most fun, interesting, and useful gifts. And boy did I find some! Bring on the shopping.

Flight Comfort

The Cabin Cuddler is a great gift for anyone who travels long distances! It’s super warm and cozy, is easy to pack, and includes a pillow. Travel slippers would also be great on a long haul trip, plus they would be nice to wear around the hotel room during the winter. Eye masks are great for helping travelers sleep on planes or in a hotel room, and this one is super cute! Finally, compression socks are a must have for long flights. Keep your loved one’s ankles and feet from swelling and reduce their risk of DVT.

Passport cover

Give your favorite road warriorette a passport overhaul. A fun passport cover can liven up boring travel docs. Love this one from Ruche.

Fun travel toiletries

A little pampering makes frequent business travel more bearable, and this Oatmeal Whoopie Pie scented body wash sounds verrry luxurious. And tasty.  Another option is this Travel Spa in a Box. It includes anti-bacterial aroma mist, anti-bacterial hand oil, a lavender flax eye pillow, lip balm, and others. Fabulous. Not only is this little bag from Etsy shop Aunt Meep’s Attic very cute, it’s made of oilcloth so it’s easy to clean, and can be used for makeup or non-liquid toiletries.

Luggage tag

Help your favorite traveler keep track of their bag with these brightly colored, fun luggage tags.

Kindle/iPad case

Seriously I am putting this on my list. I didn’t even know they made Kindle cases this pretty!!! And don’t forget a Kindle or iPad to go inside of it

Travel mug

Travel mugs keep your beverage warm and reduce trash. This clever mug from Mighty Leaf is made specifically for tea drinkers, and would be a great gift for the traveler in your life! (Enter our contest, and you could win one!)

Readers, what are you shopping for this holiday season?

I thought about calling this post “Top Five Travel Necessities: Clothes”, but I realized that half of the items on my list are not, in fact clothes. Hence the title “Things I Wear.” It’s hard to even remember the last time I traveled without all of these items, even on vacation. In fact, the next time I’m having a hard time deciding what to pack, I think I’ll take a look at this list!

Pearl necklace. My long strand of pearls is my favorite necklace—it goes with everything I wear. Seriously. It takes the simplest outfit and gives it a touch of class, making me look more put together than I really deserve.  On my last trip to Manila I purchased a long strand of citrines, and it is rapidly becoming my second favorite necklace.

Cute flats. I am on my feet doing presentations all day, plus running around in airports. Heels don’t cut it, so I have many pairs of cute flats. In the summer, I switch over to peep-toe to keep a little cooler. For the occasional pair that doesn’t have enough support, I throw in some gel soles and I can wear them for days. Loving the ones pictured here: Not Too Coy Franny in Mustard, available at Amazon for $75.

Jersey dresses. Dresses are the easiest way to get ready in the morning—put one on, and you’re done! Jersey dresses are my favorite, as they don’t wrinkle and are incredibly comfortable. The ones I reach for over and over are a simple black knee length, A-line dress from Target (which I got five years ago and has held up incredibly well) and the Everyday Jersey Dress, a recent purchase from Boden.

Cardigans. I have cardigans in many colors, with short sleeves, ¾ sleeves, and long sleeves. A simple cardigan can complete an outfit, provide an additional layer for warmth, and give you a little extra coverage. For a business casual wardrobe, this is a key component. Plus they travel incredibly well and most don’t wrinkle. And they are available virtually everywhere, from Target to Nordstrom, in a range of prices.

Bike shorts. It seems an odd thing to put on a list of necessities for business travel, but I wear them under my dress or skirt every time I travel. This way I go through security without worrying about the pat-down. Bike shorts also make it easier to put stuff in the overhead bin or bend over to get to my suitcase without worrying I’ll accidentally flash someone.

Readers, what are your top five things to wear on a trip? Clothes or otherwise?

All of the catalogs and store emails I’ve received in the last week or so have been focused on Fall. Apparently, according to clothing stores, it is no longer 105 degrees. It’s time to bundle up! Wear sweaters and boots! Layer! Honestly, it makes me feel hot and irritable just looking at the pictures of the perky models in their hooded coats. Well, in case you haven’t noticed, it’s still summer, in a lot of places. Since I haven’t done a shoe post in a while, I’m going to find peep toe flats to wear for travel. Because the weather will be warm for at least two more months in Texas, and I need to take the ventilation where I can get it.

These adorable Poetic Licence Danty Doll Flat will add a fun pop of color to an otherwise conservative outfit. I would wear them with a navy pencil skirt and blouse, or gray slacks with a pale pink top. Although it does kind of irritate me that they deliberately misspell “license”. Oh well.)

The Bandolino Warrick Flat comes in Navy, Black, and Gold. The neutral colors are a nice backdrop for the monochromatic floral adornment, which adds interest to an otherwise simple shoe.

Love this fun floral espadrille from Blowfish. Great for a more casual office, I would pair this with taupe slacks or skirt and just about any top. Very summery!

Right now it feels like winter will. never. end. My poor sisters in Chicago have been dealing with temps in the single digits and below. The East Coast is buried in snow. Even in Texas we are having unusually cold and rainy weather. One thing that brightens my day, even when it’s this dreary, is looking at boots and bags online. (Don’t worry, the bags post is coming next week!!)

I already have black leather boots from Clarks that I love, but I have not been very successful finding brown boots. Success is mine!! These La Canadienne Felicia boots are suede, which I love because it’s different from the boots I already have. They are also very comfortable, waterproof, and walkable, with a rubber sole that gives you good traction on snowy surfaces. Dressy enough to wear to work, but tough enough to use commuting. Brown, black, and gray suede is available, and the price on Amazon starts at $132. I love them!