Traveling used to be glamorous. While today it’s full of anxiety and leggings and flight delays, getting on a plane used to be an occasion to dress up for! I’ve long admired the impossibly chic airport styles of Jean Shrimpton and Brigitte Bardot, who wore prim shift dresses and kitten heels, dress coats, and skirt suits to board flights in the ’60s and ’70s. I still want to hold on to a bit of glamour while traveling—and it starts with my luggage.
I was sitting at the airport during a recent layover in Paris when someone stopped to ask me where my luggage was from. I answered, “It’s Paravel,” excited that someone had taken notice of my new suitcase. This was 2019 and the first time (of many to come) that someone complimented me on my luggage. I had been invited to New Delhi for a friend’s wedding, and my suitcase at the time was badly scratched up and worn down; it was obvious it had run its course and I was in dire need of an upgrade. In my search, I had a few requirements: It had to be stylish, lightweight to carry, and under $500. Paravel, founded by Indré Rockefeller and Andy Krantz in 2016, fit the bill.
I fell in love with the label’s signature Aviator carry-on suitcase and its matching weekender set in Scout Tan, which features a white hard-shell base and camel-colored vegan-leather paneling that adds a luxe, sophisticated feel. (An added bonus: Everything is made from 100 percent recycled and upcycled materials, from the exterior shell to the zippers and nylon lining.)
I’ve since taken my Paravel luggage around the globe, from India to Italy to Upstate New York for bachelorette parties, weddings, girls’ trips, vacations, and short weekend getaways. It’s always held up strong, and it looks good while doing so.
Note to shoppers: While I’m a fan of Scout Tan’s creamy oat exterior, it is more prone to visible scuffs than the average black suitcase, but if you love the color palette as much as I do, it’s worth spending a few extra minutes to wipe down the luggage post-trip to maintain its exterior. If this sounds too tedious, I’d suggest choosing one of the seven other colorways that may suit your taste, like the hunter green or the vino color.
I found that this suitcase can fit a lot. I’ve packed four to five outfits, swimsuits and pajama sets, two to three pairs of shoes, a handbag, a hair straightener, and even a clothing steamer. The suitcase is very lightweight (8.5 pounds), so when it’s packed to the brim, the weight is still manageable enough to lift over my shoulders to slide into the overhead bin.
I completed the set with Paravel’s weekender bag. It fits core items like my laptop and toiletry bag, plus several extras like headphones, a book, and my agenda. There’s even room to squeeze my crossbody bag inside, for when I’m boarding the plane and the gate agent is being extra stringent about adhering to the limit of one personal and one carry-on bag.
I used to use an oversize tote as my “personal item” and hated how things were prone to spilling out when I had to shove it under the seat in front of me. Paravel’s zippered-top weekender ensures everything stays put. Its size guarantees I never overpack, and I will always be able to slide it under any seat, no matter how small the foot room. Plus, it includes two interior zipper compartments for storing quick-access items like eye masks, chargers, and Airpods. For a personalized touch, I added a custom luggage tag with my name and a bag charm to it too.
I think we can all agree that packing is one of the least exciting parts about going on a trip, but just like a favorite handbag or pair of shoes, when I pull this luggage out from my closet, it makes me smile, knowing I’ll soon be able to show it off.
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