Time Traveler

I love to travel. I love everything (well, a lot of things) that goes along with it. From the original spark of the idea ("Oh, hey, we should go to blah blah blah"), to looking up hotels to stay at, to pricing tickets or planning the route. I even like packing. I also like luggage.

For many years the suitcases I traveled with were cool, old, vintage ones. Although not very practical, I loved using them. First off, they looked super stylish. Second, they really stood out from all the other baggage, which made baggage claim much easier! 

Bobbing around a sea of black rolling suitcases and nondescript duffel bags, my bright red plaids could be seen from a mile away. I suppose for their time they weren't unique, but you get my point.

1940's plaid hat box from Lark.

I continue to snap up vintage boxes and bags whenever I see them.  What could be more romantic than an old, worn steamer trunk? A hulking box wrapped in leather, metal bands and strapped down with locks, made for long trips on stagecoach or ship.   Think of these boxes brimming with suits or dresses from days gone by, loaded on to a steam ship and sailing off to distant ports! The trip of a lifetime for the turn of the century traveler.

But form and function go hand and hand when it comes to luggage. As different modes of transportation came about, the travelers themselves changed. As new materials where introduced to manufacture the bags with, the styles reflected the changing times as well.

1960's train case in blue from Carilite. I actually used this as my only suitcase for one trip. Some very inventive packing!

It makes sense. We need to travel faster and more efficiently. We zip around the world in mere hours and we can do it just for fun. Weekend getaways and day trips can happen spur of the moment. I've been known to leave the state just because I was bored.

The Socialite 60 train case in white. I still love it, even with the cracked lid.

As rapidly as travel evolved it still took some time before the introduction of the wheel. In fact the patent for "Rolling Luggage" was not received until 1972. We have Bernard D. Sadow to thank for that brilliant idea!

But it still would take until 1987 until wheels caught on. 

That would happen when an airline pilot named Robert Plath made a few modifications to the design and "Rollalong Luggage" began. Thank you, Robert!

A suitcase is a summery of the travelers tastes. These are the garments that were chosen out of all others from the drawers and closets of the home base to set off on this trek. These are the items found to be necessities for this excursion. The rest is extraneous. Sure, the others may be suitable for the time spent at home but for this sliver of time, this is what's needed right now.

With so many colors, designs and styles to choose from, luggage is also an extension of style. Yet another way to express ones self!

My pretty vintage bags have retired to a quiet stationary life at last. I have adopted a state of the art wheeled set with telescopic handle in a cheetah print design! Now I can be seen dashing from point A to B quickly and glamorously. Always on the move, balancing important business and fabulous leisure in style! Well, at least in my imagination anyhow. 

This is my luggage of the moment! 4 piece cheetah print set from Safari. (Note the wheels)

Travel will remain a grand adventure to me. Not just the destination, but the anticipation and interactions getting there. You never know who you will meet or what you might see. After all, nothing changes your view of the world like seeing it.