I have to work at packing; despite my organizational abilities, I am a classic over-packer.  Give me room & I will fill it.  Packing for airline travel is a constant struggle and one that I have yet to really overcome. It's a process people; maybe if I weren't so interested in packing 12 pairs of shoes, it would be easier, but I'm not willing to sacrifice fashion for function just yet.  Today I'll be packing for a 10 day work trip to Germany-it'll be an interesting day.

I am also always looking for great luggage and bags for my travels that are stylish and make my travel life a little easier.  A few years ago, I saw a woman with a beautiful Coach Tote.  I had to know where she found it.  Turns out the Soho extra large tote in tobacco leather was a seasonal item.  Thankfully, I was able to find it and could not have been happier with my find.  This bag is the perfect size for a carry on.  It is large enough to hold a lap top, magazines, and any extras that I cannot fit in my suitcase.  There are two outside pockets that are a great size (in the picture above I have a pair of Havana flip flops in one of them).  Outside of the functionality of the bag, it is an absolutely amazing color and the leather is fantastic.  Made to look old & weathered, the bag has only gotten more & more beautiful with each use.  The antiqued gold hardware finishes off just right.  

Now that I've likely made you lust for this bag, I have to remind you that it's no longer available-Sorry!  (Although you may be able to find a slightly used version on eBay.  I do caution people in using eBay for designer items; there are a lot of fakes out there and I don't really endorse its use, but sometimes a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do to get a discontinued item).  Below are some great options that ARE available and I think are fabulous options at great price points for your carry-on travel needs.