A few months ago, I decided I was overdue for a proper vacation. The last time I had been away for any length of time was five years ago. After my first year of university, my parents generously sponsored me to go on a European tour. I visited eight countries in fourteen days, and slept in youth hostels the entire time. The only luggage I brought with me was my trusty backpack. Following the advice of some more seasoned travelers, I sewed a Canadian flag on my backpack. Everyone loves Canadians, eh!

This trip was to be somewhat different. I have decided to go back to Europe, but this time I will be traveling in style. I am planning to take a first-class flight into London, and I am in dire need of some first-class luggage. Luggage is such a difficult thing to shop for. It is one of those things that will not be used often enough to justify any great expense, but to purchase cheap luggage would be a complete waste of time and money. I decided to get together with the friends I will be going away with, for an afternoon of good old American shopping.

We spent the afternoon going from department store to big-box store to specialty store and back again. I finally narrowed my choices down to three potential sets of luggage; American Tourister, Briggs & Riley, and Zero Halliburton. They each have certain appealing aspects, and they are all reasonably priced. I read somewhere that American Tourister luggage has one of the best warranties in the industry. Briggs & Riley have been manufacturing quality products since 1993, and they also offer an extensive warranty. Zero Halliburton is, well..Zero Halliburton.

Once I thought about it for a little while, I realized that the Zero Halliburton suitcase was the one for me. I’ll admit that I am actually in love with this luggage. If James Bond were transporting a suitcase filled with priceless gems, he would use a Zero Halliburton. I ended up purchasing a 26-inch Suiter for the slightly bloated price of $900.00. It is constructed from a wonderful brushed aluminum that looks like it would withstand an explosion, much less the baggage handlers at Heathrow. I will be bringing my prized collection of designer purses with me, so I can rest easy that they will be well protected in my awesome new suitcase. Do you think I should put a Canadian flag on it?

Cathy Feldman always wanted to be a famous supermodel. When she is not fantasizing about strutting down the runway with her favorite Gucci purse, she writes for designerhandbags101.com - an online designer handbag resource, with extensive information on Samsonite Luggage, Travelpro Luggage, Tumi Luggage and more.

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The popularity of designer handbags is at an all-time high. Everywhere we look, from the high street to the nightclub, everyone is carrying a trendy new purse. It seems that we are often so preoccupied with our new handbags that we tend to forget about the people behind the designs. I started trying to develop a shortlist of my favorite designers, but I realized that I am in love with the work of far too many to list. The following are just a few of my favorites.

Chloe is, by far, one the greatest design houses in the world. I absolutely love their work! At times, I feel that some of the French designers are a little over the topbut where would true fashion be without their sense of creativity and innovation. Chloe has been a leader in the world of fashion, especially since the Stella McCartney assumed the helm. Her star power and understanding of classic design reinvigorated a company that was often lacking the cohesive aesthetic that truly binds a collection together. Make no mistake about itChloe is the new Gucci!

Vivienne Westwood has done more for British design that any other designer in modern times. In many ways, the entire punk genre owes her a debt of allegiance. Vivienne was just a young girl during the heyday of punk, when she met a fellow named Malcolm McLaren. For those of you not particularly well versed in your punk rock history, Malcolm was the manager of the consummate British punk band - The Sex Pistols. After dressing the Pistols for a number of years, she opened her own shop in London called Sex Boutique. Punks worldwide have adopted her design aesthetic, and the rest is history.

Monica Botkier is yet another brilliant designer. Her designs are held in high esteem by women all around the world. After spending the early part of her career as a fashion photographer, Monica Botkier has certainly spent enough time in the fashion world to know what constitutes a great handbag. She is able to strike the perfect balance between function and form, and her designs are some of the most sought after with fashionistas everywhere. Monica Botkier’s designs are famous for their detailing, hardware, and innate sophistication.

Cathy Feldman always wanted to be a famous supermodel. When she is not fantasizing about strutting down the runway with her favorite Gucci purse, she writes for designerhandbags101.com - an online designer handbag resource, with extensive information on Ugg handbags, real Louis Vuitton purses, Cole Haan handbags and more.

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A handbag is more than a sac of supplies to get you through the day. This accessory is an opportunity heighten your style factor by acting as the finishing touch to any outfit.

Carrying a great purse can declare your fashion sense and emphasize the mood of an ensemble: fun, racy, flirty, chic, sophisticated, casual, bohemian… You name it: handbags are a smart way to infuse personality into any look.

Since they’re usually compact, you can make a bold design statement with shape, color, fabric, other embellishments.

While the exterior of your handbag is limited only by your imagination, the inside of a woman’s handbag is serious business. The contents of your purse function as a style and organizational survival tool kit, in which superfluous items are sacrificed and cast aside in order to make room for those implements you would rather not live without.

Whether dainty or gigantic, the handbag acts as a portable magic-bag of tricks, in which we stash cash, cards, cell phones, tampons, Blackberries, keys, and last but certainly not least, a plethora of essential tools necessary for on-the-go beauty & style maintenance.

Most women vow that each and every article in their handbag is indispensable and accounted for. However, in reality the deep recesses of a woman’s purse are treacherous places, virtual black holes where forgotten odds and ends converge and mutate with lint, crumbs, hairpins, dog-eared business cards and loose change. It is a proven law of physics: the greater the volume of your satchel, the more items you seem to need - if we’re not careful, we find ourselves weighed down by ten-pounds of junk we think we need but in reality never actually use.

Find out if you are a bag hag, and find out how to de-clutter your clutch: http://www.gkfa.com/taste_and_style/wear_it_with_style/accessories/How_To_Carry_A_Handbag_With_Style_pg02.asp

Johneen Manning is Editor-In-Chief of http://www.GKFA.com, a hip, savvy & fresh online magazine for the ‘Sex and the City’ generation of women.

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