Packing Order

A beautiful piece of vintage luggage might seem like an ideal travel companion. Stylish, graceful and conjuring up a more refined era of globe-trotting, a 1920s leather case is guaranteed to turn heads at the airport. Unfortunately, though, these glamorous artifacts weren't designed for the trials of modern travel. After being tossed around by baggage handlers and bashed up in the luggage hold, your beautiful case could well end up a sad sack.

But it is possible to indulge in nostalgia without your clothes ending up scattered across the carousel. In October, the British company Uppercase will launch a new line of hand-stitched leather cases inspired by the elegant designs of the 1920s, but with the sturdiness of modern luggage. And you won't have to dig deep for this collection. Briefcases start at a meager $280, while a 69-cm-tall trolley case—big enough for a world trip—will set you back only $650.

The range is available in a variety of colors, from a traditional beige or black to an ultramodern neon pink. This is some emotional baggage you'll want to keep. uppercaseonline. co.uk; tel: (44-116) 229 5783