Each print issue of Harper’s Bazaar features “In the Market,” a column highlighting the best new items of the season, shot behind the scenes in the Bazaar fashion closet. For the height of fall, senior fashion and accessories editor Jaclyn Alexandra Cohen gives us an up-close look at the season’s best carry-on luggage.
At Bazaar, the fashion calendar keep our editors traveling all year round, so we know a thing or two about the best carry-on suitcases. And because designer suitcases are constantly rolling through our fashion closet for photo shoots, we’re able to see some of the most luxurious versions on the market up close—helping us build a comprehensive list of which ones are really worth the splurge.
Below, I break down the best in class in four key categories. If you want to make a statement at the airport, try a case in a pop of color like Rimowa’s original aluminum cabin carryon in green. (It looks coolest when customized with letters and emblems from the brand’s own sticker book.) Or, if you’re hoping to invest in a carry-on with timeless style, Globe Totter’s safari leather-trim carry-on is an updated classic.
Read on for the full list.
Colorful Hard-Shell Carry-Ons
The durable outer structure on these makes for maximum packing space, and the four attached wheels making navigating the terminals a breeze. From Away’s award-winning carry-on in a variety of colors to Tumi’s expandable roller in sleek, shiny black, there are options for any personal style, whether you lean more bold or more minimal.
Guess Wilder Debossed 28″ 8-Wheel Suitcase
Now 40% Off
Calpak Hue Medium Luggage
Tumi International Expandable 4 Wheeled Carry-On
Reimagined Classics
These brands have mastered the art of creating a suitcase that feels timeless but also modern. Aviteur’s carry-on, with its sleek translucent Lucite handle, telegraphs a subtle quiet-luxury approach, while MCM x Harper Collective’s suitcase feels more utilitarian (and it’s made from sustainable Sea Plastic Polymer). And when it comes to classics with a twist, Paravel and Globe Trotter make the chicest luggage of all.
Paravel The Aviator
Now 15% Off
Aviteur Carry-on
Now 64% Off
Globe-Trotter Safari Carry-On
MCM X Harper Collective Black Suitcase
Designer Luggage
Upgrade to first class with an investment carry-on like the Hermès trolley rollerbag leather suitcase, which comes with an equestrian motif. These are the kind of bags that only get better with time, and because they come in overhead cabin dimensions, you can rest assured that they’ll last over time, too.
Hermès Trolley Rollerbag Leather Suitcase
Dior x Rimowa Carry-On Luggage
Gucci Savoy Small Cabin Trolley
Leather Suitcases
For the smoothest ride of all, leather carry-ons are the way to go. They look good with almost any airport look, and can be styled as an extension of your handbag. Anya Hindmarch’s short-haul suitcase has outer pockets and pouches for easy access to your essentials when you’re on the plane. And for a subtle logo look, Celine’s small trolley is the perfect hybrid of designer style and carry-on functionality.
Anya Hindmarch Short-Haul Suitcase
Brunello Cucinelli Grained Calfskin Trolley Bag
Jaclyn Alexandra Cohen is Harper’s Bazaar’s Senior Fashion & Accessories Editor. Outside of the office she can be found downtown with her twin sister, figure skating somewhere or on the hunt for the perfect striped top. Follow her on Instagram @jaclynalexandra
