From crossbody staples to top-handle favorites, these are the bags that earn precious suitcase space.
Who What Wear editors travel constantly—whether crossing the Atlantic for fashion week, escaping to warmer climates, or slipping away for upstate weekends—yet they always look impossibly chic. The secret? Carefully chosen pieces that earn their place in limited luggage, especially handbags. Not the oversized totes used for airport navigation, but the bags packed specifically for wearing once the destination is reached.
When asked what actually makes it into their suitcases, editors responded with remarkably consistent priorities. They want bags that pack easily, carry comfortably, and adapt to multiple outfits without becoming an afterthought. The result is a collection of styles that prioritize versatility over fuss.
Eliza Huber, Associate Editorial Director, relies on her small Bottega Veneta Andiamo. Despite its compact size, it holds more than expected, with multiple interior compartments including a zippered section for passports and wallets. It converts between crossbody, shoulder, and top-handle carry.
Fashion Editor Chichi Offor has taken her Coach Chain Tabby from Houston to Madrid, appreciating how it pairs with casual jeans or dressed-up skirts and heels.
Erin Fitzpatrick, Associate Fashion News Director, brings her Strathberry everywhere, most recently to Jackson Hole. She favors its top handle for cold-weather layering, when shoulder bags slide off and crossbody straps tangle in hoodies, though the detachable crossbody strap works for sightseeing.
Senior Commerce Editor Natalie Herder always packs The Row 90s bag, noting its butter-soft leather withstands suitcase compression, weighs virtually nothing, and occupies minimal space. Its neutral, 90s-inspired styling matches everything she brings.
Associate Beauty Editor Alyssa Brascia carries The Freja Christie Bag in Oat, which she calls "egregiously roomy" with interior pockets organizing everything from Kindles to protein bars, though she warns it scuffs easily.
Fashion Director Michaela Bushkin depends on a burgundy east-west Khaite bag to enliven her neutral travel wardrobe, citing its gorgeous color, practical size, and the compliments it generates.
Fashion Editor Sierra Mayhew has traveled the world with her unnamed go-to bag for years. It functions as both plane bag and city exploration companion, looking luxurious without obvious designer markings that might attract pickpockets—though the lack of zipper gives her pause in crowded places.
Associate Director of Branded Content Anneliese Henderson never leaves without her Wallace bag. Its black, logo-free design pairs with everything, converting via adjustable strap from shoulder carry for exploring to top-handle for dinner. The zipper closure addresses her mother's warnings about pickpockets.
Associate Shopping Editor Audry Hiaou packs the Frances Baguette from L.A. brand Are Studio, a small black shoulder bag that transitions from Miami to Joshua Tree, day to night.
Senior Beauty Editor Jamie Chevron describes her unnamed bag as "the Swiss Army knife of handbags"—fitting phone, wallet, seven lip products, and a compact mirror, with an adjustable strap worn short on the shoulder and a detachable lock securing the zipper.