If I Had a Million Dollars...

Darlings, CC is starting a fun tag, and hopes you will all join in!

Here's what CC would splurge on if she had a million dollars!

This Mulberry bag, at intermixonline.com.

This jewelry trunk, at henribendel.com.

This Dannijo necklace, at shopbop.com.

This Cathy Waterman ring, at barneys.com.

These Versace platform sandals; this and next at net-a-porter.com.

These Alaia ankle boots.

This Dolce & Gabbana outfit, at bergdorfgoodman.com.

This Alexander McQueen dress, at net-a-porter.com.

This Burberry Prorsum rabbit fur peacoat, at saksfifthavenue.com.

This Cia.Maritima triangle bikini, at victoriassecret.com.

This Diane von Furstenberg cover up, at shopbop.com.

A vacation in Bali.

Highlights at Frederik Fekkai New York.

The Audi R8.

Tag, you're it, darlings! What would you buy if you had $1 Million?

xoxox,

CC

Excess Baggage

Luxe luggage, lovelies!
Cynthia Rowley Resort, via style.com.
Vogue, July 2006.
This photo courtesy singbeforeseven.blogspot.com.
Splurge: Brooks Brothers crocodile weekender, $15,000 at brooksbrothers.com.
Steal: Dav vinyl weekender, $55 at shopdavrain.com.
Korean Vogue Girl editorial.
Vogue, August 2008.
CC loves hard luggage! Brooks Brothers high shine leather Spazzolato large suitcase, at brooksbrothers.com.
This photo courtesy Fellow Fashionista Lovemore.
Orla Kiely car print upright suitcase, at 80spurple.com.
Goyard luggage courtesy Fellow Fashionisto Diego of Freefall Blog.
Lugano leather garment bag, at jcrew.com.
French Vogue, April 2000.
Globe-Trotter Centenary vanity case, at jcrew.com.
Avantegarde, June 2006.
Fluff cupcake luggage tags, at asos.com.
Bazaar, February 2000. CC adores that Louis Vuitton duffle!
LV luggage featured in Vogue UK; pictured courtesy Fellow Fashionista Fashion Pulse.
Prada ad, Spring 2006.
Vogue, June 2004.
This photo courtesy Fellow Fashionista Fashion Pulse.
CC’s bags are packed; she’s ready to go!
xoxox,
CC

P.S. Don't forget to enter CC's Jill Stuart Skirt Giveaway below!

ESSENTIALS FOR YOUR BEACH VACATION

Couture Carrie received such wonderful feedback on yesterday's luxe luggage post... the travel theme continues!

Hit the resort in style! What to Pack:

1) Many bright patterned sundresses, some for day, others for evening. I love T-Bags (featured above, and available in a variety of lengths, styles and patterns at shopbop.com). If possible, bring your portable steamer. No globe-trotting gal wants to look all rumpled! For more frock fabulousness, see the Resort 2009 runway looks at right from Zac Posen, Prada, and Brian Reyes (top to bottom; photos via style.com).

2) A slim journal or sketchbook and/or tiny digital camera, so you can document all the delicious details of your vay-cay! At left, Smythson journal. Go to smythson.com.

3) A double beach towel: plenty of room to roll around, and you never know who you might share it with!

4) Shoes: (a) gold or silver flat sandals (like those in the Zac Posen look above); (b) throwaway flip-flops (Old Navy or Wet Seal, top left of polyvore); (c) lightweight pair(s) of heels, such as Manolo Blahnik, Alexandra Neel or Jimmy Choo; this way you won’t feel bad having lugged them around if you don’t wear them; (d) trainers – you WILL work out!

In collage: red Dior stiletto, eLuxury.com; turquoise Sergio Rossi elastic strappy sandals, stylefinder.com.

5) At least as many bikinis as the # of days you are staying; double if possible. I like to change bathing suits after lunch. And of course, if you hit the Jacuzzi at night, you’ll want a fresh triangle top and side tie bottom for that as well. Never repeat! At left, Rosa Cha bikini, via nymag.com.

All suits in the polyvore above are at net-a-porter.com. From left to right: Emilio Pucci, Milly, Missoni & JG4B.

6) Silk or terry shorty robe, for poolside or bedside.

The beige Stella McCartney hooded robe in collage is available at net-a-porter.

7) Pashmina or other large wrap that can double as a cozy blanket on the airplane or in your suite; also a sarong or two – so versatile!

The teal wrap above is from Forever 21, and the towel is Pucci.

8) Copious numbers of magazines and a few “disposable” books (i.e., ones you don’t mind tossing or giving away after reading so you don’t have to carry them home – more room in your Goyard luggage for souvenirs!)

9) Lightweight denim – a go-with-everything, chic pair of dark jeans that is suitable for day or night and a pair of white jeans, like the True Religion Candice Trouser Stretch Jeans above, for purchase at Nordstrom.

10) Lightweight cashmere cardigan – green J. Crew sweater pictured above. For cocktails on the veranda or that midnight stroll on the beach!

11) Adorable hat –for protection from sun and humidity; I like this Cordon straw fedora at left from Forever 21. Go to style.com for more info. on the Lola large-brimmed straw hat in the collage.

12) Silk sleeping mask, for those 5:30 Costa Rican sunrises or the occasional post-beach catnap. Couture Carrie likes Mary Green’s, and you can usually find them cheap on ebay!

13) Accessories! UV-protectant sunglasses such as the classic Ray-ban aviators pictured in today's polyvore; costume or inexpensive jewelry to throw on with a sundress – bangles, chunky necklaces (see Brian Reyes pendant), big earrings (see Prada look above), etc. Gold always works, too. Collage looks: Henri Bendel bangles; Kenneth Jay Lane necklace and Zoe & Morgan Isis wing drop earrings (both at net-a-porter.com).

14) Casual no-brainers such as white tanks and tees; yoga pants; city shorts (see Resort 2009 look at right by Isaac Mizrahi).

A word to the wise jet-setter: Many experts will advise against it, but CC believes that it’s better to overpack than underpack. And remember: always carry at least a day’s worth of clothing in your Goyard carry-on, in case your checked luggage is mislaid. Also, keep a record of items packed in your checked bag; most airlines will reimburse you up to $500 if your bag is lost.

Did I leave anything out? Also, better to check or not to check? I know it's sneaky, but sometimes I take 2 huge carry-on bags, and claim that one of them is my "purse". Then, if the flight attendants object and insist that I check one, it's the last to be stowed, and thus the first piece to come out on the conveyor belt! Happy traveling, darlings!

LUXE LUGGAGE

Aaaah, luggage… The word alone conjures visions of well-heeled travelers boarding luxury liners (in the days before the Lear, dears) with their steamer trunks, eager for a “summer crossing,” as it was termed – a weeks-long overseas journey favored by the upper classes in the first part of the twentieth century. I implore you to read Truman Capote’s delicious novella of the same name. It is a divine little find.

Different luggage brands connote different things; Couture Carrie loves to psychoanalyze suitcases!

Here's the A-list, in alphabetical order:

Brooks Brothers - for the man (or woman, I suppose) with big money but not a big ego. This classic-looking luggage is expertly crafted but not at all ostentatious. See the gorgeous high shine Spazzolato leather suitcase at left, and go to brooksbrothers.com to buy.

Coach – easy-access chic; perfect for weekend jaunts to the Hamp. Couture Carrie is loving the new heritage stripe Tattersall travel satchel, pictured at left. Go to coach.com.

Dooney & Bourke - (see previous) - like Coach, but for the slightly less logo-maniacal; once a more mature-oriented brand, Dooney is now trying to appeal to a younger, hipper set [see photo at right from recent ad campaign]. Couture Carrie can attest to the durability of this brand; CC has been using her D&B train case and carry-on for 15 years now, and they are still going strong!

Goyard – for your overseas voyage; the ultimate in luxury, since 1853. Aptly put by Bill Cunningham of the New York Times, Goyard is "The Trophy" (see photo montage above) ... Available for purchase at Barneys New York and Bergdorf Goodman. But the best way to buy the signature chevron-print pieces, from the most knowledgeable staff, with the widest selection (and custom monogramming, of course!) is at one of the numerous outposts of the French luggage purveyor. Couture Carrie practically took up residence at the new San Francisco store last summer!

Gucci - for rock stars and screen sirens. Perhaps the showiest and most pretentious (not that that's a bad thing!) of the bunch. One can easily spend tens of thousands of dollars for a leather set. Strictly for those with their own private jets. See gargantuan steamer trunk at left.

Hermés – for the globetrotting playboy or the Upper East Side matron; see the orange Centenary suitcase at right, and be sure to visit hermes.com. The website is such fun!

Louis Vuitton – classic, if a bit showy; ideal for rap impresarios and divas, oil barons, heiresses, et al. The monogram canvas Pégase rolling suitcase pictured at left is available at eLuxury.com. Go to louisvuitton.com for other models.

J. Crew by Globe-Trotter - a surprisingly diverse and durable collection for the practical, moneyed globe-trotter. Choices range from bright leather garment bags to the vintage-inspired black and beige Centenary suitcase pictured at left. Go to jcrew.com.

Valextra – overpriced, but elegant; for those with so much money that they are too good for the aforementioned brands. The white set at right is a bit precious . . . Go to valextra.com.

Note: Unless you have chartered a private jet or will be traveling on your own helicopter, do NOT check these precious pieces. Not worth the anxiety . . . And don’t buy fakes (do I need to explain why?).

OTHER PRECIOUS PIECES:

Smythson - Granted, this venerable British company does not offer complete luggage sets, but what chic traveling gal's repertoire would be complete without a Smythson of Bond Street passport cover and travel jewelry case? Visit smythson.com.

Of course, most designers now offer handbags roomy enough to stow a weekend's worth of gear. For a fun (and actually affordable) overnight bag, try the blue Marc by Marc Jacobs Distinguished Dot Tote shown at right, for purchase at shopbop.com. Or, for the hip young jet-setter on the red-eye from L.A. to New York, there is this whimsical Custo Barcelona bag, pictured at left. Couture Carrie is so delighted that Custo branched out into handbags!

Photo credits: Illustration from "Checking Out" card set, for purchase at lolaymaria.com. Capote novel jacket photo via amazon.com. Gucci trunk photo via W Magazine.