How to Make the Perfect Cup of Italian Coffee
Unpacking the history, allure, and ways to use the humble Moka pot.
SPEND ENOUGH TIME lugging baggage through airports, and you become a realist — as in, what do I really need — very quickly. Just a few 30-minute layovers and packed flights will teach you that too much stuff is not a viable option, and that selecting the right bags, packs, cases, and carry-ons can lead to travel tranquility. You want pockets where you need them, items that help you stay organized, and bags that can fold, slide, and scrunch in all the right places, the better to help you fit them in the confines of whatever type of plane shows up to your gate. Here, a brief introduction to some essentials that every traveler can use.
Shop at Rimowa
Rimowa Cabin Classic Suitcase
The iconic Rimowa Cabin Classic suitcase is, in many ways, the most timeless of high-end suitcases — a modernist icon of the jet age. But it’s also the finest philosophical expression of the need to pack efficiently: Because of its solid but lightweight aluminum construction, it can’t expand like more malleable shell cases that allow you to shove every last possible thing in and hope the zipper holds. The Cabin Classic forces you to be economical about what you bring. SHOP NOW
Shop at Frédéric Malle
Pierre Hardy Toiletry Case
Traveling might tempt you to slack on your skincare and grooming routine, so the right toiletry case is an absolute must, no matter how many miles you’re clocking. Frédéric Malle is one of the finest purveyors of fragrances on earth, so it’s no surprise that their collaboration with the atelier of Pierre Hardy on a leather case would be just as stylish as it is functional, with a handsome geometric print that’s available in black, red, or blue. Don’t forget to pack the SPF. SHOP NOW
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Shop at Issey Miyake
Pocket Pleats Backpack
Japanese brand Issey Miyake is famous for the crinkly Pleats Please collection, which utilizes an innovative technique of folding textiles to give them fabulous crimps and ripples. That makes this backpack, metaphorically and literally, a travel mainstay, something that can be tucked and gathered in all the right places to fit anywhere, including beneath the seat in front of you. SHOP NOW
Shop at Montblanc
Montblanc Sartorial envelope pouch
And finally, if you travel for business often — or if you just love to stay organized with printed-out itineraries and guides — you need a place to keep your paperwork uncreased and clean. Montblanc’s Envelope Pouch is an incredibly sleek-and-chic way to store documents, passports, business cards, and small notebooks for a veritably seamless journey. SHOP NOW
Our Contributors
Alex Frank Writer
Alex Frank is a contributing editor at Departures. Based in Manhattan, Frank previously worked at Vogue.com as deputy culture editor. His writing has appeared in the New York Times, GQ, Pitchfork, New York Magazine, Fantastic Man, and the Village Voice.
Morgan McMullen Illustrator
Morgan is a designer and art director with a cross-platform background in visual strategy developed at publications ranging from Brooklyn Magazine to Marie Claire.
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