Travel Right

To Do It Right, Taste is Required

There are two types of men who travel. Those clutching a nylon backpack with a broken zipper, and men who understand that how you travel is the first impression you make, long before the watch peeks out from under the cuff or the driver opens the door.

Here are some essentials:

Italian Chic

1.)   It's not a pajama party

Let's start with this…leave your pajamas at home. There are plenty of comfortable acceptable pull-ons or even ‘joggers’ that will still give you just as much comfort and breathability as your Abercrombie reindeer PJ’s. Wear a long sleeve pullover, comfortable pants and CLEAN sneakers. We like two-piece cashmere sets from Zegna. You can still dash like OJ and make it to Hertz and you will feel good doing so. Tip: this is your return outfit as well. Extra underwear a must.

Roller Derby Winner

2.)  The Carry-On: Rimowa Original Cabin

Aluminum. Grooved. Recognizable from fifty feet away. The Rimowa Original Cabin might be the standard bearer. Yes, it dents and perhaps that’s the point. Each ding is a passport stamp for people who don’t Instagram their boarding passes. Rolling silently through an airport on its impeccable wheels, this is a workhorse for overseas travel. Plus, it can balance even an overfilled Neverfull all the way to the gate. Pure class

Kings of the Cabin

The Personal Bag: Goyard Boeing Duffel or LV Keepall 55

If you know, you know, and if you don’t, you probably bought monogram canvas with a logo the size of a billboard. Goyard’s Boeing duffel is stealth wealth perfected. Hand-painted chevrons, feather-light, and priced firmly in “don’t ask” territory. Or go with the classic Louis Vuitton Keepall 55. The flight attendant may look at you with a, “oh no u didn’t” but it can be manipulated to fit in any overhead bin. Trust me.

Bravo! Alpha Bravo

The Backpack (Yes, Really): Tumi Alpha Bravo Navigation

Backpacks are tricky. Too techy and you look like a startup intern. Too soft and you look lost, too many Swoosh logos and you look like the locker-room attendant.  Tumi’s Alpha Bravo Navigation threads the needle: ballistic nylon, serious structure, and just enough military edge to say you travel with intention. It fits a laptop, documents, and whatever nondisclosure agreement you’re pretending not to read. Tip: If you bring shades, this one is an overall protector. Bring two pair.

The Bennett Winch

The Watch Travel Case: Bennett Winch Watch Roll

Throwing a six-figure watch loose into a Dopp kit is how amateurs live. Bennett Winch’s leather watch rolls are made for men who rotate timepieces depending on city, dinner, or mood…and you should.  Hand-stitched leather, military-grade hardware. You will smile every time you reach for it and smile more when you open it up. Daytona’s and Royal Oak’s not included but very welcomed.

YSL. Y-Not

The Toiletry Kit: YSL Trousse Case

You could buy something that hangs on the bathroom door or you could unzip a YSL Trousse Dopp Kit and quietly win the hotel bathroom. Calfskin leather, perfect proportions, and the subtle flex of someone who does not decant shampoo into plastic bottles.  You probably have ripped through 3 other Dopp’s that didn’t cut it at this point in your life. This one is a keeper.

Mais Oui!

The Sunglasses: Jacques Marie Mage

Limited runs. Thick acetate. Japanese craftsmanship. Jacques Marie Mage sunglasses aren’t for blending in at baggage claim, their for others to wonder who you are. These are frames for men who understand that anonymity is overrated and great design never apologizes. When you put them on, it says Paparazzi welcomed.

Perfection and Peace

The Headphones: Bang & Olufsen Beoplay H95

If you’re still wearing plastic noise-canceling headphones that scream “frequent flyer miles,” we need to talk. The Beoplay H95 wraps your head in lambskin and Scandinavian restraint. They sound phenomenal and look like something a well-paid architect would wear while ignoring emails. They say a quiet ‘leave me alone’ to your row-mate as you slip these on pre-flight. Peace

Back Pocket Placeholder

The Wallet: Goyard

Available in several sizes to handle passports, cards, cash and even boarding passes (do they still exist?) Goyard is the one you will want in your pocket as you traverse the ocean seas. Exceptional leather and canvas and it won't collapse. You can toggle back to the Mag Safe Instagram wallet after the trip.

Just In Case

Anker MagPro Charger

It happens….too much Netflix downloads and Sinatra albums and your battery starts dying before your approach. Try the PowerX Pack charging block that comes with a flexible flip-out stand for better watching. While you may look amateurish using a portable charger, if you are one of those guys that is not battery responsible, get this.