Michael Kors MK Recommendations for Long Trip!

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AuntJulie

AuntJulie

Member
Jan 27, 2014
1,200
80
#1
Hi all!

I have an upcoming work trip planned to Japan and it will be a long trip...28 days.

We are staying in Tokyo and will be traveling by train and subway daily for over 40 minutes. Then we either hoof it 1.5 miles to the ship or catch a taxi.

I'm also stuck dragging steel-toed shoes and a hard hat with me.

So I need some new stuff to cheer me up. Everyone says bring a back pack, but they don't make back packs for plus sized folks.

Also, how can I bring just one MK purse for a whole month??!!

Any advice on what I should buy/bring with me on this trip? Handbag, tote bag, or both? Oh and I may use this as an excuse to buy some new luggage too.

I would love to hear your recommendations (not limited to just MK)! Also how any particular luggage brand that is durable, gorgeous, and efficient.

Thanks y'all!
 
#4
You should get a very, very large tote that can be worn on the shoulder and/or crossbody. It MUST also have a zipper. I'm not sure anything I've seen by MK fits the bill. I usually carry my handbag of the day (Selma, Hamilton, Miranda, or Sutton) with an additional large, black nylon tote that I use for extra shoes, my newspaper, snacks, water bottle, etc. I don't go designer for my nylon totes because I want my MK handbag to be the center of attention. :smile1: So I buy an inexpensive, but respectable looking, no name brand black nylon tote with a zipper on eBay or Amazon. They're great for all the extra junk you don't want to stuff in your handbag. As far as luggage, I always get the lightweight spinners (rolling luggage with 4 wheels) for ease of movement.
 
#5
Wow, Japan! This brought back memories. My hubby almost accepted a job there about 15 years ago but after researching schools, housing, shopping, transportation, traveling back and forth to the states with 3 kids(I was pregnant AGAIN) etc..I said NO. Back to your dilemma, anything that zips/locks is good. They make bigger backpacks(Target), not really stylish, but in a foreign place I worry more about safety in my bag of choice, hidden pockets for passport, money/I.D.etc... As far as luggage items, I really like my Kipling pieces. Easy to clean and durable. Baggage handlers are the DEVIL!
 
#6
CONGRATULATIONS!!! HOW WONDERFUL to GO TO JAPAN!!

I love my MK Gansevoort Large Nylon tote for traveling. I find it absolutely perfect. I am a senior citizen myself, ( lol!) so I like to keep it light. It is extra large yet very light weight because of the nylon. It is also WASHABLE and PORTABLE, because you can fold it up and put it in your suitcase if you want! You can also hand wash it in the sink! Rinses right out quite easily, and dries fast too! It has a cross body strap for when you are at the airport so you can be hands free to carry your suitcases, etc.. Perfect for layover stops to have all your 'freshen up' essentials like hairspray, toothbrush, heck, you could even fit your blow dryer in it! lol! PLUS it will carry your IPAD or Laptop to boot!! You could have all that right on the plane with you! I noticed some comments about a zip top is best, but I never had any problem with this tote and found it easier to get into quickly, ( it has a magnetic snap closure) unless they are worried about thieves? Not sure, but I always keep it shut with my eye on it anyway and usually have it strapped on with the cross body strap. Never had any problem with it being a tote and frankly, it has spoiled me for traveling. I won't travel without it.

Then, when you get settled in, or at night, you can just remove the cross body strap and be able to use it out to dinner, etc. VERY versatile, but the best part is how light weight it is, so you can carry a lot without wearing yourself out. ALSO, it has THREE outer pockets, to put your cell and things you need quick access to, so you are not fumbling around inside the bag at check outs, etc. Most MK bags don't have these outer pockets which are quite handy when traveling .The leather bags are beautiful, but when you need a large one, they can be quite heavy for long periods of time and they are hard to pack, taking up too much space. This folds up pretty small and then unfolds into a HUGE bag! It is trimmed in leather, in my case, python leather, so it looks nice and pretty, with added strength, plus it has adjustable leather straps on each side!

You could even hang a hammer on those, ( lol!) plus hang your hard hat, by the chin strap! I know all this because my husband is in heavy construction! lol! And I travel with him all the time. I even used this bag when we were overseas in Saudi Arabia on one of his projects, building a military base. So even our trip is similar?. This bag worked so well for me!

They also come in a signature jacquard fabric, which is lighter than the leather as well, but I don't recommend them for your trip, because you could ruin it , and they aren't as maintainable as the washable nylon is. Plus, I get paranoid advertising with signature bags, that have MKs all over it, that I am carrying an expensive designer bag. It can make you a target! So I go for a plain solid, non signature design, to be less obvious. I even lighten up on the jewelry and turn my wedding set around to the bottom of my finger! lol! Creeps will actually follow you to see where your room is, to rob you when you're not there, so the less obvious, the better. Just my opinion, but hey! You can't be too careful these days. Enjoy your trip! WHOOP!!

PS, You could even fit your shoes in it! lol! For your hard hat you could clip the chin strap, on the leather belts on the side of the bag! Those leather belts are adjustable! I'll add a pic of them in a following post.
 

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#7
OK here you go, this is off a signature Gansevoort. I am using this photo, only because you can't hardly see the black on black, on mine.. Here you can see the leather side straps I am talking about. They actually unbuckle and are adjustable and come off the bag, so you can tighten or loosen them and you could hang your hard hat by the chin strap, right onto one of these leather belts! ALSO, you can WASH this bag easily. ( the nylon one, not this signature just using this pic so you can see the leather belts) If you got it dirty at work you can just rinse it out and hang it up in the bathroom. Turn the heater on in there and it would be dry before morning. Not sure if this would suit you, but it really is quite versatile.

How many large designer bags can you fold up and pack, wash it, hang your hard hat on and then go out to dinner?? lol! Good Luck!
 

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#8
I have a Hamilton Weekender that I've used for short trips. It zips closed & you would be amazed how much you can fit in it. I always take at least 1 complete change of clothes to carry on in case my luggage gets lost. The only problem is it doesn't have a crossbody strap but the handles are long enough to put on my shoulder.
 
#9
Wow thank you all for the recommendations. I'm going to research these right now! I'm nervous about taking anything nice, since I don't want it to get ruined or stolen.

Since I'm plus sized, I think cross body would be awkward for my shape. Maybe I can wear the cross body on the strap only on the subway and wear it normal everywhere else.

I wish I was more excited about the trip, but I'm out of shape and I fear it will be physically grueling, but I have 6 weeks to prepare.

Also, my beloved Lucky died 2 weeks ago and my new puppy will arrive 1 week before I leave for a month! I don't want him to forget me. It sounds sill I know.

Thank y'all so much for taking the time to help me! I love the multifunction tote but I fear the strap will be difficult to get on my shoulder.
 
#10
MK does make a cute and nice sized backpack now, but I don't know if I would travel with it. I don't think I have the name correct, but the MK jet set large crossbody/shoulder bag (looks like the LV Odeon if that helps) is an awesome travel handbag! I am a 16/18 myself and the strap is perfect and it holds a ton even though it is thin, it lays next to the body very nicely. Also, it has a shoulder handle that fits me perfectly under the arm if I feel I need it keep it extra close. If you can find one I really recommend giving it a try!
 
#11
I was in japan last summer I traveled with my large long champ tote. If you're planning to walk a lot or have less items to travel I will recommended something like a cross body or a bag with long straps!! Either a medium selma messenger bag or medium selma... I won't recommend the large selma since it's too bulky and heavy. Get at least two bag!!! Long champ might be your best option if you have a lot of stuff and it takes less storage space. And days when you have less things you can use a smaller bag.... One advise if you're planning to be shopping a lot. Get one empty suitcase along!!!! Try to bring less clothes.
 
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