Traveling with the New Vera Bradley Weekender Bags

Grand Weekender Bag ℅ | Compact Weekender Bag ℅ | Blazer | Sweater | Jeans - best jeans ever under $100 (wearing size 2) | OTN Boots (similar, less expensive style) | Necklace | Earrings | Watch (similar style) | Sunglasses (similar style here)

Hi everyone! I hope you're having an amazing week. 

I recently partnered with Vera Bradley to talk travel, and share why I love their iconic Weekender Bag. Check out their post about it here, and read my interview below! 

I've been an avid traveler since a young age (I've been to six of the seven continents), and now that I am a blogger and fashion stylist full-time, traveling is also part of my job. When traveling, it's always important to plan, prioritize, stay organized, and of course, look stylish.  

One way to do this is to strategically pick the bags you travel with on your trips. Whether that's your carry-on or suitcase, everything needs to serve a purpose. The Weekender Bags fit all this criteria and then some. Plus, it now comes in three different sizes, all uniquely guaranteed to take you to any destination your wanderlust heart desires. 

Over the last two months I was in L.A. for a birthday celebration, New York City for Fashion Week, Chicago for a conference, Wisconsin to visit family, and did a few road trips here in Texas. Next, I am off to Nashville for Halloween, and I will be taking my Compact and Grand Weekender with me. I love always having bags in different sizes, because they each serve their own purpose. The smaller of the two is my personal item, while the larger bag gets stored in the overhead. This makes packing a breeze because I can easily separate what I need on the airplane, from what I’ll need when I get there.

The Compact Weekender has great versatility. It has a detachable strap so you can wear it as a cross body, which is ideal for when you’re running through the airport and need to be hands-free. But once you reach your destination, you can carry it by the top handles, and have the perfect purse. It also has space for all my essentials. The inside of the bag has mesh compartments, which makes it easy for me to store my headphones, jewelry, makeup, and snacks. That way, the middle is left free for my wallet, book, and any other larger items. There are two exterior pockets which I use for the things I constantly am getting in and out of my bag, like my phone and boarding pass. Did I mention there’s a charger pocket too? This is great for anyone who’s on the go.

I use the Grand Weekender as my carry-on. Traveling with a carry-on not only ensures that nothing will get lost, but it's convenient and speeds up travel time. I try to travel with only a carry-on 99% of the time. If you take the time to plan out each outfit, have staple pieces you can build off of with accessories, and use packing cubes, it isn’t as hard as it sounds. Plus, if you layer on the plane with your larger pieces (i.e. boots, jackets, etc.) you’ll save space in your bag. This bag is ideal for weekend or week long getaways, as you really are able to fit so much inside of it. It also has a trolley sleeve that you can easily slide over the handle of your suitcase/wheelie for convenience – I love that. Most importantly, the simple silhouette is lightweight, which is a definite must when you travel.

Where is your next trip taking you, and how do you like to pack when you travel? 

             

Thank you to Vera Bradley for sponsoring this post. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that make Ashley Nicole Style possible. 

Photos by LA Photography