Weekender Bags for Quick Summer Getaways

Do you have a lot of weekend plans this summer? Having a good weekender bag is probably a smart investment for those trips where a suitcase isn't necessary but something beyond a small tote won't suffice. With the summer season kicking off this weekend, here are some styles to consider.

I know a thing or two about durable and versatile weekender bags. When I would travel a lot I use would beat mine to death when I would take about 20 flights a month. I would use the equivalent of a weekender bag as a carry-on and would burn through several over the course of a few months. In fact, I once had to replace a bag at an airport when the one I was carrying broke. Needless to say, I learned quickly how important it is to get one that can be used and abused. I finally settled on a LeSportsac that was unassumingly roomy and never looked worn, no matter how much I used it.

In addition to durability, it's important to choose a weekender bag that fits your style and works with most of your wardrobe. You will likely be grabbing this bag with a variety of your outfits so you want to make sure it works. Here are a few to consider, and why.

#1- LeSportsac

As I mentioned, LeSportsac is one of my favorite bag brands for their durability. Since being founded in 1974 (the year I was born), the company has established itself as the leading American brand of casual nylon bags with classic and designer collaborations with trendsetters, like Stella McCartney, Jonathan Adler, Diane von Furstenberg, tokidoki and Gwen Stefani.

In addition to their iconic printed bags, I particularly like this metallic LeSportsac weekender that it so versatile and will match whatever you are wearing. Here, I styled it with a pair of skinny stretch cargos from J. Crew, a brown viscose t-shirt from Theory, tan Espadrilles from Sperry and gold necklace from Bauble Bar.

#2- Longchamp

Longchamp is a luxury leathergoods company founded in Paris in 1948 by Jean Cassegrain. The Longchamp House is still owned and managed by the family. The company is primarily known for its leather and canvas handbags, its travel items, and numerous fashion accessories. One of the things they are most for is their le Pliage bag in nylon that was inspired by Japanese origami and can be folded as such.

In this look, I used a bright orange Longchamp bag for a weekend away with a easy knit Boden dress in blue and white stripes, a pair of white sandals from Modcloth, white cuff bracelet and navy and silver earrings.

#3- TUMI

TUMI is another bag brand known for durability and quality. The company was founded in 1975 and took its name from a Peruvian icon known to its founder from his Peace Corps days in South America. Who knew?

With a broad product line, it is easy to find a bag that fits your style and needs. In this outfit, I used TUMI's laptop shoulder tote that is great if you want to get away but can't leave the work at home. The color of the bag is so versatile and will work with most looks. Here, styled it with a sleeveless georgette blouse from Theory, a pair of culottes from Zara, coral slides from DV Dolce Vita, gold earrings and white bracelet from Nordstrom.

#4 Roller totes

The one fundamental problem with weekender bags is that you actually have to carry them. Even if they have a shoulder strap, if you have shoulder problems or, heck, if your bag is heavy, they can be tough to lug around. Whoever decided to create wheelie totes was a genius, especially for those times when you don't need a suitcase but don't want to actually carry your bag.

In this outfit, I used this wheeled weekender bag from Tommy Hilfiger and styled it with a pair of white skinny crop pants from Lucky Brand, a striped top from French Connection, scarf from Echo Design, silver hoop earrings and silver strappy slides from LOFT.

#5- Printed weekender bags

My LeSportsac bag that I mentioned earlier, is colorfully striped. While printed weekender bags may seem limited in what they will work with they don't have to be. When choosing a print, look for styles that capture most of the colors of your wardrobe. In addition, remember, a weekender bag takes what you are carrying from point a. to point b., nobody is expecting them to match everything perfectly.

Here, I used a bold Vera Bradley weekender tote and styled it with a pair of denim shorts from Lucky Brand, an orange Anthropologie novelty t-shirt, blue sandals, and turquoise earrings from Max & Chloe.

Shop for weekender bags

Still looking for the perfect weekender bags? Check out these additional styles.