Travelling through time

I found it: my ideal suitcase. Merci's Liberty print vanity case re-ignited my vintage suitcase obsession earlier this month, so when I came across this old-school travelling companion in Brighton's Snooper's Paradise, I was delighted to find that it was in full working order. It closes snugly, has pleasingly chunky buckles and is generally in top-notch condition. I suspect that this is because it's actually quite new - just designed in a retro-style - but this matters not to me, and £15 was a bargain price for such an essential piece.

It'll do me for my annual Cornish holiday and my Canadian honeymoon, and I've become quite defensive when it comes to questions of its practicality. "I'd never buy a suitcase like that; it doesn't have wheels", the girlfriend of a male colleague shared in the queue. No one's asking you to buy it, random rude girl...."That's going to accomodate nearly two week's worth of clothes?" Irish asked sceptically. "No, it's going to hold my flowery dresses. The heavy stuff will be going in your wheeley suitcase, darling".

It looks damn cool, alright, and I'm not planning on taking it trekking up Kilamanjaro. I just can't say no to Mad Men bags...

Key trends for spring/summer

Leather jacket, playsuit and ruffles
Leather jacket: £10, Snooper's Paradise
Topshop ruffle playsuit: £10, Oxfam

Underwear as outerwear
Body-con nightdress: £3, H&M

Candy pastels
See by Chloe yellow dress: £5, TK Maxx

Floral print
C&A dress: £9, Oxfam

Nautical
Scarf: £1.99, Oxfam

Biker boots
Studded boots: £35, Dorothy Perkins

Metallics
Trainers: £5, Topshop