Trunk Show

By Betsy Kroll

TRAVEL ISN'T WHAT IT USED TO BE. Luxurious ocean liners have been replaced by overcrowded airplanes, and the concept of "dressing" for a journey went out the window years ago. Still, steamer style continues to flourish in the realm of luggage. Call it a backlash to overhyped technical materials or compartment overload, but classics like Louis Vuitton and Goyard have never seemed so appealing. Even popular '80s accessories brand MCM is on the brink of a major comeback, thanks to styles chockablock with steamer signatures like logos and stripes. Gucci's Boston bags, with stripes and script, transition smoothly from everyday to holiday. And what better to write home on than iomoi's monogrammed note cards, complete with designs reminiscent of smokestacks from a bygone era. --By Betsy Kroll

1 Holland America Line poster from 1953

2 Louis Vuitton monogram leather Cruiser bag ($1,700; louisvuitton.com

3 Goyard Steamer bag GM ($1,990 without personalization; goyard.com

4 Gucci GG Plus medium Boston bag ($640; gucci.com and small Boston bag ($530; gucci.com

5 MCM New Munich Lion shopper ($795; bloomingdales.com

6 Goyard 27.5 in. (70 cm) Palace trunk ($6,629; goyard.com

7 iomoi Custom Social Notes in chocolate-and-yellow diamond

pattern ($68 for a set of 20; shopiomoi.com