The 8 things I will never put in checked luggage

Meet my Platinum Children

First off, the goal of writing this is not for you to go shopping. If you do, though, that’s fine because with these Platinum Children, it’s not the idea (a white cropped sweater, say) it’s this exact piece, I think.

That said, I don’t feel guilty if you do track the pieces down because a) they will necessarily be old/used and b) these pieces are so good that I know you won’t get rid of them. Thus, they are “cycle-stoppers.” (Is that a term?)

So Golden Children are those pieces that work with everything. They never fail you. I think of my black Tibi Stella nylons, which can take on any top or blazer and make it work.

But there’s also this other category, or maybe it’s more like the pinnacle of the Golden Children. So I’ve named these Platinum Children, aka PC’s. Like Golden Children, PC’s work with everything. Every time. When all else fails. But unlike a pair of Stella’s they’re pretty irreplaceable.

I grew up in a modernist house (omg I found it!). The architect had worked with Gropius. And my parents would never, ever lock the door! I wasn’t even a latchkey kid because no one was home - but I also didn’t need a key! On the sides of the front door there was this beautiful, very Bauhaus glass, made of these little squares. My dad said he’d rather a burglar come in and help themselves than smash that glass to open the door.

I promise there’s a point. You’ve asked me what I’d never put in checked luggage. Well these are it. I’d rather hand over my wallet (granted it’s inevitably empty) than give up the Celine clutch it’s in. Or anything else on this list for that matter. That’s a Platinum Child. Here are mine:

1. Celine flat clutch: I don’t know when I got it or when it’s from. I know I got mine used. With all the clutches I have, THIS is the go-to. It always works. It’s not some big huge statement. It doesn’t make me want to remove a piece of jewelry. It just looks cool and right every time. Holds my Trinny London cover up and lip/cheek. My keys and thin wallet. My phone. I can get a pizza with it or go to something formal. And I can easily pack it. But you’d never make me check it.