Local Winter Getaway Guide 2023: 7 Must-Have Items for Your Packing List

The latest travel tech, fashion and skincare to make prepping for your next trip a breeze.

1. Still Bejewelled

Keep your necklaces, bracelets and earrings unbothered and untangled using Edmonton-based Poppy Barley’s sleek trifold jewellery case. This compact, travel-friendly case is a collaboration with Kelowna brand Fraîche Living, and comes complete with necklace snaps, ring pillow, earring card and bracelet cushion. $165, poppybarley.com

2. Pretty Little Luggage

Viral luggage brand Béis (founded by Vancouver celeb Shay Mitchell, whom you probably know from Pretty Little Liars and You) has ditched its all-beige-and-black aesthetic for some wild new colours: now, the internet-famous Weekender bag comes in bright orange and neon green. Yes, that’s a zip-off bottom pouch just for shoes. $145, beistravel.com

3. Hot Wheels

Vancouver-designed Monos is cornering the sexy-luggage market, and their entire lineup is monochrome (olive green, rosy pink and a deep ocean blue are three of their pretty hues). Except, that is, for the brand’s new limited-edition terrazzo-printed polycarbonate shell suitcases. You’ll be laughing at all those grey-luggaged folks desperately searching for their bags: this one stands out like a work of art. From $325, monos.com

 

4. In the Pods

If travelling with expensive beauty products in fragile (and heavy) glass bottles stresses you out, here’s a solution: RoC Skincare offers a selection of anti-aging serums in a perfectly portable capsule format. Just throw enough pre-measured 10-ml doses into your toiletries bag (don’t worry, they’re biodegradable) and you’re ready for takeoff. From $33, rocskincare.com

5. Tough Traveller

Given the design-forward nature of Vancouver-based Herschel’s backpacks and duffles, it’s no surprise that their new heritage hardshell luggage looks slick, too (hey, ash rose!). But it’s more than just a pretty case: made of polycarbonate that’s 70-percent recycled road barricade material, the line has been performance-tested with weighted drop and tumble trials, zipper cycle trials and more—plus, the silent 360-degree Hinomoto wheels are a joy to roll through the airport. From $275, herschel.ca

 

6. Just Plane Hydrating

Travel during the colder months often means chapped lips, and this Kw’as Cocomint lip balm from Indigenous-owned Skwálwen Botanicals can help: ingredients like coconut oil, cocoa seed butter and sweet almond oil keep your kisser comfy. $9, skwalwen.com

7. Sublime Suit

Business class, meet your match: Smash and Tess’s recently launched colourway (called “red violet”… but let’s face it, this is Barbie pink) of the Harper blazer and Harper wide-leg pant is perfect for travelling in style. The Vancouver-based brand is known for rompers, and this pink suit embraces all that pyjama-like comfort in work-appropriate fashion. Blazer $170, pant $130; smashtess.com

 

This story was originally published in the November 2023 issue of Vancouver Magazine.

Alyssa Hirose

Alyssa Hirose

Alyssa Hirose is a Vancouver-based writer, editor, illustrator and comic artist. Her work has been featured in Vancouver magazine, Western Living, BCBusiness, Avenue, Serviette, Geist, BCLiving, Nuvo, Montecristo, The Georgia Straight and more. Her beats are food, travel, arts and culture, style, interior design and anything dog-related. She publishes a daily autobiographical comic on Instagram at @hialyssacomics.