This is a new semi-regular feature here on Road Warriorette. Briggs & Riley is one of the premier luggage brands, with a collection for every life style from the casual traveler to the business travel elite.

It wasn’t too long ago when packing an extra pair of shoes didn’t cost an extra $35 in baggage fees; when getting on a plane didn’t involve an epic battle for overhead luggage space; and when you could walk by the dreaded “Your bag is too big” box without breaking into a sweat.

But with new baggage fees, and increasingly strict security rules, the days of tossing another outfit in at the last minute (just in case you want to change out of your suit after the meeting) are over. Nowadays it’s all about agonizing over whether you really need to bring that dress and measuring exactly how much shampoo you’ll need for four days and splitting it between three separate munchkin-sized bottles.

Let’s face it; cramming more into a smaller bag is the biggest packing trend, resulting in more wrinkled clothing and items arriving in not-so-ship-shape.  So what’s a traveler to do – especially one who doesn’t have an expense account for those baggage fees? The management team at one of the world’s most prestigious luggage makers can offer some hard-earned advice on getting what you need, where you need it, without wrinkles and without compromises. As for how to make sure some TSA guy doesn’t then rifle through and destroy your perfectly packed masterpiece?

Sorry. Even we can’t help you there.

Travel Tip from Georgene Rada (VP Product Development and Design, Briggs & Riley)

Says 40% of what she originally lays out, gets scrapped as a “non-essential item”

I really do have a no- over packing philosophy, even though we make some very large bags to fit it all.   I lay out everything in advance that I want to bring on a given trip, and then I look, think and cut out 40% of the stuff that isn’t essential at the last minute. I design my outfits around pieces that can work in multiple outfits and no one is really surprised when the designer from New York is wearing all black.  I make sure to have the right accent colors and in general, I stick to thin and lightweight clothing, wearing the bulkiest items while traveling to cut back on space.   For toiletry items, I stick to travel-size and sample-size everything.  I don’t know what I’d do without my specially designated “travel shoes” because they are easy to slip on and off at security, they are lightweight, and versatile.