7 bags you can take through airport security

It’s a pretty confusing time to be travelling right now, what with airport security regulations changing on a fairly regular basis. Here’s some recent bad news: If you’re flying into the U.S. (or are connecting through the U.S.), you’re not allowed to take any carry-on baggage. [Update: As of January 20, you are now allowed one piece of carry-on baggage in addition to your small purse. The carry-on can be up to 23x40x55 cm.]

The sort-of good news: You can still take a small purse. Specifically, a purse no larger that 25x30x14 cm. Does that sound small? It is--just slightly larger than your average magazine. This leaves out a host of classics--the YSL Tribute, the Birkin (unless it’s the 25 cm “baby”), the Marc Jacobs Stam bag--or anything else with a decent amount of space. (Our sources tell us that they’re not exactly whipping out the a tape measure at check-in, so you can probably cheat a centimetre or two.) Bottom line: If you think you’re pushing it, size-wise, with your bag, call your airline to confirm, or just leave it at home. You do not want to risk having to check a Birkin.

But let’s think positive. It’s a chance to minimize. There are plenty of stylishly-small handbags (see below), and no matter your destination, you’re still able to bring toiletries and the now familiar 1-litre Ziploc bag filled with your 100-ml gels and liquids. Knowing that space is at a premium, we spoke to our beauty director and frequent-flyer champ, Adriana Ermter, about the products she travels with.

On her “must-have or die” list:

For overnight flights, if you have space:

Click on the images below for (mostly) regulation-sized travel totes. For a full list of security regulations, visit catsa-acsta.gc.ca.