Like pulling on a pair of high heels, carrying a vanity case confers instant glamour. Dangling one of these old-fashioned items from a manicured hand while tripping through an airport feels outrageously agreeable, and a well-stocked case guarantees hours of happy scrabbling. There are less expensive ones than these around. But a girl can dream ...
Louis Vuitton beauty case
This is the one that signals, "I'm rich, I'm lucky"; in signature monogram canvas leather, with brass corners and a sturdy lock. Louis Vuitton started out as a luggage company, was soon making travel trunks for royalty and has clearly kept the knack of making princesses very, very happy. £2,280 (Dh13,215), Louis Vuitton, Marina Mall, Abu Dhabi (www.louisvuitton.com; 02 681 2166).
Aspinal of London Vintage vanity case
In gleaming Italian patent leather with monogrammed silk lining and leather straps to keep perfume bottles in place, this oval beauty looks like a treasure your grandmother might have bequeathed you. If only. With its brass lock, brass feet and sturdy handle, it deserves to become an heirloom anyway. £495 (Dh2,887) plus £25 (Dh146) shipping. It measures 21x27x18cm and is available in nude, black or purple (www.aspinaloflondon.com; 00 44 428 648 180).
Globe-Trotter Safari vanity case
Globe-Trotter has been making sturdy, beautiful luggage since the 1920s. As the name suggests, this would be extra useful on those beauty-and-the-beast expeditions that - between game drives - allow so much downtime to file your nails. £410 (Dh2,391). It measures 32x22x20cm and is available in black or cream, with tan trim, from Harvey Nichols, Mall of the Emirates or Bloomingdale's at Dubai Mall (www.globetrotter1897.com).
