That luggage got me through college, graduate school and several trips to Europe. It was only when I was packing for my honeymoon years later that I decided it was time for the indestructible suitcases to be stored away - they're still in my attic. That hard-sided luggage from the good old days will never die.

Then along comes the cutesy stuff, and I've got enough luggage to fill up a Pullman car on the Orient Express. I just never know when I will want to wheel around my zebra carry-on or strap on my turquoise makeup bag or stuff everything I have into my tapestry duffel. And then there's the computer case and the vintage crocodile hatboxes I just had to have.

Oh well, you get the picture. There's so much "fashionable" luggage to choose from out there, sometimes we just get carried away and forget that when it comes to packing it in, quality counts.

"Buying the right luggage can make the difference between the trip from hell and a lighthearted skip through the airport," says Melanie Charlton Fascitelli, author of "Shop Your Closet" (Collins; April 2008, $20). Fascitelli, who founded the closet design company, Clos-ette, has guided hundreds of clients in buying luggage that not only performs but is stylish too.

Here are a few of her tips:

- Come up with a budget.

"Like anything else, buy the best you can afford," says Fascitelli. "A $9.95 suitcase may seem like the bargain of the century, but the old adage 'You get what you pay for' comes into play. Cheap is cheap, and crap is crap. Buy the best that you can. Not only will it perform better, but it also will last longer."

And let's face it: You don't want to experience the embarrassing "explosion" when a zipper pops and your unmentionables are scattered across the airport floor for all the world to see.

- Decide how you are going to use your luggage.

"If you want a suitcase that can be used for any type of trip, from a quick weekend getaway to a three-week cruise, buy one that has the capability to meet your needs," says the organization expert.

Look for compartments if you need to store things, retractable handles for easy pulling, shoulder straps, etc. If you plan to carry your luggage onboard, make sure it fits into an overhead compartment. The bag usually has to measure 22 inches wide or less to fit under or over your seat.

- Consider weight.

If you can't carry it or roll it, don't buy it - at least that's been my experience. You never know when you may just have to "tote" it yourself. And we've all been stuck behind the person boarding the airplane that can't manage to heave that monstrosity of a bag over his or her shoulder and into the bin above them.

Fascitelli agrees.

"Buy the lightest model possible that makes for easy transportation, but is sturdy enough to withstand the rigors of travel," she says. "If you are checking your luggage, think about the bag handlers who load and unload an airplane. Let's just say that the words 'gentle' and 'careful' do not come into play."

- Durability counts.

Whether it's hard-sided, semisoft or soft-sided luggage, make sure it's made of easily-cleaned material that doesn't show too much scuffing or dirt, says Fascitelli. Look for reinforced seams, tightly woven fabrics for strength, frames that are wrapped to avoid damaging clothing, interior straps to hold piles of clothing firmly in place, recessed handles and wide-track wheels.

- Last, but not least, says Fascitelli, mark your luggage with a distinctive piece of tape, ribbon or marking for easy identification.

None of us have to be reminded that "all black bags look alike."