It seems that at the moment you have some damaged luggage lying around your wardrobe. Do not blame yourself, it is a natural consequence of adulthood which is very expensive. Now you got a lot from your old backpack from college; you want something durable and stylish.
You do not have to get rid of a bag each year because of zippers that break and so on. It is costly and extremely harmful to the environment. You just have to spend more effort to choose something high quality that will last you forever.
Hard-shell polycarbonate luggage is the best choice nowadays. It gives reliable protection to your electronic gadgets and suits from the rough treatment of the baggage handlers. There are many brands like Away and Monos that give high durability at a decent price and their design is worthy of being used on the business trip to New York.
The aluminum suitcases from Rimowa might look gorgeous, but they scratch right away and cost a lot of money. Unless you appreciate that kind of design, you should better get matte ones that will easily hide any scratches and other signs of wear.
Size choice is critical, do not overpack and get a regular size of a carry-on bag. 21 inch models can fit into the overhead compartment of any plane. Spinner wheels are essential as carrying a bag at the airport in such a way looks ridiculous.
Interior organization should also be considered. The compression straps are necessary to fit extra clothes for a weekend vacation. The laundy bags are handy to sort out the clothes you wore while working out in the gym and freshly ironed suits. These little things keep your sanity when traveling.
Do not even think about getting anything that has a warranty period shorter than a year. Some companies like Away and Briggs & Riley give lifetime warranties that also cover airline mishaps. In case of such an incident, you must be sure that your luggage will be replaced.
Your twenties are the time of experimentation, but now you are in your thirties, it is time to be reliable. You should not waste time choosing the wrong luggage every time, get something that will last you forever.