Since it’s back to school week here at le blog, we can’t overlook backpacks, can we? Remember back in the ’90s, when backpacks were a thing? I had a woven one from The Sak and I felt so crazy cool. Drew Barrymore was a style icon, grunge was about to be on its way out, and I was rockin’ some babydoll dresses with (gulp) clogs. I was also wearing Birkenstocks (which, YAY!). In short, it’s no big shocker I went to art school. It’s only surprising that I’m not more of a hippie.

The bad news is that the 90s are kind of back in an awful mom-jeans kind of way (I’m lookin’ at YOU, everygirl-under-the-age-of-24 who thinks it’s cute) so now as a legit card-carrying grownup, it’s all about picking and choosing what trends to go with again. Birkenstocks? Yes. Chokers? No. Babydoll dresses? Maybe.  Mom jeans? OH HAIL NO.

But the good news is that backpacks are making a resurgence, and they’re definitely better than ever. These aren’t those high school Jansports you rocked. These are all kinds of gorgeous and in every iteration you can imagine. I’m particularly relieved because a backpack is so much easier for travel, amiright?

FASHION BACKPACKS, CLOCKWISE

1. COACH – MY FAVORITE ONE!
2. REBECCA MINKOFF
3. TORY BURCH (YUM)
4. GRAFEA
5. LONGCHAMP TOTE
6. CAMBRIDGE SATCHEL CO.

Now, if you need more of a travel bag, look no further than these goodies.

TRAVEL BACKPACKS, LEFT TO RIGHT

1. VERA BRADLEY
2. FJALLRAVEN
3. HERSCHEL
4. TUMI
5. STATE

HONORABLE MENTIONS