Question of the Week: Stylish Bags & Backpacks for School

A few people have been writing asking me to do a shopping round up of bags and backpacks for back to school, specifically grad school. Totes look great if you're only carrying a couple notebooks. But if you have a laptop and then some, I would recommend considering a backpack because the two straps really do help distribute the weight. That being said, be careful when packing your bag because too much weight can hurt your posture regardless of bag design.

The word backpack might bring back childhood memories of Jansport and Eastpak, but they've actually quite hot right now. They've recently appeared on runways (Louis Vuitton, D&G, etc) and even the red carpet. A few months ago Mary-Kate Olsen sporting a Pendleton backpack at a restaurant grand opening in NYC.

Photo credit: Huffington Post
In my search for practical, yet stylish bags, I looked for backpacks big enough to hold a laptop (and a book or two) and grown-up enough to potentially take to the office. And I know school is expensive, so I kept price point in mind.


Baggu Canvas Backpack $28.00 + $4 shippingI've featured this bag before on the blog in a Deal of the Day post. It's a simple, washable and affordable backpack. The darker colors would probably be your best bet for versatility.


Matt & Nat, $123 + free shippingThis bag is a little bit smaller, but I love the look of this bag from vegan line, Matt & Nat. The coated canvas, hardware and "leather" strip down the middle are a unique touch. And did I mention that it's 40% off (retail $205) at mattandnat.com? The discounted backpack is a final sale item, so if you want to be sure, check out endless.com which offers free returns.


David King Convertible Laptop Backpack, $132.99 + free shippingThere is only one view of this bag online, so I can't fully endorse it. But luggage.com also offers free returns! I like how clean this back looks and that it was designed to hold laptops.

Readers, those are my back to school picks. What would you recommend?

Now Wearing...

90's gear! I went to a 90s themed party with my friends the day before yesterday. I forgot about this party in packing my clothes for the week; luckily I brought my gray acid wash jeans. I pulled the sweater vest and backpack from the back of my parents' closets, threw on some old sneakers, and boom, rollin' with the homies!

Funny thing is, ever since the party I've been rockin' the backpack. At first, it was out of laziness; I just didn't want to take the time to transfer things back into my usual purse. But now, I realize that I'm kind of in love (and maybe even slightly obsessed) with the backpack.

Neon drapey cardigan - Xhileration, Target
Black jumper dress - The Limited
Black oxford heels - Jeffrey Campbell
Magenta flower headband - handcrafted by my sister

Style & Safety Prep for Bike to Work Week

Missoni for Target bicycle

If you’ve been thinking about getting bicycle or commuting by bike, next week might be a great time to start because it’ll be Chicago Bike to Work Week, June 9-15, 2012.   And you can sign your office up for the Bike Commuter Challenge at bikecommuterchallenge.org.

I’ve been biking work for the past couple weeks, and I absolutely love it.  I’m fairly active but far from athletic, so if I can do it, just about anyone can.  Biking at a very comfortable pace it takes me about 20-25 minutes to bike 4.5 miles.

I’m no expert but through biking in New York and Chicago, I’ve learned a few things about bicycle safety and style:

A Little Piece of Home...

I've been home for the past week and when I compare NYC to my home in Toronto, NYC has my hometown beat in almost every category from food, to shopping, to nightlife and entertainment.

But thankfully, Toronto has a couple things that outshine NYC....

#1 Chinese food:

Chinese food in NY is just plain bad. It's wrong on so many levels....which is something I just don't understand. Food in general is AMAZING in NY whether it's Venezuelan food from Arepa Arepa, southern food from Pies'N'Thighs, Japanese soba from Soba-ya, and the list goes on and on. Everything is stellar except for Chinese food which is sub-par.

A few weeks ago, I ordered delivery from a dumpling place that had great reviews on GrubHub and I seriously couldn't eat it and chucked it. I can eat whatever is in front of me usually and hate wasting food but I literally couldn't eat what I ordered. Nasty.

Here's what Chinese food is supposed to look/taste like....

#2 Soia & Kyo & Mackage

Excluding sample sales in NY, Mackage/Soia & Kyo merch in Canada retails below what it does in NY since it's a Canadian based company (go Canada!). I've been scouring NY for the new KYO line (click here to see our previous post on the line) but haven't been able to find it anywhere.

Toronto Eaton's Centre

Low and behold, the very first mall I hit up in Toronto carried the line which was awesome to see in person. Quality wise - Kyo's wool are ok. They're not the best but they're not terrible. Their puffers on the other hand are amazingly warm. I was getting really hot just trying it on in the store so I picked one up for myself for this winter.

The puffy jackets have some great detailing including multiple zippered pockets (all lined with fleece for added warmth), removable hood and a removable elastic piece that lets you wear your jacket like a backpack when you're indoors. When carrying the jacket like a backpack it looks a bit awkward but it frees up both of your arms up which is super practical.

Now Wearing...

Black biker jacket - Walter
Gray striped turtleneck - Gap
Red ankle length jeans - Rich & Skinny
Brown backpack - secondhand
Red & brown headphones - WeSC, Bloomingdale's edition
Black plastic oxfords - Alexandre Herchcovitch for Melissa

One of my least favorite color combos ever is red and black. It can be done right, but in general it just reminds me of Hot Topic so much that I can't stand it. So whenever I wear these jeans, I'm usually pair it with a gray or tan top.

I don't like to be too matchy-matchy, but I wore my black flats to balance out the black jacket on top. And the headphones with the backpack and jeans just happened on it's on own.

A few people have been asking me if I would recommend WeSC headphones, and the answer is no. I feel like I've written this before? I can't complain because I got them for free and they're fine for what they are, but they're definitely not my favorite pair. I need to go to bed soon, so I can't recommend a specific pair at the moment, but I would recommend checking out headphones from Shure, Monster and Nixon to start.

Now Wearing...

The romper was one of my first vintage finds ever. It’s a 1980s piece I found almost four years ago, and it’s still one of my favorites. The backpack is from the 90s courtesy of my mom’s closet. I found it when I visited home, used it for a 90’s party and couldn’t part with it, so I brought it back to New York.

I'm entering Topshop's bicycle contest. I don’t have a bike yet, so I had to borrow my friend Steven’s bike for this photo. I felt like such a fake. I would love to win one from Topshop, so I could have a bike to call my own!

In putting together this outfit, I went for fun and practical. I hope the judges at Topshop and Chictopia are into it.

Teal blue romper - vintage
Navy woven belt - secondhand
Brown backpack - secondhand, mom's closet
Brown woven flats - Jeffrey Campbell
White fingerless gloves - Urban Outfitters
Yellow bangle - Forever 21
Black bonjour necklace - Alex & Chloe

Deal of the Day: Baggu Backpack

I love backpacks. They provide both utility and playfulness, which makes them great for everyday use and especially perfect for summer.

This canvas backpack is from Brooklyn label Baggu, best known for their reusable shopping bags. These backpacks are made from 100% recycled cotton, machine washable and affordable. They come in a variety of colors too!

You can find them in store at Greenpoint boutique Dalaga for $38 or buy directly from baggubag.com for $28 + $4 shipping.

Now Wearing...

Denim dress - H&M
Wide brown leather belt - Ann Taylor Loft
Brown woven flats - Jeffrey Campbell
Backpack - secondhand, mom's closet
Other accessories - Forever 21

You can't see it in this picture, but the dress is a bit short in real life. It could be worn as is, but I usually prefer to wear it with leggings. In the summer, leggings are just too hot, so I'll layer tank dresses under. Yesterday I couldn't find the layering dresses I wanted, so I actually pulled a tube top down and wore it as a skirt underneath. it worked out nicely - gave me a couple extra inches and stayed snugly in place.

Now Wearing...

Crimson red tunic - Rachel Pally
Long black cardigan - Jeanne Pierre
Beaded necklace - from India
Acid wash jeans - Criminal Damage UK
Black wingtip oxfords - Alexandre Herchcovitch x Melissa
Brown backpack - from back of mom's closet

Gilt: The American Fundraiser

Gilt is holding a fundraiser which ends on Sept 5th, 2010. The company partnered with Focus Features and is offering the costumes/props used in the filming of The American staring George Clooney.

100% of proceeds will go towards the American Red Cross International Response Fund. That's right...100% of the proceeds! The items are by no means cheap but its for an amazing cause and many of the pieces are one of kind and were worn by Clooney during filming. Here's a look at some of the pieces that are available online:

Suit:

Charcoal suit by Zegna - available in size 50 for $5,000

Shirt:

Light blue Bottega Del Sarto shirt available in size 15.75 ($500)

Pants:

Charcoal cotton chino pants by Zegna available in size 50 ($750)

Sweater:

Button up wool cardigan bu Peter Regan - item sold for $500

Shoes:

Brown suede Salvatore Ferragamo mocassins available in size 10 ($1,000)

Duffle:

Silverman Travel Bag that doubles as a backpack ($1,500)

Briefcase:

A hidden compartment briefcase - very cool. If i had $10,000 to burn this would be mine.

Overall a great way to combine philanthropy with fashion. They should do this with every movie! The American opens in theaters today - Sept 1/2010.

Now Wearing...

Long black cardigan - Jeanne Pierre
Neon drapey cardigan - Xhileration, Target
Striped tee - Yoko Devereaux, men's XL
Gray circle scarf - Kenneth Cole
Dark teal leggings - H&M
Black wingtip oxfords - Alexandre Herchcovitch x Melissa

And yes, I'm still in love with the backpack.

Now Wearing...

Mixed print silk blouse - vintage
Double zip pencil skirt - Loeffler Randall
White canvas oxford flats - Marais USA
Bangles - from Beijing
Brown backpack - mom's closet

Every fall I think back-to-school, which leads to thoughts of backpacks, oxfords and plaid. I've always had an obsession with oxfords, and just last week I treated myself to these flats from Marais USA. They were just too damn cute when I tried them on, but I was hesitant because they're white canvas. I live in New York (dirty), and I'm so clumsy (fact). With some peer pressure from friends and others in the store, I decided to celebrate payday with a purchase. Luckily, Marais is affordable; $85 for a nice pair of shoes. Interesting to note, Urban Outfitters is selling the same flats, but for $98.

By the way, how do you feel about backpacks on grown ups? I'm ok with it. In fact, I think they can be pretty great.

H&M x Brick Lane Bikes

H&M, the retailer that has almost single handedly spawned an entire market for designer collaborations has recently partnered up again but has collaborated in a very different sort of partnership. H&M is launching a men's capsule collection in collaboration with Brick Lane Bikes, one of the world's leading custom-bike specialists to create a men's capsule collection that is full of the spirit of urban cycling today. Each piece from the collection is carefully crafted with the technical elements that the rider will need for better cycling with a very smart style that can be worn off the bike as well. The 11 piece capsule collection includes water repellent but breathable rider jackets and articulated blazers to vintage-inspired bike jerseys and caps made entirely from more sustainable materials as part of H&M's Conscious work, the collection will be available in around 180 stores worldwide on March 7, 2013.

"H&M for Brick Lane Bikes brings together the fashion, function and heritage of cycling. Each piece has been designed so it can be all day, inspired by the vibrant colors and expertise which make Brick Lane Bikes so unique. It's great that they've tested every single piece around the streets of London, so we know the collection really works,"
says Petter Klusell, Menswear designer at H&M.

"This collection captures the energy and excitement of Brick Lane Bikes, along with our respect for the traditions of cycling. I love how the technical details become part of the look of each piece, while the colors bring cycling's heritage to life. I can't wait to see guys wearing these clothes as they ride the streets of the world," says Feya Buchwald, founder of Brick Lane Bikes.

Thoughtful details like water repellent and breathable material, with ventilation holes under the sleeves and taped seams make sure that the garments are functional. The rider jacket is cut longer at the back, with a back pocket and straps inside the jacket so it can be worn as a backpack. Materials used throughout the collection include organic cotton, recycled polyester and recycled wool, making the collection as sustainable as it is functional, and fashionable.

Now Wearing...

Brown shrug sweater - Ann Taylor Loft
Dark blue silk tank - Kenneth Cole
Black jersey harem pants - secondhand Forever 21 via clothing swap
Brown pleather backpack - secondhand, my mom was throwing it out
Chunky bead necklace - Ann Taylor loft
Rings - Forever 21 & no name
Nude leather wooden platform heels - Luxury Rebel sample

Over the weekend, my friend Karen organized a small clothing swap with a few friends. It was awesome! We cleaned out our closets and each took home a few "new" old gems. I took home a handful of pieces including these harem pants - thanks, Claudia!

Harem pants can be pretty great. They're so comfy and perfect for lazy Sundays, but they can be dangerous because they tend to make me look a little short and frumpy. To elongate my legs and add a little structure, I strapped on these nude heels and called it a day.