It has been a long time since my large maroon Jansport with the leather trimmings finally died, but it was a long time after I graduated from college so it did its job. Even though I would look ridiculous with a backpack, I can't help checking them out at this time of year! Luckily I have a child who lets me dress him (for now). So, now I get to shop through him.
Of course, his cute little Skip Hop backpack (a zebra) is still in great shape. So this is sort of double-window shopping. On the days he needs to drag more stuff on the bus, we have tons of random backpacks that we have gathered over the years.
That said, I do love window shopping.
How did I miss Hersel? I'm loving it now that I've seen their gorgeous catalog, so sumptuous. They have great backpacks. I noticed a stylish middle-schooler (which in my day was an oxymoron) with a great backpack from Hersel getting on the school bus today. I think that the products are nice while also being much more reasonable than the unaccountably expensive but glorious Filson.
My favorite elementary student's backpack this year is by FjallRaven, which has been making great backpacks for school children in Sweden since the 1970s. It is cute, light, nicely colored, and simple enough to grow with the kids.
If you really love patterns, Pottery Barn has some fun ones that you can have monogrammed, which is great if all of the kids have the same backpack but otherwise seems a little OCD, of which I obviously totally approve. Bring on the initials! We are a super-hero-free family (for now, by some miracle of luck, not some weird parental ban), but I must admit that the Superman backpack with cape is pretty adorable.
For adult women who can get away with it (not me) or for girls, Vera Bradley has some very nice backpacks, both plain and floral. For a recent trip I was able to score a nice Vera Bradley that had great colors like my travel capsule wardrobe and it weighed about an once--so great not to have a pile of leather depending from my shoulder.
Naturally the best of all is a Randoseru, the lovely leather backpacks that Japanese children carry. I love these things but I am 100 percent sure I would not be able to convince even a well-mannered five year old to carry such an object.
Of course, his cute little Skip Hop backpack (a zebra) is still in great shape. So this is sort of double-window shopping. On the days he needs to drag more stuff on the bus, we have tons of random backpacks that we have gathered over the years.
That said, I do love window shopping.
How did I miss Hersel? I'm loving it now that I've seen their gorgeous catalog, so sumptuous. They have great backpacks. I noticed a stylish middle-schooler (which in my day was an oxymoron) with a great backpack from Hersel getting on the school bus today. I think that the products are nice while also being much more reasonable than the unaccountably expensive but glorious Filson.
My favorite elementary student's backpack this year is by FjallRaven, which has been making great backpacks for school children in Sweden since the 1970s. It is cute, light, nicely colored, and simple enough to grow with the kids.
If you really love patterns, Pottery Barn has some fun ones that you can have monogrammed, which is great if all of the kids have the same backpack but otherwise seems a little OCD, of which I obviously totally approve. Bring on the initials! We are a super-hero-free family (for now, by some miracle of luck, not some weird parental ban), but I must admit that the Superman backpack with cape is pretty adorable.
For adult women who can get away with it (not me) or for girls, Vera Bradley has some very nice backpacks, both plain and floral. For a recent trip I was able to score a nice Vera Bradley that had great colors like my travel capsule wardrobe and it weighed about an once--so great not to have a pile of leather depending from my shoulder.
Naturally the best of all is a Randoseru, the lovely leather backpacks that Japanese children carry. I love these things but I am 100 percent sure I would not be able to convince even a well-mannered five year old to carry such an object.
