Best Back to School Bags

With September and school right around the corner, it’s time to start thinking practical. For the new

semester, you’ll need a bag that will suit your textbook-toting needs but still align with your style. JanSports are for kids, a trendy tote bag is best for a young, styled look that will fit all the syllabi, binders and books you’ll be sure to carry. Here are two bags to fit two unique styles.

The Earth Girl: Feed Bag

FEED began in 2006 as model Lauren Bush’s project to incorporate her desire for good fashion with activism. Part of the purchase price for each bag is donated to a human rights project that helps feed the hungry throughout the world.

The basic line bags are simple — usually made of canvas, cotton, burlap or nylon — sturdy, and in the traditional tote style. The colors are perfect for the fall palette: khaki, grey, black and brown with accents of army green. Their simplicity makes them easy to pair with most outfits. 

FEED has also put out country-specific lines that match the ethnic styles of India and Africa. Same simplicity in design, but with richer patterns on cloth traditionally made in-country.

The Fashionista: Big Buddha Bag

The Big Buddha bags offer a variety of trendy designs that are practical-perfect with plenty of pockets, zippers and adjustable straps. The bags are hobo style and most display detailed designs of handiwork like the Leora Studded Bag. The soft, brown vegan leather is textured with a chevron border around the edges of the bag, accented by faded gold studs.

Their autumn collection stays true to the muted palette of the changing of the seasons — orange, brown and black — but some accessories offer a bright surprise. The Union Snake Tote Bag appears to be made from a snake covered in gold leaf.   

Hipanema Bracelet

You know August will be jam packed with pool parties, beach vacations and lots of fun in the sun as  Hipanema bracelet is this summer’s beach attire wonder accessory.

everyone tries to squeeze out the last bits of summer. Looking for the perfect trinket to keep the heat up? The

The bracelets were designed by two Parisian girls who met while vacationing in Brazil. Inspired by the bright colors of Carnival, they create a bracelet that combined the vibrance and exuberance of Rio with the elegance and grace of Parisian couture.

The bracelets are a thick gathering of the traditional woven beach bracelets found on the shores of many Latin countries, but the Hipanema bracelet doesn’t unravel with wear. Instead of a loose knot holding the band on your wrist, the bracelets are held together by a simple magnetic metal clasp in gold or silver.

“I love wearing lots of Brazilian bracelets but having to tie and untie them one by one till they break became a bore,” said creator Delphine.

“After a couple of years it becomes difficult to keep wearing the old discolored ties and it's not easy to match them with one’s wardrobe,” replied creator Jenny.

And that’s how the Hipanema bracelets were born.

The bracelets are ethnic-inspired and their combination or brightly colored threads, shells , beads and stones compliments the theme of summer. Their fun and flirty look reminds of vacation. The cuffs can be worn double or triple and look excellent as an accessory to a brightly colored swimsuit or, for a pop, against black.

Hipanema now sells swimsuits and bags with tribal inspiration from the American Indians the Navajo and the Malian tribe the Bamako among others. 

Kate Middleton and Princess Diana share more than the same polka-dot dress

Walking out the hospital doors with the new prince in town, Kate Middleton’s usual perfectly styled look was complimented by a tribute. The blue polka dot dress is reminiscent of the dress donned by Princess Diana as she gave the waiting world the first peak of her royal prince, the baby’s father, Prince William. The Duchess of Cambridge is a complete case of class, so putting such heartwarming sentiment into the dress of this all-important moment is no surprise.  

The dress was a custom made Jenny Packham, an obviously deliberate choice for the royal mommy who usually wears off-the-rack. The dress was fun and flirty, cut slightly above the knee with a crew neck and cap sleeves. The Duke was wearing a light blue dress shirt that delicately complimented Kate, in whose arms was Prince George Alexander Louis, wrapped in a cotton muslin swaddle from aden+anais.  

Princess Diana’s 1982 dress was polka-dot as well, but green rather than Kate’s robin’s egg blue. Polka-dots are the perfect new-mommy print; hey’re youthful and fun but the repetitive simplicity of the design is also soothing and can be worn by the most mature of ladies. Polka-dots are unintimidating and that’s another component of Kate’s style philosophy: She’s one of the people. Prince Di was lauded for the same reason.

Besides their philosophy in dress, the late Princess and the Duchess are rumored to share a mothering philosophy.  Kate will want some normalcy in the new baby’s life, just as Diana strived to give her sons. Things like taking them to the movies and the shop without all the pomp and pretense of a royal affair will be a part of their life.