Lately, it’s become a habit of the fashion world to mine a certain decade for trend and style inspiration. No doubt (pun intended) you’ve seen all kinds of fashions from the ‘90s reemerge in recent years, from crop tops and high-waisted jeans, to combat boots and chokers. One of our favourite revivals is the new take on the humble backpack.
While it had been relegated to sportswear for several years in the early 2000s and 2010s, the backpack has been making a comeback of epic proportions in the past couple of seasons – and we don’t want this trend to fade anytime soon.
While you can still find kids and adults both sporting more classic canvas backpacks by the likes of Herschel and Jansport, we’re particular fans of elevated backpacks that come in all kinds of sturdy, fashionable materials – particularly suede and leather. These pieces can go all kinds of places and follow you from work to play, as they offer both utility and style.
Below, see our reasons why we’re loving the return of fashionable, trendy backpacks as go-to handbags for women.
They’re Great for Music Festival Season
To survive any outdoor event in the summer, you can’t just show up with your wallet and phone. These days, music festivals and other large outdoor gatherings with lots of people are generally planned to take place outside of major city centres, and require some planning in terms of what you take with you.
Since music festivals are also a place to express your sense of style through your clothing choices, we’re loving the fact that backpacks double as both fashion items and incredibly useful places to store all of the things you need for days and nights spent outside with friends at a great event. For daytime, your backpack holds all of the outdoor festival essentials, including your hat, sunscreen and water bottle, and it helps you transition to night time by storing a sweater and bug spray for later. Not to mention it’s a great place to keep all of the merch you’ve picked up from your favourite bands that day.
They Can Double as Your Work Bag
No longer relegated to the schoolyard and sports field, backpacks now come in all kinds of options for the work wardrobes of busy women. It’s especially helpful to be hands-free when you’re taking on the daily city commute. Between making your way through crowds, up and down sets of stairs, and hopping on the subway, it can feel liberating to have all of your items stowed away safely on your back, instead of feeling like you have a burden on your arms – mornings are crazy enough without the awkward, large tote bag holding you back.
Leather is a great material to look for when deciding on a backpack that you can take to work. Not only is it incredibly durable, but it will take on a different look and add character as you use it. As a more high-end material, leather also evokes a sense of professionalism in a work bag. For career women on the go, backpacks are especially helpful for getting you through the many stages of the day. From making sure there’s a spot for your laptop and other work materials and giving you space to have your water bottle on hand throughout the day, to carrying your lunch, workout gear, and maybe some makeup and a change of clothes for an evening out after 5 pm, a backpack can get you wherever you need to be while still remaining on trend.
They Make Great Baby Bags
Backpacks are super helpful for parents on the go, especially since they can be worn at the same time as you’re carrying your baby if you’ve chosen to take them out in a sling or in a front-strap carrier. Carrying your items in a backpack also allows you to downgrade the size of stroller you take out that day and shifts some of the weight to a place that’s easier to carry (on your back as opposed to pushing it all plus your baby in a stroller).
As all parents know, infants and toddlers need an astounding number of items when leaving the house, from diapers and bottles to snacks and changes of clothes (and more!) Making sure there’s also space for your wallet, phone and keys can be a challenge, but there’s a ton of stylish backpacks on the market that make it possible to find room to take everything you need with you. As noted above (using your backpack as your work bag), in this scenario it’s also great to be hands-free while you’re out with your little one, in case they need a cuddle, tissue or play companion – you can respond right away if you’re encumbered by a bag on your arm.
Get In Touch
With all the activities noted above, your backpack and other bags are sure to get a lot of wear and become essential items in your wardrobe. To keep your accessories looking and working their best, Love Your Purse offers a wide range of services to help maintain your backpacks, handbags, clutches and more. We offer both leather and suede restoration and cleaning, as well as a wide range of repair services, including zipper and buckle replacement. We are very experienced with designer handbags as well. Reach out to our team if you own some accessories that need a little love – we’d be happy to help!
