I spent all day Tuesday on a school trip with my son and 30 other 5-6 years olds at Bristol Zoo, it was fun (until one of the children I was chaperoning got stuck in a penguin play egg.. don't ask!).
It only occurred to me on the morning that I had no practical bags to carry the array of stuff that I needed to take. It was a full day out so it was lunch, snacks, flask of the all important coffee (although with reflection I wish it had been a hip-flask), plus your practical mum stuff like plasters, tissues, wet wipes for sticky fingers and then your vitals like purse, phone and lippy and a bit of touch up.
Like a fierce game of Tetris I managed to slot most of it in to place in my
Madewell satchel, but of course there was more stuff to be added once we were there, like hats, scarves, gloves, teddy Lions, general Zoo debris (maps, pens and other junk), so ended up with my sons Avengers back pack balanced across one shoulder whilst carrying my own cross body bag whilst also trying to hold on to three 3 children.
That's when it occurred to me. I needed a grown up back pack.
Now its always been something I've shunned as they are just not me. But practicality sometimes grinds you down to the point where you think, why oh why am i making my life harder than it has to be (that moment was whilst holding said bags plus hoisting up a strapping 6 year old to see over the crowds to see those flippin' (ha) penguins). Talk about pack horse. I was more like a mule than a horse however.
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| Excuse my super cheesy grin |
I am now well and truly converted and singing for the practical side, so a backpack searching I a-went.
Now the wonderful thing about fashion of late is that practical doesn't have to mean fugly any more. With the whole '
Ath-leisure' style still going strong, it means 'practical' no longer has you looking like you've completely forgotten your own sense of style.
Case in point: Sneakers (trainers) have now well and truly become a firm fixture in my wardrobe, and can be seen on street style pics at every turn.
Its finally cool to be comfy. Amen to that.
Backpacks are apart of this style that all the cool kids are wearing, and enabling mothers like me to be well prepared and also well-presented.
Am i getting you on side?
For me I'm looking for clean lines, minimal and in a black or navy. But i think a great tan backpack could work well come summer.
Here's my round up of the Best of the Best Backpacks
Now I'm starting with my favourites and the ones that made me think that maybe, just maybe backpacks are cool.
I think I could actually get to enjoying carrying a backpack if they looked like this. Gorgeous clean lines, modern and plenty of room for my array of crap. The navy is a neoprene which looks rather modern and love the front zip pocket for your essentials.
The black triangular pebbled leather is just divine, slightly more expensive, but wow, what an investment piece right? That bag would still be going strong well in to my kids adult years.
Moving on to a bit of utility style
The
Classic Fjallraven (left) which has been popular with students and travellers for years thanks to its sturdy construction and lightweight weave fabric. Also comes in an array of colours, so if the neutrals aren't your thing, check out their range of blues and yellows. The framed backpack has been a favourite since the '60's so definitely worth a look, and great price point too.
Next we have
a Herschel bag in black, which is basically your standard classic backpack, my teen stepdaughter loves these, but given that they are a great size and major points for comfort factor, i can see that they would work for adult and teen. Plus: sharesies!
Next up, a little more pretty
Kate Spade manages to walk the line so gracefully between cute-kitsch and fancy-chic so extremely well. They've taken a fairly masculine piece and made it all girly and feminine.
Kate Spade Backpacks are perfect for those ladies who want to pack their things in to something pretty. I mean how cute is that bow?! Love the classic black and white stripes though, how timeless.
Back to a little designer utility style with some
Marc by Marc Jacobs masculine masterpieces, these are divine, the slate grey or the quilted both look like they would go with just about everything and would definitely make being a pack horse a whole lot nicer. Slightly more on the pricey side, but boy will they look good on your back.
Finishing on some bargains from
Forever 21, faux leather but a great place to start if you fancy dabbling with the backpack trend. Similar shape to the Rebecca Minkoff (almost like a cross between the two featured above).
So there we have it ladies, the practical bag post.
I definitely want to invest in one before summer, as I know its perfect for days out and when we go on our annual trip to Cornwall. But decisions decisions.
What are your thoughts on Backpacks? Are you in or out on the backpack front?
