When Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen released a $39, 000 alligator backpack through their The Row label a few seasons ago, we all scoffed. Yet it seems the celebrity sisters were on to something. Their luxury handbag sold out, and now it seems other high end labels are ...

Kavu's created a backpack for girls on a budget with the Samish. Its name is quite appropriate, because this backpack appears to be the same as many others on the market. Its shape and design are very familiar, but there are a few key aspects that make ...

Jack Georges dresses up the traditional backpack with a sophisticated splash of leather.

The leather trim makes this a much more sophisticated backpack than the ones we all used to lug to school. There's only a hint of the luxury skin, but a little ...

Diesel takes me back to my old scouting days with this Underpatches Nickname Backpack.

This knapsack looks set for braving the great outdoors with a few friends. It's made of military style khaki nylon and covered with the kind of cloth badges we used to earn ...

Adidas takes the path well traveled with this Moseley Backpack.

This isn't a knapsack that breaks rules. We've seen it all before, from its domed top to its dual padded straps. Even the blue plaid print has been done to death. But just because something's classic doesn't mean ...

The Rizzler is outrageously loud and ridiculously over-embellished. In fact, it might just be plain ridiculous. Yet for some reason I've fallen for the questionable charms of this Jeffrey Campbell backpack.

I'm beginning to wonder about my tastes too, but hear me out. Jeffrey Campbell has ...

Roxy offers a backpack for students and girls on the go with the So Long.

I appreciate the choice Roxy provides here. There's this pink design for the girly girls, more conservative black and sandstone alternatives and even a wild paisley print. With that many alternatives ...

With the American version of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo hitting cinemas later this year, plenty of fashionistas will be looking to replicate Lisbeth Salander's edgy punk-goth style. Swedish retailer H&M will make their job much easier ...

If The Row's $39, 000 alligator backpack can sell out, then perhaps this style of bags isn't strictly for students after all. Sonia Rykiel's clearly counting on it with the release of her Ligne Penelope.

This certainly isn't in The Row's league, but ...

Samsonite takes colorblocking back to the 1990s with this retro inspired Lax Throwback backpack.

It's refreshing to see an accessory that is unashamedly a fashion throwback. All too often designers looks to reinterpret the styles that came before in new modern ways, but this backpack is ...

When I heard that Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen would sell a $39, 000 alligator backpack as part of their new The Row accessories line, I scoffed. I doubted that anyone would spend such a significant amount of money on a backpack. But it seems that my doubt ...

Moonsus takes a departure from its usual colored leather office accessories to create this business-like Marsus Metro backpack.

Rather than leather, this backpack is made from ballistic nylon. It's not a luxurious material, but it's lightweight and built to last. This makes it perfect for an ...

If you thought Baggu only created reusable shopper bags, think again. With this Daypack the label shows us it also knows a thing or two about backpacks.

This backpack has a fairly traditional design, but its nautical sailor stripes give it a bit of personality. I love the way those ...

Schoolbags for Kids is an exciting new backpack brand that gives back to the globe's neediest students.

For every backpack purchased the innovative company donates another schoolbag, stocked full of stationery and other supplies, to a child in need. The company's founders Kalon Gutierrez and Luis Garcia ...

FAB|Starpoint is preparing to launch a brand new range of youthful backpacks and satchels, just in time for the new school year. The latest endeavor for the company behind the cutesy Hello Kitty brand and sophisticated Carlos Falchi is Mojo, a range aimed squarely ...

I'm not quite sure when it happened, but it seems these days I'm spending more time admiring Juicy Couture accessories than loathing them. I'm sure it was somewhere around the time that the label discovered there was more materials in this world than velour. Either ...

I haven't really been interested in backpacks since I left high school, but the wild optical dot print on this Yak Pack variety has made me pause.

The trippy print with its patterned pink, white, and gray spots is enough to liven up this ...

When you think Proenza Schouler you probably think of the PS1. The label varies the fabrics and colors, but essentially its reputation has been built on the satchel. So it's refreshing to see the brand stepping out of its box with this beach bag.

This is ...

Retro styling meets modern technology with this Audio Couture backpack from Loop NYC Design.

This backpack is styled like an 80s boombox, with its hot pink trimmed speakers and cassette deck. But what isn't immediately apparent is that this bag can really play! The ...

New York designer Shabd Simon-Alexander has teamed up with eco-friendly shopping bag brand Baggu for a collection of green accessories. The bags are made from durable recycled cotton duck canvas and colored with Simon-Alexander's signature soft tie-dyed patterns.

Bag lovers can choose between the ...

New York based designer DBD originally started Sprayground to create backpacks for street artists needing to transport their spray cans. But the label has come a long way since creating those blank backpacks. These days the company makes bold printed packs which are like wearable works ...

Whether you're planning on conquering the great outdoors or the urban jungle you can carry everything you need with this Voyager Backpack from LeSportsac.

LeSportsac has always reliably produced practical accessories, and I'm thrilled to see this one is no exception. It is lousy with pockets, both inside ...

Alexander Wang is on a roll. He's recently released all his spring bags, and they are so casually cool that they're going to have all the hipsters in NYC saving their hard-earned pennies. This Marti backpack is one of the best of the lot.

The pale gray leather on ...

See by Chloe has always been one of the more interesting diffusion lines, but this season has been a little inconsistent. Its bags have walked a fine line between cool and kitschy. Fortunately, this Tomo backpack seems like it's a return to the label's reliably hip aesthetic.

The ...

I haven't carried a backpack since I left high school, but if Karan Singh Gandhi's new Androcell backpack ever gets mass produced I may have to reconsider my stance.

The Singapore-born designer believes our clothing and accessories should offer more than aesthetic appeal. His Androcell backpack is a biopolymer accessory ...

Marni is making my favorite accessories this season. It's taking a minimalist approach to the trends and the effect is spot on. This convertible bag is a great downtown everyday option.

The black leather material is supple and has a smooth grain and a nice sheen. The silver hardware gives ...

I've never thought of travel brand Baggallini as fashion innovators, so I was surprised when I spotted this quirky Hugger backpack.

Its unusual triangle shape makes it quite unique. But Baggallini has never been one to put form over function. The backpack is ergonomically designed to sit comfortably ...

I've always thought most designs from Baby Phat were a little bit childish, so it makes sense that Kimora Lee Simmons label is now making a play for the schoolyard set. This Crayon Print backpack would look great on the back of any ...

I haven't carried a backpack since I graduated from high school, but this stylish Teba bag has me reevaluating my stance.

This clever convertible tote is really like three bags in one. Multiple anchor points and straps allow you to carry it as a ...

Cheap and cheerful is the name of the game with this brilliantly affordable tote from Devon & Jones.

OK, so there is nothing fancy about this. It is a simple drawstring rucksack, perfect for carrying bits and pieces, and probably most ideally suited to toting sports kits and other such ...

Lily Waters delivers a feminine take on the casual backpack with this Becky bag.

With its softly colored material and quilted finish, this is a great addition to the Lily Waters line. Its look is just what we'd expect from the brand, but its style is a bit ...

The SEIL Bag is one of those nifty concepts that I'd love to see mass marketed. Korean inventors Lee Myung Su, Park Geun Wan, and Park Okhee of the Leemyungsu Designlab came up with the backpack which looks to make cycling much safer.

LED displays embedded into the accessory illuminate with messages for the ...

We're all enjoying soaking up the summer sun, but as the days of August tick by we're getting ever closer to the dreaded return to school. Donna Sharp can help you ease your way back into the routine with this cute backpack.

As with so many accessories from Donna Sharp, this is ...

Diesel combines superior quality with practical design in this Into the Fold Upright Backpack.

Initially it seems like the kind of bag you'd sling on your back for a long hike or camping vacation, but the material causes me to reconsider. The lush leather, with its gorgeous weathered texture, deserves to be ...

Alexander Wang is known for bridging the gap between the avant garde and the mainstream. His designs usually combine the best of both worlds. This soft, edgy black velvet backpack is a good example of his design aesthetic, although I'm not positive it's his most successful endeavor.

The crushed black velvet instantly recalls ...

I have news for everyone. Backpacks aren't just for students and athletic gear isn't just for athletes. Backpacks are an amazingly convenient solution to a lot of urbanite's problems. They let you carry most of your life around without being weighed down on one side. And Stella McCartney's designs for Adidas have ...

Adidas tells us this Zakhary bag isn't a backpack, it's a sackpack. Whatever you call it, this accessory is one cool and casual customer.

Its name comes from the simple, sack style which is without form but not without charm. In a matte color it may have looked drab, but the retro ...

Latico reminds us that backpacks aren't simply for school kids with this chic Apollo from its Heritage Collection.

The biggest secret is the use of luxury vachetta leather, a much more sophisticated alternative to the canvas and nylon we typically see in this style. The design is also clean and chic; the ...

Handbags aren't all about style. Sometimes they are all about being functional.

If you are the sort of person who lives life on the run, then practicality is bound to be near the top of your list of requirements. If you are outdoorsy too then this is the case even more, and that ...

We're all enjoying the summer sunshine, but sadly school will be in session before you know it. A cute backpack like this Hip bag from Miquelrius could make the transition back to class a little easier.

Miquelrius' favorite artistic collaborator Jordi Labanda puts his unmistakable stamp on this backpack, although this design ...

If you're tired of drab khaki and navy outdoor accessories, check out the spicy styles in Rachel Comey's new hiking collection.

Rachel Comey has put her inimitable stamp on classic styles including the backpack, knapsack, and clutch. I can't imagine how useful a clutch would be on a hiking expedition, but it ...

Ellington gives the traditional backpack a modern makeover with the Laurel.

The revamp is purely aesthetic, with sleek, clean lines giving the Laurel an almost futuristic appearance. I love the look, but think it's a shame Ellington haven't offered us more cutting edge colors. This conservative tan shade is frankly drab, and ...

Echo takes the backpack out of the schoolyard and into the disco with the glitzy Tamworth bag.

OK, it may look a little out of place on the dance floor, but the metallic crinkle fabric is definitely eye-catching! Honestly, this slouchy fabric is too loud for me no matter what the shade. ...

I'm convinced that Marc Jacobs has officially lost his marbles. How else do you explain this monstrosity which made its debut during Louis Vuitton's spring 2010 show?

Known as the New Age Traveler Backpack, it takes over designing to the extreme. I can't imagine any hippie type carrying this monstrosity with ...

This LeSportsac Basic Backpack might live up to its name because of its simple book bag design. It has all the typical components of the style, but there are some signature details that make this backpack a step above others.

If you prefer understated colors, you're probably better off opting for a classic Jansport backpack, which ...

The SAK's Eco Harmony line of bags has tons of options from cross-body bags to hobos and shoppers. This environmentally-friendly collection is made from bamboo yarn that has been crocheted and dyed with non-toxic pigments.

The newest addition to the bunch is this Eco Harmony Backpack. Continuing in the "green" fashion of ...

Baggallini has made its name by putting functionality first. Their purses may never attract celebrity fans or longing gazes, but they're some of the most practical around.

The design is simple, without buckles or bows to add any aesthetic appeal. The only real individuality comes from the color you choose, and there ...

Roxy heads out of the surf and into the school yard with this Fiddle Li Dee backpack. The bag features the colorful and contemporary prints we expect from the label in an entirely practical package.

The vibrant plaid pattern is printed on 100% polyester, a hard wearing fabric that will stack up ...

School might be letting out for summer break soon, but the need for a backpack doesn't disappear with homework. Even if, as an adult, you don't need it for books or sleepover gear, this type of bag still has plenty of convenient uses as a travel or hiking bag and more.

Not everyone will appreciate the quirky print on ...

I wouldn't call a backpack a necessary accessory unless you're a student or you find yourself hitting the trails often. However, when an event calls for such a practical means of toting your stuff, a backpack can be seriously handy.

The LeSportsac Morgan backpack in black and white, with just the tiniest ...