Advertisement

It's in the Bag: A Tote for Every Task

Be organized -- and look good, too.

by Edutopia Staff

Print Forward Share Comments(0) Comment RSS
It's in the Bag
Credit: Mark Wagoner

Get ready to lose the canvas tote you got at the last teachers conference. After all, if a large purple Teletubby who speaks in baby talk understands the importance of accessorizing -- he carries a very smart red bag -- there's no reason a role model such as yourself should ignore this important detail. Read on to find a carryall that meets your load-bearing, fiscal, and style requirements. Shoulder your burden with a little pride.

The Goods

The Venezia Tote
$89; J. Jill
www.jjill.com
The rust red of this bag will liven up your day without screaming "RED!" And the big, roomy ultrasuede compartment will hold whatever you throw into it -- while a cell phone pocket and key clip keep essentials handy.

"She Rules" Jennifer City Case
$110; Sumdex
www.ebags.com
Tote your laptop without tossing your style. This bag is light and safe for you and your technology. It features padding for the computer, a safety light for you.

Dolce Leather Tote
$188; J. Jill
www.jjill.com
Think investment. This beautiful unlined leather tote is a work of art. The wide opening makes finding your stuff a cinch, but it's the fine Italian leather you'll love; it will soften with time, improving as you do.

The Metro
$63; Ogio
www.bagking.com
All your gear can cohabit comfortably -- laptop in a protective sleeve, MP3 player in a fleece-lined pocket. And you, too, will be comfortable wearing this fully padded backpack with a tuck-away sternum strap. Ride your bike or walk to work, but don't break your back in the process.

Mesa Tote
$120; Ellington
www.ebags.com
If you can survive on a handheld computer and a few personal items, the Mesa will easily take you from classroom to dinner date without ever saying "schoolmarm."

Canvas Mailbag
$76; Triple Five Soul
www.ebags.com
Roomy, hip, comfortable, affordable. Everything is right about this bag, down to the corduroy detailing, decorative stitching, and adjustable strap. Wear it cross-body or over one shoulder.

Commute
$100; Timbuk2
www.timbuk2.com
This messenger-style bag features a padded laptop compartment surrounded by near-indestructible ballistic nylon fabric and a rubberized bottom -- fling it anywhere you like. Scads of internal pockets keep you organized, and external water-bottle pockets keep you hydrated. Timbuk2 bags are available in a seemingly endless array of colors and patterns; you can even customize your own when you order off the Web.

This article was also published in the November 2004 issue of Edutopia magazine.


Post new comment

Share your thoughts with others. Please increase the credibility of your post by including your name, school, grade level, and city, and by demonstrating respect for others' opinions. Comments will not appear immediately; all comments are moderated and will be posted in order of submission.

The content of this field is kept private and will not be shown publicly.
  • Allowed HTML tags: <a> <em> <strong> <cite> <code> <ul> <ol> <li> <dl> <dt> <dd>
  • Lines and paragraphs break automatically.

More information about formatting options