As school starts back up, many students are considering ditching their backpacks in favor of something more personal and mature.
Enter the "it" bag — a bag that is simple, eye-catching and widely appealing.
Some students have deemed the 'it' bags of the year as the Balenciaga Le City Bag, the Goyard Tote Bag and the Longchamp Tote Bag. The look of something slouchy, thrifted, chic yet basic is the current trend for a school bag.
The "it" bag criteria includes the convenience of fitting all school necessities and daily essentials inside. Videos online such as "What's in my bag?" have allowed audiences to see how much space there is inside these so-called "it" bags.
When Jisselle Blanco, a junior studying global management as well as a college and lifestyle content creator, chose an "it" bag for school, the bag's professionalism and comfort were major factors in her decision. However, many decisions for students are influenced by what they see on social media.
The Balenciaga Le City Bag got mass recognition from platforms like TikTok. "If you see it, you know what it is," said Raina Simat, a junior studying business communications and fashion.
Chloe McGill, a freshman studying community health, said she was influenced to purchase a Longchamp Tote Bag due to its presence on Pinterest. McGill was not aware of the mass popularity of the bag before walking onto campus, and now she sees it everywhere.
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Some students want to be a part of the trend and have the bag that many have and recognize, but there are others who want to have a one-of-a-kind bag not commonly seen on campus.
For Mahwan Muna, a freshman studying global management, the Longchamp Tote Bag was associated with being a travel bag and held the status of the "old money" aesthetic. Both she and her mother used a Longchamp Tote Bag as a school bag due to its popularity in Europe before the bag became a trend on social media.
While social media gives exposure to a lot of different bags, the spotlight can change the way these bags are perceived, both for better and for worse.
"Now it's not really the old money style that everyone wants because they all have the same bag," Muna said.
These colorful totes and leather handbags that traditionally offer a certain prestige have become commonly duplicated, inspiring the need for a different bag.
When Muna was in New York City this past summer, she attended a pop-up event of the brand Alex Mill and had never seen its bags on campus.
"I (needed) something like that, something different," Muna said.
Muna posted a video to TikTok showing her unique school bag, one that didn't bear Longchamp or Goyard branding. Muna's bag was a customizable tote, one that was completely curated to her personality.
READ MORE: Threads of identity: ASU students use style to showcase culture
Muna explains what she most liked about the bags from Alex Mill is that each bag is unique to its buyer. The wash of each bag is different, so the exact color of the bag differs for each wearer.
Even with the Longchamp tote, it is common for people to personalize their own. From scarves to keychains and Jellycats, adding accessories offers a way for the bag to be customized to the person's individual style.
Finding personal style is a process. Blanco explains that personal style initially is based on other people due to the unknown of what the individual wants. Though, as time passes, the individual finds their own personal style.
Starting off by having one of these bags that many have, but adding accessories and items to it helps to change an "it" bag to "your" bag.
Edited by Sam Troester, Alan Deutschendorf III and Sophia Keeling.
Reach the reporter at csfishe4@asu.edu.
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