The majority of Marquette (and all college student for that matter) tote books around in some pretty standard and foolproof options.

But a bag can say just as much about your style as your clothes do, and can be mixed up as frequently as you desire.

On that stylistic note, here are some clever and trendy takes on the traditional school bag to inspire you on this lovely Milwaukee Monday.

The Backpack:

Urban Outfitter’s Kimchi backpack: This trendy canvas backpack has a certain “used to belong to my dad” kind of feel to it, and the colors would perfectly compliment any fall outfit. It could be used for school, a trip to the lake on a nice crisp fall day, or a weekend train ride home. Best part? It’s only $49.

The Book bag:

Asos Borders & Frontiers ‘K’ Shopper Bag: This particular bag is my favorite to carry around. It’s perfect if you don’t need your computer with you for the day, and you can easily stuff as much or as little as you like in them. Almost every store or museum sells them, so they are easily customizable to your style. They’re also very reasonably priced, so you can pick up multiple and mix them up. This particular one from Asos is $20.95. This one makes me laugh. P.S. you can put them in the wash when they get dirty!

The Tote:

H&M: The tote bag seems to be the female bag of choice around campus. It’s perfect for a career fair day or a downtown internship. This particular style is imitation leather in a stylish brown color for the fall. It holds a lot, looks effortless to carry, and looks a lot cuter with heels than a backpack does. This H&M bag is $34.95, Ps. H&M’s new online store means no more lengthy bus trips to Bayshore!

The Briefcase:

A woman who can (and is willing) to carry a briefcase gets 100 points in my book. I absolutely love the way a briefcase can make a woman look slightly tomboyish and at the same time completely ready to take on the world. Most leather briefcases are pretty expensive, so I would suggest hunting through your grandpas closet, or visiting a local vintage thrift store. They can also be found on eBay and other similar online marketplaces. The briefcase featured above is from Fullgive, an Etsy store that features handcrafted leather bags. Wouldn’t it be so neat to get one for Christmas?

Readers, what are your favorite school bags?