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Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

Original poster

Trendy School Bag

94 replies

amainaledi · 26/08/2011 15:51

I have promised DD a new school bag for when she starts secondary school in a couple of weeks. Can anyone recommend a brand that is perceived to be "cooler" than any other brand? She will have to travel some distance, so I am thinking a backpack might be best, but really don't want to saddle her with something that will embarrass her. I'm told that the kind of bag you have is "hugely important" because the school has a strict uniform policy and so bags are the only means of expressing fashion. Obviously, in the end, she is going to make the decision herself, but I'd like to be able to guide her using the wealth of knowledge from all you who have trod this path before...

OP posts:
CarrotsAreNotTheOnlyVegetables · 26/08/2011 16:14

The feedback from DD and other threads on this subject is that backpacks are social death!

Sorry, i know it's annoying but there is no point getting a bag that your DD wil hate as she will not use it.

At DD's school Paul's boutique are the latest big thing but it seems to vary wildly from school so i would suggest your DD talks to girls already at the school for advice on the latest in thing. I would suggest watching at the school gate to see what bags are in evidence but unfortunately you don't have time for that now.

You could get a cheap plain shopper type bag and hang fire for a few weeks until your DD has worked out what she really wants.

ragged · 26/08/2011 16:18

Are backpacks okay IF they are expensive cool brands, like Animal?

ragged · 26/08/2011 16:18

ps: do boys use backpacks or manbags?

shineypenny · 26/08/2011 16:31

Backpacks are out, messenger bags are in for boys and girls - that just means a bag with a shoulder strap, the longer the strap the better as it must dangle below their backside Hmm

Retro sports bags, i.e. the old adidas bags all the boys had when I was at school that were fashionable a long time ago are back in too.

Kath Kidston bags are popular with the girls here.

CarrotsAreNotTheOnlyVegetables · 26/08/2011 16:34

At DDs school it would seem that all backpacks are a no-no even designer labels. She has point blank refused any kind of backpack after talking to older friends already at the school. Really annoying as she plans to cycle some days so Lord knows how she is going to carry a shoulder bag!

Not sure about boys bags, DDs school is all girls and my DS not at secondary yet. I suspect boys are less concerned about fashion and will use pretty much any practical bag. Have seen a lot of local boys with backpacks.

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 26/08/2011 16:34

Messenger bags or Gola/Converse/Dunlop etc seem popular here for girls (dd2 is going into yr 10 and has a Gola one).

stripeybump · 26/08/2011 16:35

Yep, Paul's Boutique, or River Island.

CointreauVersial · 26/08/2011 16:40

Different schools have different fashions. Buy/lend her something cheap for the first couple of weeks til she has sussed out the "must have" style, then buy it.

DS1 is starting secondary with his old backpack, but with the promise that I'll replace it once he starts. His school stipulate that they MUST use backpacks; I know they are super-strict on uniform, but I don't know if that applies to bags too.

We had the same dilemma with school shoes too. Apparently, for boys, velcro fastenings are vv uncool at secondary, so we've gone with lace-ups.

Fimbo · 26/08/2011 16:41

Gola bags all the way here. Dd has just got a new one from Schuh, it is called Gola Art or some such thing and has retro bikes on it. Will try and find a link as Schuh doesn't link well on here.

cat64 · 26/08/2011 16:45

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

uggmum · 26/08/2011 16:45

My dd has a Jack Wills shoulder bag for her sports kit and a bright pink retro adidas messenger bag (from Bank) for non PE days.

Both of these items are apparently 'on trend and not embarrassing'.

Fimbo · 26/08/2011 16:52

\link{http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/GOLA-CLASSIC-REDFORD-TRADS-GREY-WEARABLE-ART-SHOULDBAG-/380363588369\this is my dd's}

Fimbo · 26/08/2011 16:52

Oh and she too has a Jack Wills bag, but the handle is knackered.

ragged · 26/08/2011 17:04

If she has a pannier rack, Carrots, she could get a pannier rack bag with long strap. Would plain black be okay, I wonder, or must it look like a brand item to avoid teasing?

HarrietJones · 26/08/2011 17:10

Back packs are fine here though dd1 picked a bright expensive one then said it's not allowed. Uniform policy doesn't mention colour of bag though

Malcontentinthemiddle · 26/08/2011 17:10

Depends on the school, the kinds of kids she wants to impress, etc. But NOT a backpack, whatever else - and if a backpack, then the straps must be so long that it bounces on the backs of her knees as she walks!

Tigerstripes · 27/08/2011 22:25

Another vote here for waiting until school starts and then buying. Unless she has older friends at the school she can ask? It really does vary. Some people on here have said animal bags are in fashion at their schools whereas at mine animal would be very uncool. Same with cath kidston. Girls at my school use big handbag style from shops like river island or topshop, together with jack wills carrier bags (not actual bags, just the free carriers!)

LeonieDeSaintVire · 27/08/2011 22:36

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

kslatts · 29/08/2011 10:09

My dd is looking for a new bag for secondary school, she had decided on an adidas one but at the induction they were told they are not allowed bags with logos, so now we are looking for a trendy bag without a logo, so far we have been unsuccessful and we have a week until school starts.

MrsRobertDuvall · 29/08/2011 10:16

Paul's Boutique is considered "chavvy" in dd's school.
They have to be the worst bags on earth, even by teenage standards.
Agree with no to backpacks. Most yr 7s start out with them but by half term have something-anything- else.
For boys the retro sports messenger bags are good though £££. Ds got one at XMas and it's still going strong, though ds would love a new one. I suggested he buy it himself Wink

breadandbutterfly · 30/08/2011 19:01

Is there anyone who tells their dcs to get a practical bag and ignore the fashion - or rather, be a trendsetter rather than follower?

My dd has chosen a backpack- firmly recommended if not quite demanded by the school - of her choice. It is not branded but fairly expensive and rather chic. No way am I shelling out for another bag at half-term 'just because everyone else has them'. How are teenage girls ever to learn not to be fashion victims if their own parents encourage them in this endless conformity?

I don't buy branded clothes now or feel the need to wear exactly what every other mum is wearing; I regard grown-ups who insist on wearing the latest over-priced yet strangely unattractive brand as rather sad.

Am I alone in this desire not to instill fear in my dd that she might get the 'wrong' bag? How 'wrong' can a bag be? It's just a bag. Confused

ExitPursuedByATroll · 30/08/2011 19:45

DD has got a Paul Frank messenger bag for starting Y7 tomorrow (eeK!) as she told me EVERYONE had one. Now it seems EVERYONE has got adidas messenger bags, apart from one (uber cool) girl. I am hoping that the 'no logo' does not extend to the stupid gurning monkey.

Aika · 31/08/2011 19:12

I was quite releived to see lots of girls with backpacks at DD's school today as I only learnt a couple of days ago that they might be 'uncool'. Also surprised that DCs might want to have a bag that everyone else is having - I thought the point was to avoid looking like everyone else not creating a new uniform. What am I not getting here?

witch000 · 31/08/2011 20:13

Hollister was the in bag for DD this year, it was a Gola bag last year.
And she had to have a Jack Wills pencil case.

But it's a no no to have a backpack.

Jellykat · 31/08/2011 21:07

kslatts Have a look at www.surfdome.com

Just got DSs bag from them, free delivery and it arrived 2 days later, plus their helpline was great when i rang to get bags dimensions,

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