On-trend school bag for Y7 DD

[Teets]

I know, I know - this gets asked every year - sorry! My daughter has ASD and starts secondary in September. I at least want to make sure that in terms of fashion choices she can blend in a bit...
Any pointers? I know Hype was massive a couple of years ago, but no idea about now. TIA

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I think it really varies by area!

Hype is an absolute no here now.

DTs are going into y7 and have asked for Vans backpacks, thankfully the kids around here has moved away from the ridiculous tote bags they were carrying around for a few years.

Can you walk past the school at chucking out time and see what seems popular?

Was going to suggest the same, look around to see what people are using. Also, wait until July/ August before buying when the shops will be full of school bags

We are in the same position so following. I was thinking Vans or Eastpak are always a safe bet and quite sensible.DD has a transition day so hoping the older kids are there and I can be nosy.

Also, shoes? When DS was at secondary it was Kickers all the way, not sure if that is still the case. DD hates them so we wont be going down that road. I am thinking DM shoes but will probably go with DM a likes as the real ones so expensive in adult sizes and she is growing at an alarming rate, also hard to break in (especially with sensory issues).

Fjallraven for mine … told them won’t be buying another till falls apart. But that’s for dd. Ds was happy with adidas etc

I pick my ds up once a week and watch them all parade past. Most girls seem to have a black tote bag slung over one shoulder, it’s the boys who have backpacks.

Head bags were the only thing to be seen with when I was at school. I dug my old one out from the attic (!) so ds has an original vintage Head bag. I did it cos I was utterly skint, ds seems happy. I've asked if the bag is 'ok' and apparently it's great 'cos it holds more stuff than his friend's bags' so don't think he's getting any vintage cool from it but as practical chap he's happy.
Of no help to you I realise, but it amused me I got away with it, so I'm sharing.

My DD is yr 7 in an all girls school, we are currently on a large black shoulder work/hand bag type thing from Amazon.

The cool/mean girls use tote bags (not sure what their male equivalents use!).

the rest of them use fairly ordinary backpacks - Vans, Nike, Eastpak etc all fine. DD has a black ripcurl backpack.

shoes - black Nike airforce or black vans! Not ‘school shoes’ at all in my book but they get away with it.

Big handbags here, def not a rucksack.
This kind of thing.

I definitely think you need to look at the school. We have quite a few high schools around here so I regularly see children from at least 5 different schools and each one has a different "style". I've been paying attention for DS who is going into Year 7 next year (his school seems to be sports-brand backpacks for boys and similar for girls. The local girls school is definitely all about the Totes....)

Also, I'd be inclined to get something less expensive to start so that after 1 term when she comes home and tells you she HAS TO HAVE [insert ridiculous bag/grand] you don't mind buying it and will use the old one for something else!

I bought my dd a Vans rucksack with a laptop compartment and amazingly it has lasted the year despite the amount and weight of stuff she has to cart to school each day. I would buy the same again. It is just right.

I had one of those. Wish I'd kept it! 😂

So glad other people are asking this question, I’ve been wondering the same! I must pay attention on transition day - bags and shoes 😆

Shame tote bags are in for girls, so much worse for the back than a backpack! I’d be insisting on a backpack tbh but I am Mean Mum.

DD is in year 7. She's not one of the cool kids so this was my worry last year. I we stood outside the school last summer watching to see what all the other kids had. Popular choices seem to be sports brands (mainly Nike and a few Adidas), Eastpak, Hot Tuna, Fjallraven, Dakine, Vans, Superdry etc.
A few yr 7s have Hype and - surprisingly - Smiggle but these are very popular with primary kids so I wouldn't go there for year 7.
Whatever you get, check how big it needs to be. Our school doesn't have lockers so they have to lug all that day's books, PE Kit, lunch etc. Poor DD (small for her age) looked like a tortoise heading to school on her first day

Vans bags here

Wow, thanks so much! Great idea to do a drive-by and check out what they're wearing. Sports brands sound like they might work for DD.
Oh yes, shoes will also be an issue. Is velcro a total no-no or can you get away with Kickers? Such a minefield. Thanks all - some great info here. Much obliged.

Confession - had no idea what a tote bag was. Thanks for pic - I hear you re the mean girls!

Dd and her friends have chunky leather loafers. A few have lace up brogues.

This. But my DD had to put pocket money towards hers as they are £££

My DD is very sniffy about the girls with 'handbags' as she calls them...

As a PP said, it was all about the Head bag in my day! 🤣

I don't think I've ever seen any children wearing a rucksack the way it's meant to be, usually just slung over one shoulder.

At the school I work in

Corduroy fabric totes are in
Backpacks from surf shops like animal are perennial here because of where in the country it is

Vans bags are also popular

Vans or Hype bags for boys and girls worn on both shoulders regardless of how cool they are. Never seen a child with a handbag style. Shoes are the M&S trainer style black lace ups for boys and girls years 7-11