Are designer totes really the norm for university bags now

[Fourpaw]

I have just entered the unexpected world of pain that is helping my daughter to buy a bag for uni. It needs to hold laptop, water bottle etc. I had no idea that backpacks are totally out and that girls seem to be carrying very expensive designer totes? Is this true? Help!

Give her a budget for a normal bag. If she wants something more expensive, she'll need to earn the difference.

I don’t think anyone is denying that they are a thing for fourteen year old school children.

It always amuses me on mumsnet that women can wear what they want until they choose a tote bag over a rucksack 😲

OP TK max

Dd3 is going to University this weekend (Scotland) and she is taking the messenger bag she used at 6th form and a rucksack that her grandad had going spare. If she wants a designer bag then I trust she will purchase one but doesn't seem high on her wish list atm.

Just let her get on with it. Mine took the backpack she had in 6th form till it fell to bits then bought another bog standard one. She sorts her own clothes out until I visit then my credit card gets taken round the shops

Dd is very fashion conscious and uses a Lulu Lemon tote. Which I wouldn’t say is designer.

I don’t know what a Longchamp bag looks like (but will google), but if someone of any age can afford and wants one does it really matter. I don’t think there is any need to look down on a teenager wanting a bag for whatever reason.

My daughter carries both a backpack & tote bag. Not designer at the moment but she’s asked for one for her 25th birthday. But she started uni at a slightly older age and worked full time for three years. She wants something that can transition from uni to work and also for days out.

My DS just took his school backpack. This is common for boys at uni. My DD has bought a black tote bag, but it isn’t designer. The longchamp bags are common at schools (both private and state) and at unis.

In fact it seems to be quite an issue. DS was in a group chat a couple of years ago before he went to uni (it was the kind of chat which the uni has some hand in setting up before you go) and a girl asked on it what kind of bags everyone was taking. Several girls then replied longchamp. Boys didn’t reply!

Try looking at MiaTui. Plenty of bags (and backpacks) that will help keep her organised.

And your point? I never had a fucking clue what one was until the other week to be honest with you, so perhaps someone out there with a year 9 or 10 will read my comment. My DD bought hers off vinted with some left over Xmas money.

My point is that that fourteen year old girls who are at school do like those longchamp bags but that doesn’t mean adults going to university have to have a designer tote because ‘backpacks are totally out’, School kids do want what everyone else has. University students don’t do this.

Your dd sounds very savvy.

14 year old girls often like to follow the crowd to fit in. I'd hope by uni age they had stopped giving a fuck.

One of my friends who has a daughter round that age has a Radley tote but that’s because the outlet shop was of course closing and selling them for silly £ so she got one

I think my DD has nicked off with one of my £10-15 Waitrose Lulu Guiness bags to lug all her uni stuff in.
I remember offering to get her a big leather AllSaints tote bag as a gift after she borrowed mine on a weekend away, but she (quite rightly) rejected it as ridiculously expensive for something she’d probably destroy.

Honestly though, I dont think they really care too much by Uni age, although perhaps it’s different somewhere like Durham or Exeter.

I had a longchamp le pliage (bought with my own money) for uni 25 years ago so strange to see students with them again now. Around here it mostly seems to be school or sixth formers with them and not the uni students.

I'm not sure this is new.... I was at uni 15 years ago and I'd not have been caught dead with a backpack personally (some did). It was the era of mulberry so the rich girls had those and the rest of us had high street knock offs! Just set her a budget and let her get what she wants, vinted would be a good option potentially. University is different from school though, she won't need to fit in it have what other people have, people just do what they want - there's no mean girls culture like high school can be. Tell her to get something she actually likes!

I never had anything other than a backpack at uni. Remember having to carry a lot and needing to account for rain.
I know it’s fashion but tote bags and canvas bags sound very impractical either for avoiding major back issues in the future or very wet notes!

I’m a lecturer and see all sorts. Some of the more sporty girls carry rucksacks, but it’s mainly either leather (or faux leather) or canvas tote bags. Trader Joe’s definitely, but also totes from places like the local independent book store. I can think of one girl I teach who carries a Lomgchamp bag.

I cart my laptop around in a canvas tote (currently a Christopher Kane “more joy” one) but do also use a crossbody bag.

I’m 52 and actually quite like Longchamp bags. They are certainly practical. the leather ones are very nice but the nylon foldable ones look great.

@AbsintheMakesTheHeartGrowFonder tbf I'm in my 30's and I still very much value my mum's insight and help with stuff, particularly fashion as she has way more of an eye/sense of style than me.

This! I’m glad you said it @AncientBallerina

Why can’t people just answer the question nicely or scroll on by?! @Fourpaw- I’ve no idea on bags but I hope you both have a good time choosing one, and your DD settles well at Uni.

They use them from late primary round here so definitely no surprise for uni. DC get theirs from Hacoo though for a tenner. If she really doesn’t want a dupe m&m direct or Frasers can have some good deals without breaking the bank

The longchamp bags I see everyone using have very small discreet branding. Form a distance it’s pretty impossible to tell if it’s one of them or the primark/Matalan copy