It’s that time of year again! Fresh-faced young students are dressed in their best back to school outfits and toting brand new bags and shoes. Teachers are looking a little bit sad. I love this time of year as the air gets a bit colder and everyone has that sense of anticipation that comes after a long and lazy summer.

In honor of this week – which takes so many back to school, we’re going to do a little series over the next couple of days, highlighting the best bags and shoes for kids, teens and even teachers who are heading back to the classroom!

So stay tuned for some new styles, ideas and options for your favorite students and teachers!

Do you have Vegan friends? I sure do. Perhaps you have a stereotypical vegan in your head? Someone dressed in hemp and cotton that looks somewhat bohemian? Sure, that’s one kind of vegan, but as people discover the health benefits, decide to take a stand against the exploitation of animals and animal cruelty and the environmental benefits of veganism, their numbers are growing.

This means that veganism isn’t just for hippies any more folks! In fact, I have a lot of vegan friends who enjoy sleek, sophisticated styling but that are frequently stymied by the options that are out there. They like elegant and up to date clothing and accessories, but they have a heck of a time finding options that stand up to their values and have the look they want.

So I was happy to report to my circle that Planet Shoes is now carrying Jane Marvel bags! Jane Marvel bags are everything you could want – simple, elegant, colorful and vegan to boot! Every bag is made with laminated canvas and a polyester lining. Trim is made from cotton webbing, PU (polyurethane) or PVC (polyvinyl chloride). This material choice is fabulous, not only because it is vegan, but because it’s lightweight, easy to clean and virtually waterproof.

So here are some of the super cute Jane Marvel bag options!

Here is the Jane Marvel Satchel. This brightly striped purse with extra wide bottom for durability and stability is a perfect every day option. It has a convenient external zipper pocket and internal zipper pockets for your most important items.

This bag is super roomy and can carry just about anything you need and you’ll look great doing it! The chocolate brown handles make a fabulous contrast to the colors of the bag and are durable to boot.

The straps are also large enough to carry over the arm at the elbow or snugly up at your shoulder. This is a great bag for anyone from working mom to student on the go! Did we mention its vegan?

The Jane Marvel Overhead makes me happy. I’m a traveler and this bag is a great shape and size for those aggravating and shorter business trips.

It has a roomy front pocket perfect for wallet and cell phone during security and it has a comfortable, padded adjustable shoulder strap that’s detachable for everyday use. The sizable interior could either hold a change of clothes or anything you need for a flight. The styling is also super clean and elegant.

The simple two tone color scheme will work with any outfit and the fact that it’s not made from any animal materials will keep me guilt free as I go from airport to airport! This will certainly fit in the overhead compartment or tidily under the seat in front of you. I’m ready for my next trip, are you?

The Jane Marvel Hobo bag is a great shape and a standout every day bag. With a wide and reinforced bottom in contrasting faux leather, this bag will hold everything you need and more!

The comfortable adjustable shoulder strap is perfect for all day, every day carrying and like all Jane Marvel bags, this one is virtually waterproof, super easy to clean and very lightweight – at least until you fill it!

The Jane Marvel Hobo even comes with a sunglasses case to keep your shades safe and sound. One of the other aspects of this bag that I love is the adorable print that manages to be bright and cheerful but can be neutral any day!

Are you a woman with a flare for fashion but a need for real practicality? All too often, as a mother, professional and just as a woman, I’ll buy a purse because it’s *so* cute and then I get it home and it’s too big, too small or just simply doesn’t serve my needs. Can it hold the wallet? Is the strap too annoying? Does it have enough little pockets to keep me organized so my purse isn’t a pit of despair? Well, I’ve done it all too often, so when I saw that Planet was going to carry Baggallini bags, I let out a whoop and started browsing.

Baggallini bags are designed by two former flight attendants. These women know about travelling and they know about being a woman on the go – and they’ve taken all that first person knowledge and pushed it into their creative bag designs. They also know that no woman wants to carry a bag she can’t love, so every Baggallini bag has all the durability and practicality you want in an adorable and elegant package. They use interesting fabrics and bright colors with subtle but cute embellishments and details.

So let’s see a couple of the options you can find at Planet Shoes from the Baggallini Bag shop!

The Baggallini Baby Hampton!
This is a great little shoulder bag, perfect for everyday use in a lightweight, water resistant fabric. This little bag has three separate compartments to keep your things (mostly) organized and pockets for cell phones and/or your iPod.

I love that this bag also has a mesh bottle pocket since I’m always carrying my little Kleen Kanteen around and the center compartment in this purse has a secure zipper and a removable wallet compartment. C’mon, there’s even a lipstick holder.

The Baggallini Uptown!
This bag is all about function and it’s urban and innovative form really makes it work. Designed to be carried over or across the shoulder, the Uptown is a purse and messenger bag combined. There is a special external cell phone pocket and the external pocket is wide and easy to open and close so you can get quick access to what you need in a hurry.

In a light weight and water resistant fabric, you’ll be comfortable carrying this bag all day long and the zipper enclosure main compartment contains a removable wallet compartment. You also have places for pens and your lipstick, or gloss, so there is no part of this purse that isn’t on the go and ready for an adventure!

The Baggallini Rolling Tote
Of course there would be some great travel bag options from two former flight attendants! This bag is deceptively roomy for being so compact and lightweight. It will actually fit under the seat in front of you in case the people with roller bag fever use up all the over head storage bins.

With two different front pokets, and space for a laptop as well as clothes for a couple of days, this is *the* bag for the quick business trip. Plus, you can actually pack it in there since you won’t have to lug it around.

This would also be an ideal bag for a tradeshow where you don’t want to carry around heavy literature or goodies. All of this functionality and you even get it in a totally adorable bag with an edge of retro styling!

The Baggallini A La Carte
Last but not least, let’s check out the super cute A La Carte, which is a slick, sophisticated shoulder bag that’s perfect for everyday.

If you’ve been looking for a roomy tote that can hold everything from school supplies for the day, to everything you ever needed in a diaper bag, or all the paperwork from the office, the Baggallini A La Carte is the choice for you!

Made with water resistant nylon fabric, this bag has water bottle pockets, a giant center pocket with a zipper enclosure for security. No matter your need, the Baggallini A La Carte is sure to fit the bill!

So there you have it - a smattering of great bags from Baggallini! We’re so excited to have this fashionable and functional brand available to our customers. Enjoy!

Have you heard of WeBe Bags?

They’ve been getting quite a buzz lately, and not just because they’re made from recycled coffee coffee sacks (har har). Featured in stories in USA Today, the New York Post, Family Circle Magazine and SheFinds.com, WeBe bags are gaining ground as an eco-friendly and fashionable option for women (and men) who love a great bag. WeBe Bags are fashion forward, unique and creatively designed bags, totes and purses that are made from recycled feed, flour and coffee sacks.

Now sold in boutiques worldwide, we’re thrilled to be offering them here at Planet Shoes. This is the kind of company we love to highlight because the look is as fabulous as the story behind it!

The WeBe bag concept was born in the Caribbean as founders Tara and Angus Beavers watched Rastafarian ladies stitching sail cloth straps onto tough flour sacks to create durable market bags.

Although the bags were utilitarian in nature, they also had a great, whimsical look to them with the combination of color, texture and functionality. The founders took this innovative combination of form and function a step further, elevating the style, choosing colorful and bold graphic prints and adding linings and interesting shapes.

You’ll find cute purses with bamboo handles, classic totes incorporating fun prints and bold graphics from the original flourm feed and coffee sacks as well as deconstructed back packs and even larger duffel bags. There are so many reasons to love these bags!

1. They are made with recycled materials – and the recycled materials are durable and sturdy. These aren’t made to use for a season and toss away – you’ll be able to love your WeBe bag for years to come and we know you’ll draw attention and get compliments all along the way.
2. They are made with a classic styling that is modern and interesting without being too trendy. This means you’ll be able to use your WeBe bag with a ton of different looks and it will be a timeless accessory.
3. You never know exactly what you’re going to get! You order the shape, but you don’t know which kind of coffee sack, flour bag or feed sack they’ll be using to make bags that week, so the bag you get will be unique, fun and surprising!

So if you’re looking for a different bag this year – a bag that won’t break the bank, comes from an eco-friendlier company and creates high quality, interesting pieces that will last, then you need to take a close look at WeBe Bags!

I’ve got my eye on the Adjustable WeBe Duffle bag for my summer travel. Which one do YOU like?

We love The North Face! Their shoes and bags are made with durability and style in mind, so you can trek into the outback or look stylish but practical hitting the playground with the kids or heading off to school.

One of our favorite stars, Jennifer Garner, has been seen sporting a great The North Face backpack while out and about with her daughters.

The North Face Recon backpack is extremely efficient and streamlined with the ability to carry a lot without taking up a lot of space.

It can hold a laptop up to 17 inches and has a hydration port for long distance hikes and treks. Side pockets will hold water bottles or sippy cups! With a Daisy chain on the front you can easily hook on other gear.

The North Face backpacks are made to stand up to the test of time and this efficient back pack will get you where you need to go. You’ll even be emulating celebrity style while being super practical. What could be better?

Do you like modern architecture? Buildings that have a little edge, a unique look that isn’t in the least bit cookie-cutter? I do, I like a building with a little funk and a little rebel about it - and I get that same feeling when I look at Blowfish shoes. The designers let their imaginations fly and don’t limit their vision to the expected materials, silhouettes or colors.

Take the downtown Seattle Public Library. Funk-y. It looks like a cube that has bits shifted this way and that, odd angles and lots and lots of glass to let in the light. The inside features super bright colors and a ramp that spirals up and up and it looks like no library you ever seen before.

With Blowfish you see the same innovation. Instead of strict lines and perfect edges they create ripples and waves, twists and turns. Bright colors are paired with geometric designs and patterns like plaid which brings energy to these shoes.

Easily paired with jeans they can go from campus to a night out with friends and give you a style all your own along the way. They look finished but not formal, a truly individual design sensibility that you don’t find anywhere else.

Have you seen the Stata building? It is part of MIT’s campus and it combines slouching towers, windows that stick out at odd angles, and combines different materials like textured brick and smooth metal to make this beautiful, chaotic building.

Blowfish harnesses that same youthful, madcap exuberance capitalizing on their position as a young brand they aren’t stuck with the same old same old.

One of their most widely known designs, the Hobbit boots, uses unevenly spaced buttons to create a slouchy look that takes the boring out of their boots and slides them straight into funky.

Blowfish ballet flats are created anew with swirls of twisted material that accent the fluid lines of the shoe while tye-dye fabric literally allows each shoe to be unique. Embellishments such as fringe, embroidery and even a little bling on their summer sandals keep each pair of Blowfish shoes looking fresh.

As a young brand Blowfish has captured the newest trends- and even better, created trend setting patterns and looks that have inspired their loyal customers. Never relying on what has been, the Blowfish designers are always ahead of the curve bringing what will be the hottest new look to the market.

When I say North Face Bags, I bet you envision a serious trekking back pack with very little style but a lot of function. I mean, this is one of the premier Outdoor activity brands so their backpacks really are incredibly spacious, well balanced and feature rich. The North Face has seen the success of companies like Timbuk2 though and they want their piece of the urban market. I mean, how much of a design tweak does it really take to transition something built for extreme nature into something built for extreme commuting?

Well, The North Face was evidently up to the challenge offering several really interesting bag options for the person who needs a bag that can transition from urban jungle to forest and mountain top.

First up – The North Face Hamachi. Is it a tote? Is it a backpack? No, it’s both!

Fashioned from a super durable laminate exterior fabric and a printed cotton canvas lining, this bag can be carried as a standard tote or worn as a backpack depending on which is more convenient.

Chock full of pockets and very cute, this bag is perfect for the commuter or the mom on the go. Functional, fashionable yet neutral and convenient – we love it!

Taking a page from Timbuk2, check out The North Face Base Camp Messenger Bag! Durable and styled with a modern edge, this messenger bag is made from the same material used at high altitudes while trekking but now it’s available for hard core urban commuter.

Offered in three different colors here at PlanetShoes.com, this bag is perfect for men and women because of its neutrality and will last forever. This one comes with an adjustable shoulder strap and several secure compartments for everything you need.

Finally, if you’re looking for an everyday, versatile bag on the smaller side – it’s The North Face Ikura for you! This bag can be used and worn as a messenger bag or as a standard shoulder bag or you can shorten your strap and carry it as a tote. The small size belies how much you can carry because of the shape of the bag and the wide bottom.

They’ve incorporated a side access point as well as a side stash pocket for your cell phone or your energy bar. The interior is also full of pockets for potential organization. This is a great bag for people who need a sturdy bag for every day and want a modern but rugged style. You can easily take this one hiking and then out on the subway!

If you’re in the market for a versatile and sturdy bag, The North Face could be your solution for spring, summer and fall. If you’re an outdoor enthusiast and an avid hiker who also has a day job, invest in The North Face and get the perfect transitional tote, messenger back or (of course) backpack because you know these bags are made to last.

I was speaking today with someone who loves Timbuk2. They love this brand so much they have three of the bags and this was literally her quote:

“I have one in every size. It basically documents my life. I have an extra large messenger bag from grad school when I toted books around with my laptop. I have a large messenger bag from when I started working in New York City and commuting on the train all the time and I have a small one now for day to day purse duties. Essentially, Timbuk2 has a bag for every stage of your life.”

This is typical of Timbuk2 bag fans. Their core market has traditionally been city goers who are always on the move and need a real utility bag to bring laptops, PDS’s, cell phone, accessories and even layers everywhere on their back. In fact, they were originally developed for bicycle messengers so you know they mean business.

They are so well made, subtly stylish, and so well designed for real every day use, that once you own one you become completely addicted. No matter how hard you are on bags, they remain easy to clean, the look good with a lot of wear and abuse and their virtually waterproof which is perfect for the urbanite on the go.

They also work hard on versatility offering multiple strap options for their larger laptop and messenger bags. This is key if you’re lugging around any laptop with a larger screen and you want to avoid major back and neck issues in the long run. These bags are also designed for safety when walking around at night. Not only will you find built in reflectors but there’s even a safety flasher attachment loop.

Here at Planet we’re offering two backpack styles as well – which will hold not only a laptop but whatever else you need to bring along as well. These are perfect for commuters and students who are more interested in stylish function that will last and protect their stuff than in the trend of the day.

The style of Timbuk2 is also smart and modern. They don’t make a bag that you’ll love one year and discard the next. They use simple colors, a bold and modern striped pattern and classic shapes that have just enough edge to never look dated.

My friend actually said that even though she has moved on from her XL and L Timbuk2 bags, she could still go back to them at any time because they’re in such great shape. This is really where Timbuk2 stands out from the competition – these bags can fit any lifestyle and even if you outgrow that old Timbuk2 bag, as your lifestyle evolves again you can just go back to the old bag and it’ll look great and function beautifully.

Check out our selection of Timbuk2 backpacks and messenger and laptop bags and enjoy knowing that you’re investing in a bag that will last as long as you want to use it. Well designed for today’s commuter, student or just for anyone who needs a great bag, Timbuk2 is waiting for you to become addicted to their bags!