By Bag Snob Tina on August 16, 2012 12:00 pm Tina Craig

Dear Bag Snob,
I’m in college and desperately looking for a bag to carry my books. I’m big on it looking stylish but practical too. Help please!?
-Em

Em,
Ah, function and fashion: an eternal dilemma, especially when it comes to busy school days, when you’re lugging what feels like a semester’s worth of books (more material than you’re likely ever to take to work!), along with gadgets, makeup, a sweater…well, you know as well as I do. But luckily, there are plenty of bags with as much appeal as room. You just don’t want to end up with one that’s too fragile (durability is key when you’re toting heavy textbooks and a laptop) or leads to a lack of organization. When you’re life is cluttered, you want to make sure your bag isn’t – or at least, doesn’t feel cluttered no matter how much you pack in.

A bag with a big body and a slew of organizational pockets is ideal. 3.1 Phillip Lim, with his Pashli satchel in on-trend aubergine (on Shopbop for $895) and  Marc by Marc Jacobs do a solid job of blending a fresh, youthful look with real practicality. The Scofty hobo (on Shopbop for $548) packs three interior pockets into a luxuriously large optional shoulder style, while his Werdie messenger (on Amazon for $389.99, from $468) offers a comfy messenger strap. If sleek and streamlined is more your thing, opt for the simplicity of Loeffler Randall’s Locker tote (on Shopbop for $548); it comes with a cosmetic pouch to keep the small stuff separate. With whipstitching and fang details, Olivia Harris’s Iggy large satchel (at Olivia Harris for $495) will bring intriguing edge to your school day. Good luck this semester!