Over the past three years, Bishop Blanchet has seen an explosive growth in the use of purses as school bags in place of the traditional backpack. These purses come in a variety of colors from different brands, but they are typically 9.5’’ by 11’’; big enough to hold a laptop and some notebooks. Most commonly, we see many students wearing a bag from Kate Spade, Longchamp, and Coach in colors black, navy blue, and baby pink. However, this new wave has yet to take the entirety of the students at Blanchet, and many who were previously purse supporters have made the switch back to the backpack this school year. I spoke to both purse wearers and backpack users to answer the hot, new question – are purses still in style or are they on their way out?
I first spoke to Blanchet senior Morgan Mooney. “The only reason I don’t love using a purse is because it’s a one shoulder; it creates a lot of tension on one side,” says Mooney. She is currently using a North Face backpack, another common bag worn around school. For functionality, she discredits the purse, but for looks, she’s all for them. “I’m not a purse hater – I think they are pretty cute and they definitely weigh a lot lighter.”
Next I spoke to a current purse wearer, Gia Gustav. “I love my purse, it’s perfect because it’s cute but also convenient,” says Gustav, giving it both functionality and style points. “I never miss wearing a backpack. My purse just matches my outfits and makes me feel professional, more productive.”
What I have observed from this debate is the conflict between style and function. The backpack holds more, but the purse encourages you to pack less, which in turn weighs less. The purse is smaller, but it’s more uncomfortable considering the one shoulder strap.
Whether you wear a purse or you rock a backpack, you cannot deny the ubiquitous presence of shoulder bags. So, are purses in or out? As Morgan Mooney describes, “Bags aren’t even a trend anymore; they’re just the norm now.” Currently, it’s not a matter of in or out, it’s a matter of preference. They are no longer a trend, but merely a standard bag option for Blanchet students.
So, wear a purse or wear a backpack. Honestly, as long as it matches your outfit.
