While you could lug everything around in your backpack all the time, a more stylish option is having a cute shoulder bag. Why drag a giant bag around when all you need is a notebook and a fountain Diet Coke? (Although I’d definitely stick to the backpack for days your need your laptop, three textbooks, a notebook AND your lunch….) Backpacks are boring, but these cuties are great transitional pieces; you can take whatever you need with you (in style) to class, and not be weighed down when you meet your friends for coffee or an afternoon shopping sesh.  They also add interest in your outfit, even if you’re simply in a shirt and the jeans you picked up off the floor 10 minutes before class.

And, because college girls need options, I’ve also scrounged up several cute options for going out bags… none of which are clutches. Come on, every girl knows you need your hands free to double-fist dance and snap some Facebook-worthy selfies. Shop away, ladies!

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I’m not the only one who loves me an oversized bag. According to Alan in The Hangover, even “Indiana Jones has one.” And why not? Besides holding Skittles and $80,000, huge bags are the perfect way to tote your most needed (and maybe not-so-needed) belongings. But they don’t come without their issues, namely back pain and  the embarrassment that comes with accidentally swinging that thing too close to a wall of breakables.

Big purses have made their statement in the fashion world and their way onto women’s (sore) shoulders worldwide. But as much as we all love ‘em, and boy do I love mine, there seems to be some extra “baggage” that comes with the bottomless wonder.

Pro: The Olsen Twins are right about one thing: big bags slung at your side do make you look slimmer.
Con: Try navigating a packed bar with this thing. You may look thinner, but you won’t feel it as you’re trying to make your way through the throngs of drunks with an extra 6lbs on you. Not to mention a wet shirt when you inevitably knock everyone’s drinks out of their hands.

Pro: You can fit virtually anything in your big purse. There are pockets and mystery caverns to put your most valuable items. My purse is like a transformer; one minute I keep all my books in it and the next minute I have secret mini shots of Smirnoff in a mystery back pocket.
Con: You can’t find anything in that behemoth! Good luck finding your ringing phone; every time you reach for it you pull out hand lotion, a half-eaten sandwich or – score! – that roll of quarters you’ve been searching for. And you know this is a problem, which is why you put that phone in the pocket. But of course you don’t remember that as  you scour the bottom of the bag for the faint sounds of “Tik Tok” playing somewhere in there.

Pro:On a good day, you can find mystery food items that have spent the night in your bag.  Everyone can relate to the story where they find a Jimmy Johns #4 conveniently wrapped in their purse for the next morning. Big purses also come in handy when you don’t want to spend your left leg on a bag of popcorn at the premier of Twilight-Eclipse.
Con: Finding that long lost tuna sandwich…3 weeks later.

Pro: You are always prepared for any problem that may arise. Need a Band-aid? A breath mint? Some hooch? Check, check and (hidden in the lining) check!
Con: Two words: Back pain. Hopefully you can fit some Valium and an ice pack in that thing, because you’re gonna need it after toting around that 20 pounder all day.

Pro: Bigger bags mean more room for the gorgeous. Seriously, small bags are alright, but there’s something classy, chic and just plain amazing about an oversized tote.
Con: Storage. Sure, there’s plenty of room in the bag, but where the hell are you supposed to put that thing? It’s too big to put on your lap at the diner, so you’ve gotta rest it on the dirty floor. Same goes for when you’re driving and your friend takes the seat normally reserved for Big Bertha. And can we just talk about trying to rest that thing on the TP dispenser in the bar bathroom?

Impossible.

OK, so big bags aren’t perfect, but no matter how many times I lose my keys in there, I just can’t quit them. I mean, who cares that your arm falls asleep when the bag looks like this?

In my mind, the second best part of going back to school as a kid was buying new school supplies (second, only to buying new clothes). While you might have swapped your Lisa Frank bright-colored-animal-covered notebooks for a laptop, it doesn’t mean that you can’t still have fun with your school stuff. If you have any distance to walk to class, chances are you have to haul your books. This year, why not buy yourself a new schoo lbag to make this trek more enjoyable?

There’s the perfect bag for everyone (or bags for your every mood). For the sporty gal there’s the ever useful backpack that will be easy to carry even if you’re ten minutes late and need to haul ass. For the fashionista there’s the less practical, but ever fashionable satchel. If you take your laptop to class, there tons of solutions with laptop compartments. No matter what your style, your price range, or your needs for a school bag, there’s something out there for you.

Patent leather stilettos! Cashmere sweaters! Wool pants! With all the clothing and accessories out there, it sure is hard to know what pieces you absolutely have to have in your closet. And with all the fabulous new items and trends each season, the weeding out becomes harder and harder. Luckily, we’ve compiled a list of the five pieces you simply shouldn’t be iwthout!

THE WHITE SHIRT

It’s clean, it’s crisp, it’s absolutely flawless. Not to mention it’s designer Carolina Herrera’s number one staple! (And if it’s good enough for Carolina, it’s totally good enough for us.) The white shirt pulls together any look instantly, whether you’re wearing jeans and sneakers or a pencil skirt and heels. Button it up and you’ll be the most fabulous person in the room! Try one like the Rachel Stretch Cotton Shirt from Ralph Lauren Black Label ($298 at ralphlauren.com) — it’s designed with a hint of stretch, so it hugs your curves just right.

BLACK PUMPS

No, they won’t make you look like an old lady. At least not the ones we’re talking about! Go for ones with height — at least three inches — and a pointy toe, so you’ll look super large and in charge. Now, you don’t have to spend a fortune on these. Everywhere from Payless to Manolo Blahnik sells them. So it’s up to you how much to spend … just make sure you can walk in them, stand in them, look pretty in them all day long! And definitely make sure they peek out ever so sexily from beneath your fave pair of jeans. Our pick — the Lush Patent Pump by KORS Michael Kors ($270 at shopbop.com), which graces the vamp of the foot really elegantly.

A GREAT SATCHEL

What better way to carry your entire life around than in a fabulous bag? The perfect bag will pull together any look and make you look of-the-moment in no time. We believe in carrying a leather satchel — the straps stay on your shoulder while you’re running from class to brunch with your girlfriends, the shape is uber-chic and the offerings are massive! Try one like the Totally Turnlock Mini Quinn from Marc by Marc Jacobs ($398 at eluxury.com), which comes in a go-with-everything gunmetal hue.

THE CASHMERE CARDIGAN

Why? Because it’s just a little more grown-up than your favorite college zip-up hoodie. You can find one in every color under the sun … not to mention it’s cozy, warm and stylish all year long. Our pick this season? The Cashmere Classic Crewneck Cardigan in Heather Plum by J. Crew ($168 at jcrew.com). The of-the-moment purple hue is so royal in feel, and the Italian cashmere is super-soft.

BOOTCUT JEANS

Why? Because this is just the most flattering kind of denim out there. Bootcut jeans look good on every figure, from petite to tall, from thin to curvy. No matter what your body type, there is a pair out there to suit you. And the brand that seems to have this style down pat? It’s totally 7 For All Mankind. We LIVE in our Bootcut in Hawaii jeans ($185 at 7forallmankind.com), which just make our legs look seriously long and lean and our butt look totally amazing!

So whenever a new season comes around, I know I look forward to seeing what the bag trends for that season are gonna be. While there is always a seasonal “it” bag (or 2 or 3) that generally costs more than your monthly rent, you don’t have to break the bank each season to have a trendy bag on your arm. It may be hard to believe, but there are plenty of budget options out there!

As is true with most seasons, this season brings us some new shapes, styles and textures, but there is also a lot of recycling going on. A key with bags is that you don’t need to go matchy matchy, so don’t be afraid to add a pop of color, or if you go with a neutral like grey or brown, you needn’t match all your accessories.

Bags are meant to be a statement piece, so don’t fear going bold and adding some zest to your look with your handbag – be it a clutch, tote, or, this season’s most popular shape, the satchel.

Satchel It To Me

As I said, the most popular shape for this season is the satchel. While totes and hobos are still popular shapes, the satchel has been seen on the arms of celebrities and trend-setters everywhere. The beauty of this shape is that you can incorporate any number of the trends listed below into the satchel, so pick your favorite and go with it.

What A Croc!

This season is all about different materials: reptile skins, lace, patent leather, or, the material du jour for the season, crocodile skin (or for those of us who are environmentally friendly, budget-conscious or both, faux croc). You can find croc in all the different shapes, sizes and colors of the season, from Prada bags down to Target clutches. Croc rocks because it adds a classic and classy touch to any ensemble.

Fringe Benefits

The hottest trend for this season is the bohemian-inspired fringe bag. Again, many designers are going with this trend, but you can find some great fringe bags on a budget at places like Nine West and Forever 21. My personal favorite is this bag from Melie Bianco, which is only $80 and can be found in some of this season’s hottest colors: taupe/grey, brown, burgundy and, of course, black.

Top of the World

A new and popular shape this season is the top-handle bag, which, again, can be found on many of the different shapes, sizes and trends of the season. Yes, all bags have handles on the top, but this trend focuses on a more structurd look and shorter handles. Definitely an updated look on your typical bag.

Treasure Hunt

As we have mentioned a million times before, jewel tones are huge this season, and this trend extends from clothes all the way to bags. Greens, pinks and teals are making an appearance, but the real winners this season are blues and berries. Everyone from Coach to Old Navy is making bags in these luscious colors and they’re a great way to give the neutral colors of fall/winter (black, greys, etc.) a festive pop.

Gift Wrapped Elegance

Giving way to a nostalgic and classic look, clutches with bows are a flirty and feminine touch to an evening look, especially in satin or patent leather. For inexpensive versions of this look, try Target and Payless; they’ve got adorable ones for under $40.

Brown Baggin’ It

As is always the case with fall, brown bags are all the rage; whether a deep chocolate color or a lighter tan, you can’t go wrong with pairing a brown bag with a hot pair of boots and skinny jeans.

Confession: I have a closet at home that is filled with handbags, and handbags only. Not a drawer in my dresser, not the top shelf in my coat closet—an entire closet, filled with bags.Now, when I say that my closet is filled with bags, I’m not referring to those envelope-sized purses flaunting a designer logo that spoiled teenagers sport with hideous velour sweatsuits.

I’m a fan of big, shapeless, and most importantly, cheap totes. Let’s face it—a typical college student’s wallet is a lot chummier with the letters H&M than with D&G. With my budget, splurging means hitting up smartbargains.com for a discounted leather hobo from Liz Claiborne.

But the New York Post’s roundup of fall’s hottest bags is having my peek at my savings account to see what, if anything, I can afford. Sure, their absurd idea of a “mid-range” bag ($500-$1000) bemuses me, but if loving them is wrong, then I don’t want to be right.

My favorites:

Isabella Fiore “Let Go My Deco” Satchel

What’s hotter with a chic all-black outfit than red pumps? A red patent bag! This shiny satchel is eye-catching and functional, with side pockets for easy access to your cell phone and iPod. Pick it up at Saks Fifth Avenue for $625.

Botkier “Sasha” Duffle

Don’t let the name deceive you—this slouchy duffle, a favorite of Angelina Jolie’s, is not meant for the gym. The gorgeous chocolate color will look great on my arm when I’m begging for change on the street corner after wiping out my bank account to pay for it. For a mere $695 and a quick trip to Bloomingdale’s, this beauty can be yours.

Gustto “Cala” Bag

This charcoal leather bag is sure to get plenty of head turns with it’s unique shape, gold details, and braided straps. Katherine Heigl has been toting this around, so buyer beware: this cute bag is in danger of being snatched up by every Grey’s Anatomy fanatic. Get yours for $695 at Saks Fifth Avenue.

Bing Bang by Anna Sheffield “Shelly” Messenger Bag

Though it seems to me that describing this bag as a messenger bag is a bit of a stretch, I am psyched to finally see a bag with a long strap. Better yet, it’s a combination of a gold chain and adjustable leather strap, so you can wear it anyway you like it. This black suede purse with brown leather trim looks chic and luxurious—and for $745, it better! Jessica Alba has already been sporting this, and you can find it at Barney’s New York.