We don't recall having to carry a backpack in elementary school, but we do remember having to walk uphill to school, both ways, in the snow. Seems like we would recall a backpack.

Times have changed, and much to the delight of chiropractors everywhere, kids are carrying twice their body weight to school and back, albeit on snow-free, relatively flat surfaces.

This is what they're using:

Some of us think High School Musical is stoo-pid. We hate that hypocrite Hannah Montana, and you know where you can stick Camp Rock. We would rather eat glass than use stationery with any of their dumb mugs emblazoned across the front.

But hey, we still love back-to-school supplies! Thank the dark heavens for Emily Strange, Skelanimals and our new favorite: Angry Little Girls.

Thanks to these five misanthropic girls, a certain kind of kid can eat her lunch in peace, glowering in a corner while filling notebook after notebook with detailed thoughts about pushy math teachers, overbearing jocks and one very special boy in art class.

Even if you're theoretically too old for back to school shopping, it's worth looking. Something feels so right about using an Angry Little Girls (solar powered!) calculator to pay bills and balance our checkbook.

There are few things sadder than a scratched up tech toy. Students of today often have to tote around more than just a couple of books and a Jansport, and it's important to keep those extra goodies protected from the bumps and scratches of hectic school life. Just a wee bit of prevention can go a long way. Really, once you get that hardcore scar across the front of your super-shiny Macbook after accidentally skimming it with your bracelet-decorated wrist, you'll be sorry you didn't read this!

We love all of the amazing independent designers out there. In order to find out more about just what makes all of these creative types tick, we present to you an ongoing segment called Indie Designer Interviews.

Today's interview is with Kate Garey, a designer, artist and crafter based in the UK. If you like quirky and cute, silly and girly, you'll love Kate's handmade purses, wallets and cosmetics cases.

A bright accessory is a great way to liven up an outfit. A bright accessory inspired by a different culture not only livens up your outfit -- it can help define it, which is just what this Flat Beaded Clutch by Moyna does.

We found you something. It's Maryink.

Maryink is an Etsy shop that sells t-shirts, jewelry, tote bags, candle holders, and more. They are run out of Nashville and have a terrific Scandinavian fairy tale meets punk rock vibe, resulting in designs that are retro-cool and playful. According to Mary, yes, the Mary, one of their items was even inspired by Sesame Street! (Blue Russian Nesting Dolls Tote, click here.)

Here's a link to a great video about the designers, Mary and Chris.

Michael Buckner is a fashion and celebrity photographer who travels around the world taking pictures on the red carpet. He gives us a behind-the-scenes look at the hottest entertainment industry events.


Robertson Blvd is a notorious hot spot for paparazzi and celebrities. The street is constantly filled with double parked SUVs, along with snappers jumping out and bombarding Paris Hilton on her way to Kitson. Quite frankly, it's dangerous, but I won't go political on you today! I was hired to shoot inside the launch of Muxo Handbags designed by new mom Camila Alves (which, you guessed it, was on Roberston).

Matthew McConaughey arrived with his newborn Levi Alves, breaking through a crowd of paparazzi and running into Kitson Studio.

The leather travel bags, handbags and clutches co-designed by Camila's mother and handmade by the mother-daughter team represent a lifetime of design experience with one-of-a-kind leather finishes and superb construction -- the result of which is this highly anticipated collection where elegance meets tribal exotic in the most beautiful way.

The handbags are a bohemian chic, with leather fringe, mixing blacks and browns that add an elegance to the laid back, distressed materials.

McConaughey sipped margaritas and snacked on catering by Beverly Hills hot spot Crustaceans

Check out the handbag line in my gallery below along with the few guests who showed up.

Gallery: Matthew McConaughey Muxo Handbags

When you're making an attempt to look somewhat professional, do you pay attention to details? For example, you could be wearing the most responsible looking ensemble, but if your purse is a cacophony of pinks and greens and metallics, it will throw off the entire effect. Don't ask how we know this.

If you're lucky, you're already familiar with Melanie Auld as a jewelry designer -- she has celebrity fans, such as Hayden Panettiere, but her jewelry is reasonably priced enough to be accessible to the masses as well. She strives to create pieces that women can feel special wearing whether they're all dressed up or just trying to liven up a casual ensemble, and now, she has expanded her talents to a line of handbags.

You know Felix Ray from Sex in the City, and you've seen Jennifer Lopez and Paris Hilton carrying bags with the signature bow.

Usually you have to go to Kitson, Henri Bendel, or Saks and pay $200 or more for a Felix Ray bag. But you can pick up this pretty Small Metal Mesh Bow clutch for a mere $36 at the "Rolls Royce of all garage sales."

It gets better! The proceeds go to benefit the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund. So you're not shopping, you're donating!

This wonderous sale, dubbed Super Saturday 11 will be held in Walter Mill, NY on Saturday, July 26th. If you're not local to the area, you're still in luck, because they're partnering with QVC and QVC.com to make this bag, as well as select items from over 200 designers, available to the rest of us.

The other designers include Donna Karan, Carolina Herrera, Michael Kors, and Calvin Klein. At QVC and QVC.com you'll find hot designers like ADAM Adam Lippes, alice+olivia, and Theory.

Got your heart set on that Felix Ray bag? Here's a shopping tip: the item # on QVC is: #S4061. Happy donating!

So last Thursday we found ourselves standing in blistering 80ish degree sunshine on the Santa Monica Pier. We had to wait in the corner between the coeds of USC and UCLA while they shouted "spirit" at each other. It was very peppy and just a bit intimidating.

Why were we there with rivals and cheerleaders? For Pinkapalooza, of course! Duh.

The first annual (or whenever) Pinkapalooza was thrown by the good people at Victoria's Secret Pink to introduce their new Pink Collegiate Collection (still no University of Arizona?!) to the masses. Fall Out Boy performed. It was what we in the biz call "a major event."

Pulp Shop, launched fall '08 out of Seattle's Ballard district, is a gallery space and retail platform for unique, indie and green designers. It's not the traditional store model, but more of a pop-up location, with limited hours, complemented by an online boutique.

Linda Loundermilk and Loomstate are the most well known from the green section, and there's a handful of local designers for women: dresses by A Different Fur, multi strand semi-precious and costume jewelry from Sid Vintage and scarves by Asli Flinta. Then add more, hand made jewelery, hats, sunglasses, bags and various design oddities like Jeff Koons' Puppy Plant Sculpture or Murakami Monopoly.

Once you've finally saved up enough cash to buy your super-fancy expensive handbag, that last thing you want to happen is for it to be stolen by some scrub.

Enter DataDotDna, a laser etching process that can create DNA for practically all of your luxury items through a process that "etches microscopic information onto barely visible discs."

After the micro discs are placed on your objects, they'll forever stay attached. So anyone trying to fool around with your stuff isn't going to get away easily and for long. This kind of technology has been championed by car companies for years. The fashion companies hope they can bring that same level of safety and authenticity to their products.

[via Fashion Week Daily]

As we mentioned previously, Victoria's Secret Pink Collegiate Collection is all sorts of fun and spunk for the college set.

What we didn't mention previously is that you can be a part of the Pink action. This Thursday, July 17th, will be the first annual Pinkapalooza. It will be held on the Santa Monica pier from 5-10 p.m. and the public (that's where you come in) are welcome. Click here to print your pass.

Those in attendance will be able to compete in rivalry games between USC and UCLA, as well as be among the first to shop the new Pink Collegiate Collection. There will also be a free concert by Fall Out Boy.

The party will be hosted by the new (and first official) face of VS Pink Miss Behati Prinsloo. We will be sitting down with Behati for a little Q & A. and we thought it would be fun to take along some of your questions for the lovely young model.

If you have a question about VS Pink, modeling or something else (within reason) that you would like to ask Behati please leave it in the comment section. We'll pick the best (not that there is such a thing as a bad question) and ask Behati on Thursday- you know, when we sit down with her. Yes, we've been bragging about this to everyone.

We know, it's still summer, but before long school will be starting and Victoria's Secret wants you to be ready, hence the Pink Collegiate Collection.

Victoria's Secret describes PINK as "a fully articulated lifestyle collection for young women" and "includes 9 different items, including fleece pants, hoodies, panties, tees, and totes... available in approximately 375 stores, many of which are in close proximity to the universities in the program." Thanks to a partnership with The Collegiate Licensing Company there are 33 schools featured thus far and more (hello, Arizona?) will be added shortly.