Walking down University Ave. this week, one trend is clear: for many students, shoulder bags have replaced backpacks for everyday wear.
Backpacks are often considered the ideal bag for students due to their practicality and comfort. However, many Queen’s students now prefer shoulder bags over backpacks, demonstrating that broader fashion trends are quickly reproduced on campus.
The popularity of the shoulder bag in 2025 is partly influenced by marketing. Many shoulder bags—like the Dior Book Tote—display brand logos, making the shoulder bag a “status symbol.” At Queen’s, a school that—for some—has been defined by a style identity that favours exclusive pieces, the recent switch to shoulder bags across campus makes sense.
The recent popularity of the Longchamp Le Pliage bag is one trend that has thrived on campus. As sales for the Le Pliage bag have increased in the past year, so has its presence at Queen’s. One student, Sabrina Puglisi, ArtSci’27, recently bought a Le Pliage bag. “Everyone [at Queen’s] has a Longchamp bag, so I also needed one,” she said in an interview with The Journal.
The popularity of the Le Pliage bag on campus demonstrates the power of virality as a driving force for consumerism. This was a phenomenon similarly displayed through the popularity of leopard print and fur coats in 2024. Although leaping to participate in viral trends may raise sustainability concerns, it also speaks to the power of peer influence in upholding fashion trends at Queen’s.
For other students, the decision to use a shoulder bag is all about style. Isabella Leschiutta, ArtSci’26, shared in an interview with The Journal that while she wore a backpack “for a couple of days” in her first year, switching to a shoulder bag “really elevated [her] style.” Leschiutta, who wears a vintage Coach bag, now prefers to “prioritize fashion over comfort,” and expresses that her bag “makes [her] feel more mature.”
Recent social media trends, like the chic and “cool girl” trends, prioritize style over practicality. These trends encourage consumers to always look put-together, even if it comes at a slight cost of comfort. This has been exemplified by the resurgence of wearing high heels as an everyday shoe, for example. At Queen’s, some students may have chosen to play the role of the “cool girl” by wearing shoulder bags to show off their personal style.
Trends come and go, and while backpacks may once again be preferred on campus in the future, the shoulder bag is definitely having its moment at Queen’s.
Tags
back to school, Fashion, Style, trends
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