Style or a $300 co-pay at the chiropractor? Often, when deciding whether to carry a purse or a backpack, I feel as if I am deciding between my fashion sense and my physical pain. Purses kill my shoulders, mess with my alignment and don’t fit all that I need for class, yet I am constantly pressured to use one. As I see all of the beautiful handbags on the arms of girls strolling around campus, I feel envious. I almost want to say, “Blink twice if your arm is killing you because we all know that bag is way too heavy.” Yet, all of these girls just strut by, and I am left walking to class with my backpack. Now, it is Lululemon, so I like to tell myself I am carrying a glamorous backpack, but it is still no Marc Jacobs purse.
I am sorry, but I need two straps. I need stability. Oftentimes, I am so tired from walking back and forth from West Campus to Tolentine that I don’t even do the cute “one-strap” backpack look. Days here are long, and this campus has hills. I need a bag that can support all of my items without weighing me down. At the end of the day, there is no perfect method to get all of our items from one side of campus to another, we are always tired at the end of the day no matter what. However, I find that purses aren’t practical, at least for first-year students.
I have multiple books I must carry along with my laptop. Plus, there is no place for a water bottle in a purse. Now, if I decide to be fashionable and carry a bag, I need to worry about carrying my water bottle everywhere without dropping and denting it. Sometimes I wonder if I am the only one who has such disdain for the purse trend on Villanova’s campus because it seems most girls use them. However, now I feel forever bonded to my fellow girls on campus who use backpacks. I think that we will now always have a connection because we all have decided to use the more practical method even though it may not always be deemed “girly” or “cute.”
“For day-to-day activities, I use a purse instead of a backpack,” sophomore Avery Chalk said. “Most of my classwork is on the computer, so I do not need to worry about carrying textbooks, or other heavy materials. I like the versatility of a purse. My bag makes me feel put together, especially on days when I need an extra boost.”
She also offered advice on types of bags.
“I recommend Longchamp, Madewell and Kate Spade for anyone looking to make the switch,” Chalk said.
Chalk is reminding all of us that purses can be fun ways to make us feel confident and there are multiple affordable options for Villanova students looking to make the switch.
Megan Lawn, a first-year student, has her own opinion of the frequent on-campus debate.
“I’m a firm supporter of the stylish purse look for class—honestly, it’s a great vibe,” Lawn said. “But with the sheer amount of stuff I haul around daily, a backpack is my only option. It’s not just an accessory at this point; it’s a survival strategy to save my shoulders from a workout every time I walk to class.”
This is the problem with society’s expectations of women, we are supposed to be fashionable but none of the fashion we are expected to model around campus is comfortable. I would love to carry around a gorgeous handbag but for me, the back pain and alignment issues simply aren’t worth it. What am I supposed to do? Accept the fact that I will never be the cute girl with a handbag or fall victim to the trend and suffer with a chiropractor bill?
I remember touring campus and dreaming of being one of those Villanova girls walking around with her bag, not breaking a sweat. Now, I am a freshman who is simply is trying to get enough sleep at night to get through the day. Half the time, I am laying out my outfit the night before because I can barely piece together a sentence by the time I am getting to my 8:30 a.m. class. So, maybe I am not as cute or fashionable as I have the potential to be without a handbag, but at that point in my morning, all I want is a bag to hold my things. It could be a Wawa plastic bag, for all I care at that point. I may hop onto the handbag wagon my junior or senior year when I have fully figured out this “college girly” aesthetic, but for now, I will stick to my Lululemon backpack and hopefully save myself from some shoulder pain in the process.
