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For most of the past week, our fair campus has been filled with grunts and sighs of desperation as struggling, book- and box-laden freshmen and annoyed upperclassmen have made valiant attempts to carry around all of their many essentials. From calculators to notebooks and textbooks that cost an arm and a leg, Carolina students definitely have a lot of stuff to schlep. Enter the tote bag, the single most efficient -- and stylish -- way to get your gear from point A to point B.
Women's 1. Kate Spade Carmel Eddie, $205 (on sale), katespade.com Named after Carmel-by-the-sea, Calif., this breezy bag is a near-perfect example of form and function combined. The spot-on handle length, the utilitarian cotton canvas and the drawstring closure make it great for hauling an assortment of books and gadgets, while the luxe jacquard interior and gold-plated hardware almost justify the price.
2. Deena and Ozzy Split Tote, $58, urbanoutfitters.com Edgy, detailed and most importantly, large, the Split Tote is made of cotton canvas and a leather-like material. It's split right in the middle by exterior zipper compartments. The bag has antiqued hardware, chain link straps and metal feet that help protect the bottom. Inside, it's lined with organizer straps, making your pens easier to find.
3. L.L. Bean Argyle Tote, $32, llbean.com Made of the same sturdy cotton canvas as your standard-issue sorority totes, this bag adds a splash of cool color to a simple, classic bag. The double-layered bottom helps the bag stand on its own, and while it doesn't zip close or have an interior pocket for your phone, the bag's roomy interior more than makes up for it.
Men's
4. Filson Rugged Twill Tote, $99.50, filson.com This is about as manly as a tote bag gets. The C.C. Filson Company has been making high-quality outdoor gear since the late nineteenth century, and this simple, modern bag descends from that tradition. Made of hard-wearing cotton twill and leather, the bag features a sizeable central compartment and four pockets on the outside.
5. Jack Spade Industrial Canvas Gambling Roosters Reversible Coal Bag, $65 (on sale), jackspade.com Jack Spade - brother of actor Andy Spade and husband of Kate Spade, who designed the bag on the women's side of the page - makes carrying a man-bag downright cool. His reversible coal bags are roomy and functional. If you ever get tired of the dice-playing roosters (and what Gamecock ever could?), you can flip the bag to show a cool blue geometric pattern.
6. Gap Laptop Bag, $19.50, gap.com No, it's not an actual tote. But it's 20 bucks, so we're not complaining. Don't let the childish print fool you ... in the inside, this bag is all about business, with plenty of space for your laptop, a few files and an organizational pocket for the rest of your stuff.
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