Totes to take to your finals

The stress of finals week is so close you can taste it.

But with all the books you’ll… The stress of finals week is so close you can taste it.

But with all the books you’ll have to haul from your home to the library, will your bag be able to carry its finals-week load and withstand all the wear and tear? Before your bag breaks, you might want to get fully equipped and purchase a functionally fashionable tote.

However, not just any bag will do — it’s important that the same proper precautions that are taken with our clothing and shoes be filtered into our handbag purchases.

Just because finals week means carrying around heavier bags doesn’t mean you can’t be stylish. Spring is here, and this season you’ll want to purchase an adorable bag that will carry you through the rest of the semester and accommodate you on trips to the beach.

Of course, this year, big, metallic and studded bags are mainstays of every female Pitt student’s wardrobe, but this spring and summer you’ll want to get straw bags and canvas totes that offer sexy comfort and style.

Straw and crocheted bags are just what the fashionistas ordered this season because they’re semi-practical for lugging books (we all know practical and cute is hard to come by these days), and they come in cute beiges and whites that match almost everything.

Straw bags scream sexiness, as many are woven with faux leather and brightly colored detailing. And because straw bags are so popular this spring, they can be found at most stores for reasonable prices.

Before this season, “granny” was the first word that popped into my mind when I thought of crocheting. There’s just something about crocheting that makes me envision rocking chairs and old, hand-made blankets made with love.

But now you can spice up your style with crocheted bags that aren’t so grandmotherly. Call it granny style with a twist, for you’ll be sure to spot crocheted bags that can hold heavy books — and earn heavy looks.

However, be sure to get the bags that are tightly knitted, as the loosely knit ones typically don’t hold as much and aren’t ideal for carrying notebooks and textbooks.

If straw and crocheted bags aren’t to your liking and you need something a bit sturdier, try a brightly colored canvas tote. They are usually roomy enough to hold more than enough books and not so large that they’d look disproportional to your figure.

My only qualm with canvas is that it can get soiled fast. Almost like a sponge, canvas can pick up dirt and debris like no one’s business.

But fear not: Your crisis can be averted with a few quick sprays of canvas fabric protector. It repels liquids and stains — even oily dirt — while letting materials breathe. Fabric protector can be purchased at any fabric store for approximately eight bucks.

Canvas fabric bags are durable but have delicate details that are classy and so girlie you’ll wonder how you ever lived without one.

And let’s not forget Vera Bradley bags that came onto campus like a thief in the night. Definitely the “it” bag of the year, paisley-trimmed Vera Bradley bags are more than ideal for carrying books while keeping it cute.

Although a bit expensive (the average price is $70), many include a key clip, zip closure, sturdy base and lots of deep pockets. Take the houndstooth brown messenger for example: It has three slip-in pockets under its flap, a full-zippered pocket on the back and a flap that has two push locks. It’s fashionable, but yet it takes you back to the basics with all the key fundamentals of the great messenger bag.

The Vera Bradley messenger bag is $80, but if you’re up for practicality with a hint of femininity, it is more than you’ll ever bargain for

Also, this season, pastels and whites with wooden handles are the most coveted, so be prepared to frolic though campus resembling a chipper rabbit swinging a multi-colored Easter basket.

As we prepare for the upcoming week of horror, the last thing you want to be concerned with is your bag, so get the right tote and carry it on your hip — not your mind.

Deena doesn’t own a Vera Bradley bag, but she understands their practicality. Send Deena your tote bag stories at dmc18@pitt.edu.