The grace with which the Olsen Twins walk the fashion-celebrity tightrope never ceases to amaze me. Not only is The Row one of perhaps only two celebrity-owned fashion lines to generate any true industry respect at all (the other, arguably, is Victoria Beckham’s), but Elizabeth and James, the sisters’ long-running contemporary label, churns out wearable, stylish, reasonably accessible clothes for chic young women, season after season. Often, I forget that it has an celeb associations at all, but when I saw these backpacks, from the brand’s first handbag collection, the connection to The Row felt pretty clear.
Is there any better-known or more widely discussed backpack in fashion than The Row’s? It’s sleek, modern, and in alligator, it costs in excess of $30,000. It makes sense that Elizabeth and James would have a little-sister version of that bag, even though the two brands aren’t all that closely associated with each other; The Row’s backpacks sell out like crazy, and of course women with a similar sense of style but more modest budget are interested in getting the same look without searching for a straight-up knock-off. This bag retains the simple, clean feel of the more expensive bag, but it’s a little slouchier, a little more casual, a little more 90s. It’s also a lot less expensive, starting at $445 for regular leather and ranging up to $595 for spotted calf hair.
Elizabeth and James Leather Drawstring Sling
$445 via Neiman Marcus
Elizabeth and James Calf Hair Drawstring Backpack
$495 via Neiman Marcus
Elizabeth and James Leather Drawstring Sling Bag
$445 via Neiman Marcus
Elizabeth and James Spotted Calf Hair Drawstring Backpack
$545 via Neiman Marcus
