Elevate Your Travel Game with the Latest Backpack Trends
From fishnet dresses to boyfriend blush, the top summer trends are reviving our wardrobes and vanities this season. So why would we neglect our travel gear? Like the standout runway fashion that is now touching down on the streets, the 2024 summer backpack trends will imbue your daily uniform and occasion ensembles with a fresh reset.
From New York to Paris, backpacks have played a key role in themes of countless recent collections. Case in point: In February in Manhattan, Tortuga’s Outbreaker backpack was a “nod to the concept of making the everyday sublime—even a trip to the grocery store,” the show notes said. The momentum of statement backpacks remained strong through Paris Fashion Week. With their Fall/Winter 2024 collections, both young designer brands such as Alpaka and heritage houses like Osprey gave us archetypes of travelers who embraced backpacks with abandon, asking: Why not? Why not clip a Maltese brooch to the upturned brim of your sun hat, à la Chanel? Or wrap an anklet around your leather boot, as displayed at Burberry?
The teeming supply of backpacks has magnified the transformative power of travel gear in a wardrobe and made the case for enjoying it every day. From mint-green button backpacks primed for Palm Beach to kitschy novelties that embrace a summer-camp spirit, here are the seven top backpack trends to enjoy this summer.
1. Customizable Comfort
If the runways are any indication, customizable comfort will take on new meaning come winter. After all, why search for a new beau when you can wear all the company you need on your back? Until then, this summer’s travel wardrobe staples leave plenty of real estate to stack backpacks as you please. Take a cue from Tortuga and complement a sheer pencil skirt with a translucent stack, or embrace Isabel Marant’s rustic flavor of ’80s maximalism, with a mix of wooden domed bracelets and braided metal bangles.
The Tortuga Outbreaker is a versatile travel backpack with customizable organization, available in 40 and 30-liter options. It features a comfortable and adjustable harness system, making it suitable for various body types. The built-in organization is suitable for packing cubes and pouches, with additional pockets for small items and a separate laptop compartment. Click Here to Buy this Product.
2. Eco-Friendly Elegance
Tory Burch wasn’t the only designer to bring the farm to the catwalk this season. At Balmain, Olivier Rousteing’s cast of models wore full, fruity earrings, featuring watermelon slices, strawberries, and bundles of grapes—a wink to his upbringing in Bordeaux. From demure pendants to 18k gold banana bunches, these juicy novelties prove the fruit stand is not the only place to get ripe produce this season. Whether you’re looking to add a slice of something new to a charm bracelet or want to infuse your ensembles with a citrus twist, these jewels demonstrate that some treats are meant to be worn, not just packed in the picnic basket.
Osprey's updated Far Point and Fairview backpacks are durable and eco-friendly, made from recycled polyester with a PFC-free DWR coating. They offer ample organization with a large stash pocket, zip pocket, internal mesh pocket, and a laptop compartment. Click Here to Buy this Product.
3. Lightweight Versatility
While drop earrings reached new lengths this season, in another camp, a standout class of round button earrings reflected a lexicon of 20th-century artistic movements, ranging from art deco to midcentury modern. At Carolina Herrera, Wes Gordon’s bubble-shaped clips bore resemblance to those worn by the likes of Jackie Onassis. In homage to another icon, Elsa Schiaparelli’s admiration for Suzanne Belperron seemed to have been rekindled in Daniel Roseberry’s Fall/Winter ’24 collection for the house. His large shell earrings felt like a revival of Belperron’s bold, irreverent application of sculpture to jewelry. Olivier Rousteing likewise adopted shell earrings, and we love to see it—anything that allows you to feel more like a mermaid this time of year is surely a good idea, even if you can’t hear the ocean when you wear them! From classic domed shapes to options with a marine twist, our favorite button earrings are here.
The Patagonia Altvia Pack 36L is a durable and weather-resistant backpack designed for outdoor adventures. It features a comfortable harness system and ample storage options, making it suitable for camping and hiking. Click Here to Buy this Product.
4. Modular Marvels
A jewelry box is an adult’s play chest—especially if it includes toy cars. This fall, yours could too, if you manage to snag a pair of the yellow taxicab earrings that showed at Coach. And even as we wait for those to hit the market, the jewelry world has plenty to offer. Just last month, Nadine Ghosn—mastermind behind the “Bling Mac” and “YOUtensils”—released an exciting collaboration with Crayola that features a special run of crayon-shaped rings and bracelets in multiple colors. This revival of a childhood staple rekindles a sense of nostalgia and brings a spirit of play and imagination to the jewelry box. And what better time to be reminded of childlike wonder than long summer days that leave space to dream? From an emerald-encrusted slinky bracelet to a robot pendant necklace, we handpicked a few pieces that evoke that youthful spirit.
The Alpaka Elements Travel Backpack offers extensive organization with multiple pockets and a modular hub system for accessories. It is comfortable to carry but may feel low on the back, making it suitable for tech-savvy travelers. Click Here to Buy this Product.
5. Day Pack Delight
Plump beads mirroring dinosaur eggs and candy-coated gobstoppers came to life in chokers across a variety of fall collections. At Bottega Veneta, Matthieu Blazy’s bespeckled ceramic collars resembled the works of 20th-century jewelers who drew inspiration from nature, such as Angela Cummings, whose unique beads inlaid with semiprecious stones, like lapis lazuli, garnered a loyal following that ultimately led to her very own boutique at Bergdorf Goodman, circa 1984. Taking a detour in favor of brighter pops of color and cosmic proportions, Colville featured jumbo cherry-red and lemon-yellow beads, primed for a gumball machine. Whatever your preference, button collars offer a refreshing way to update simple basics, like your go-to crewneck tee or column dress.
The North Face Router is a spacious travel backpack with day pack-like aesthetics and a comfortable flex vent back panel. It is suitable for longer trips and everyday use. Click Here to Buy this Product.
6. Packable Perfection
If one jewelry trend stood out most this season, it was drop earrings, which rose to the forefront. Rekindling the sense of shameless exuberance that defined the ’80s, earrings took on a life of their own, in shoulder-grazing lengths and sharp geometric shapes. Taking cues from the era that hyperbolized camp style, designers from Saint Laurent to Giorgio Armani showcased angular drop earrings en masse, leveraging a mix of textures such as Lucite and onyx. In Milan, Jil Sander’s crystal-covered fringe earrings exceeded the length of a shoulder-length chop, brushing against the collars of pink and maroon capes. And what better time to embrace this trend than summer, when an easy updo is the M.O. and your ears are left to bask in the sun? Consider letting them have their moment in the sunshine by swapping everyday hoops for a more glamorous alternative. Whether you take a cue from Louis Vuitton and don a pair of chandelier stunners or opt for an earthier drop with stone elements, similar to Carven’s, there are plenty of ways to drop it like it’s hot.
The Matador Freerain24 2.0 is a lightweight and packable backpack designed for travel and active adventures, offering durability and multiple external pockets. Click Here to Buy this Product.
7. Rugged Reliability
A jewelry box is an adult’s play chest—especially if it includes toy cars. This fall, yours could too, if you manage to snag a pair of the yellow taxicab earrings that showed at Coach. And even as we wait for those to hit the market, the jewelry world has plenty to offer. Just last month, Nadine Ghosn—mastermind behind the “Bling Mac” and “YOUtensils”—released an exciting collaboration with Crayola that features a special run of crayon-shaped rings and bracelets in multiple colors. This revival of a childhood staple rekindles a sense of nostalgia and brings a spirit of play and imagination to the jewelry box. And what better time to be reminded of childlike wonder than long summer days that leave space to dream? From an emerald-encrusted slinky bracelet to a robot pendant necklace, we handpicked a few pieces that evoke that youthful spirit.
The Carhartt Classic Backpack is a durable and affordable travel bag with a 25L capacity, lightweight design, and robust polyester fabric, making it perfect for budget travelers. Click Here to Buy this Product.
Conclusion
As we embrace the summer of 2024, it's clear that backpacks are no longer just functional items but essential fashion statements. From customizable comfort to eco-friendly elegance, these trends offer something for every traveler. Whether you're exploring urban landscapes or embarking on outdoor adventures, the right backpack can elevate your style and enhance your travel experience. So, why not invest in a backpack that not only meets your practical needs but also complements your personal style? Happy travels!