18 Backpacks the Fashion Set Would Actually Wear

These stylish accessories will fit your laptop and everything else, too.

Launchmetrics Spotlight
(Image credit: Launchmetrics Spotlight)

Often overlooked, work-friendly backpacks have emerged online as a practical solution for editors, executives, and the street-style set. In recent seasons, they’ve also appeared on the runways at Chanel, Coach, and Miu Miu for Spring 2025, so they’ve officially been deemed fashionable, too. With padded straps and extra storage, backpacks are game changers for women on the go by offering much-needed respite from aching shoulders from years of using laptop-friendly tote bags.

Savannah Engel, the founder of New York-based boutique public relations agency SAVI , has deemed them necessary after needing an option to keep her essentials safe while keeping her hands free to answer emails quickly—something a leather tote bag couldn’t do. A jam-packed travel schedule and a series of injuries that left her on crutches for weeks at a time ruled out the need for a traditional tote, leaving her to rely on the classic Backpack styles of her youth—namely, a newer edition of the Jansport she wore in middle school. “It’s a perfect thing,” she tells Marie Claire.

Backpacks at Chanel and Miu Miu for Spring/Summer 2025

Backpacks where an unexpected addition on the runways at Chanel and Miu Miu for Spring/Summer 2025.

(Image credit: Launchmetrics Spotlight)

The category has also been co-signed as a chic bag style by Marie Claire’s Editor-in-Chief Nikki Ogunnaike, who prefers spacious options from Dagne Dover and Longchamp made from durable canvas or lightweight nylon—both of which are included on this list.

However, truly functional picks come at every price point and can also be made in luxe fabrics like leather or suede. Because there are so many options, we put a few of the top options on the market to the test—and relied on our experts to pull together a few options, too. Keep scrolling for our findings, and don’t be surprised if you want one for yourself.

Marie Claire's Favorite Laptop Backpacks

Shop The Best Laptop Backpacks

Fashion E-Commerce Editor Julia Marzovilla tests the TUMI Tumi Voyageur Just in Case Packable Nylon Travel Backpack

(Image credit: Julia Marzovilla)

Associate Director of Social Media Lucia Tonelli tests the Calpak Kaya Laptop Backpack

(Image credit: Lucia Tonelli)

Fashion Editor Lauren Tappan tests the Lululemon Everywhere Backpack 22L

(Image credit: Lauren Tappan)

Associate Commerce Editor Brooke Knappenberger tests the Everlane Re-New Transit Backpack in black

Knappenberger loves how spacious this backpack from Everlane is.

(Image credit: Brooke Knappenberger)

Fashion editor Lauren Tappan tests the Away The Everywhere Zip Backpack

Tappan loves the Away backpack because it was the perfect option to take on a trip.

(Image credit: Lauren Tappan)

Other Laptop Backpacks We Love

What To Look For in The Best Laptop Backpack

There are plenty of laptop backpacks, and it's Marie Claire's job to curate the cream of the crop. To that end, there are a few key factors that all of the best laptop backpacks on this list share:

  • The Number of Pockets: Are you looking for a laptop backpack because you're tired of rummaging through your tote to find your things? All the laptop backpacks listed here have multiple interior and exterior pockets, most of them have a dedicated laptop sleeve, and some are available in different sizes to accommodate various laptops and other tech.
  • Versatility: Looking for a versatile laptop backpack that seamlessly transitions from work to social events? Our laptop backpacks come in neutral colors and feature a sleek design, ensuring that they complement your personal style. Some of our backpacks are convertible and can also be worn as a tote bag or crossbody bag, while others can be folded up and carried as a carry-on suitcase for convenient travel.
  • Comfort: Chances are, you'll be carrying this backpack for hours on end. The laptop backpacks on this list have thick, sturdy shoulder straps and are designed with weight distribution in mind, so your back and shoulders won't ache. Some also have padding along the backside of the actual bag and built into the straps to keep you comfortable even as your belongings move around.
  • High-Quality Materials: We want you to love the laptop backpack you choose for years to come. With that in mind, Marie Claire has selected only backpacks made from durable materials such as leather, neoprene, canvas, or nylon.

How to Style Laptop Backpacks

For modern women, backpacks often read more "high school" than they do "high fashion.' However, Atlanta-based stylist and wardrobe consultant Kenzie Welch, who has built a community of over 300,000 followers on Instagram under the StylingWithKenzie moniker, often recommends them to her clients. "For women who commute to work or travel often, a laptop backpack can provide hands-free convenience and can attach more securely to a carry-on suitcase," she tells Marie Claire. "Not to mention, most laptop backpacks have more protection for your laptop than the average work tote."

Opt for a backpack that blends in with the rest of your look to tap into the chic convenience. Fashionable street stylers have done so in Paris, New York, and Milan. Neutral silhouettes are often the way to go here, as they go with everything. However, you could just as easily opt for a sportier silhouette to counterbalance a more sleek ensemble.

Women styling backpacks.

Backpacks are the backdrop for the street style set's on-the-go style.

(Image credit: Launchmetrics Spotlight)

Even Hollywood's brightest style stars have tried—and succeeded—in making a backpack a stylish accessory moment. Supermodel Irina Shayk teamed a double-denim look with a black backpack, proving that the schoolgirl staple can accompany just about any ensemble. Carrie Mulligan and Jane Fonda relied on backpacks as on-the-go accessories, dressed up with Fonda's olive green pantsuit and relaxed with Mulligan's straight-leg jeans and white sneakers.

Getty Images; Launchmetrics Spotlight

Irina Shayk, Carrie Mulligan, and Jane Fonda all approve of backpacks as a chic and timeless option.

(Image credit: Getty Images; Launchmetrics Spotlight)

Meet the Fashion Experts

Kenzie Welch
Kenzie Welch

Kenzie is a Fashion Stylist and Content Creator based out of Atlanta, Georgia. She has over 15 years experience working in the fashion and beauty industry. Using her extensive knowledge of style, Kenzie creates content that educates her diverse community on how to shop smart and dress with intention. She is known for her fashion advice, outfit inspiration, beauty tips, and styling makeovers. Her passion is to inspire people and to help them feel less intimidated by fashion. 

Savannah Engel
Savannah Engel

Savannah Engel is the founder of SAVI, a community-first focused integrated communications group based in New York City, that manages all elements of building and guiding brands and founders towards their goals, while cultivating communities around them. Born and raised in the Mississippi Delta, Savannah has become a powerhouse in the fashion PR industry obtaining clients like Markarian, PatBO, Diesel, Reformation, Naomi Campbell's Fashion for Relief and more! 

Julia Marzovilla
Fashion E-Commerce Editor

Julia Marzovilla is the Fashion E-Commerce Editor at Marie Claire, where she reviews the latest launches from fashion and beauty brands, finds the best on-sale items around the internet, and interviews experts to find the best products in any category to share with her readers. She also creates shopping guides that span every vertical on the site as an expert in everything from the best laptop bags to the best laser hair removal devices.

In her near decade of experience, Julia has both written for several top outlets in the E-Commerce space and worked at major fashion labels. Prior to joining the Marie Claire team, she contributed similar shopping stories to sites such as Bustle, InStyle, The Zoe Report, Who What Wear, and worked as the Trending Fashion and News Writer STYLECASTER. You can find her across the internet at @JuliaMarzovilla. In real life, you can find her creating shopping guides for her friends, cooking or baking in her too-small kitchen, or buying tickets for the next time Harry Styles is in town.

Julia has a Bachelor’s degree in English with a minor in Journalism from Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, California. She lives in New York City, her hometown.