Back to School? Back to Cool!

How does this always happen? One minute, you’re making plans for how you’ll fill up the long summer days. The next, you’re back to school shopping and pulling out sweaters!

Think back to your first day of school (however old you were). I bet someone took a picture of you. Standing proud and ready. New school bag or backpack. Maybe some new shoes. Maybe new-to-you, hand-me-down shoes. A uniform that is too big or a pair of pants that are as neat and pressed as they will ever be.

Here are my nieces and nephews on their first day of school last week...

And here’s me--probably c. 1978...

Look at how the hot air balloon book bag matches my skirt (that also happens to match my blouse--hello Garanimals!) 

Although the styles have changed (and the lunch box technology is MUCH better) there’s a certain similarity between my first day of school picture and my nieces and nephews first day of school picture (fashion notwithstanding).

I actually still have my first school bag from grade school (still quite fashionable, if I do say so myself). I’d probably use it as a briefcase if it would hold more than 2 phonics workbook pages and a jumbo #2 pencil.

Speaking of lunch boxes and school bags... they really have come a LONG way.
My nieces and nephews have Vapur Reusable Water Bottles clipped with a carabiner to their belts...

I had this to hold my drinks...

They have fancy backpacks and insulated totes for their lunches like the PackIt Freeze and Go...

I had this...

I've started to realize that kids today only seem so much cooler than we were. 

I bet kids today would do anything for this beauty from my generation...

Maybe we were cool after all.

Shop all our Back to Cool items at Urbangeneralstore.com now! Or stop by ENJOY, AN URBAN GENERAL STORE in Chicago's Lincoln Square neighborhood today at 4723 N. Lincoln Avenue.