missing a really important tool

“I think the effortlessness of the backpack makes it attractive,” says Leon. “It is so easy — carry and go.” As LN-CC creative director John Skelton points out: “Backpacks distribute the weight best and are therefore the most comfortable bags to carry.” Gucci cosmetic case Photographer Tommy Ton, who collaborated with Club Monaco on a backpack last year, agrees: “It’s just more comfortable to carry a backpack as opposed to carrying a handbag. Life is just easier commuting and running around with your arms free. It’s the most essential item I use to travel and go about in my daily life. Everything fits perfectly inside a backpack.” Echoes Kershaw: “With many [backpack] models, you can fit a laptop, tablet, wallet, keys, you name it.”OK, I'm going to admit this: There were a couple of actresses whom I felt were having the upper hand career-wise — because they knew how to work that red carpet.

 I was like, 'I'm missing a really important tool. If I am the CEO of the Kerry Washington Corporation, my marketing department is really lax.' So I sort of developed a new character: Red-Carpet Gucci message bagKerry. And I researched her like any other character. I actually called Tracee Ellis Ross [the actress and Diana Ross's daughter], who's a good friend, and literally asked, How do you pronounce Hermès?' Red-Carpet Kerry needed to know." On staying mum about her personal life: "I learned through experience that it doesn't work for me to talk about my personal life. I've had earlier times in my career when I did talk about it. I was on the cover of a bridal magazine [InStyle Weddings, in 2005, when she was engaged to actor David Moscow]. But I couldn't just turn around and say, 'I only want to talk about the good stuff, but not the bad stuff. So I just thought, OK, no more.'" On her secret wedding to Nnamdi Asomugha:

 "I'm walkin ce the store started, Leon notes. “For Carol [Lim] and I, backpacks are more of a necessity than a trend.” Skelton agrees: “If I’m honest, I can’t say this is a trend. We will always buy backpacks.” Needless to say, backpacks “are not going away anytime soon,” Kershaw says. Or, as Leon puts it: “Forever backpacks.” “I think it’s for Louis Vuitton cluthsure honing in on a moment. People are becoming more mobile, riding bikes and are on the move,” adds Lim. In fact, Ogura asserts that backpacks have transitioned from mere trend to long-lasting wardrobe essential. “We believe the backpack has transcended the original hype because of its functionality,” she says. Kershaw agrees: “It’s become a staple, just as important as a messenger, a holdall, etcetera — and it’s really found its place by being functional and utilitarian.”