Sure, you could carry your stuff in a brown paper bag. Of course, you could wear bell-bottoms to the opera, too. Thankfully, just as there are far more fashionable ways to cover your lower half, there’s a far more stylish (and functional) way to schlep your day-to-day, hour-to-hour essentials. Case in point: Timbuk2’s Classic Messenger Bag. Originally created for bike messengers, this bag is designed for serious abuse. It’s available in four sizes, and, better yet, you can build your own on Timbuk2’s website by choosing from a dozen colors and almost as many extras. Sometimes it’s not what you carry, but how you carry it. $60-$175. www.timbuk2.com