Go with the grain

Ease your student’s back-to-school burden with a backpack that combines comfort with retro style. Recommended for children ages 10 and up, LL Bean’s new Wayfarer Pack features a fantastic faux bois pattern. That’s French for “false wood,” but this backpack is a true find. You’ll want to go with the grain because it has a padded back panel and two side water-bottle compartments. Add a little je ne sais quois by monogramming it with your child’s initials or a single letter, for an additional cost of $8. Ooh-la-la.

Wayfarer Pack, $49.95, www.llbean.com.