For all of the modern, urban, design-savvy males out there, please don't call this bag a “murse.” Lots of guys these days have figured out the convenient utility of a good old messenger bag, but what happens if you want the ease of carrying around everything you own but still want to look a little street? That's where San Francisco-based bag makers Timbuk2 and perennial Josh Spear fav Threadless steps in.

Pumping up classic messenger bags from Timbuk2 with some of the most popular T-shirt graphics from Threadless, they've combined high-end graphic design with the need to carry stuff around with you. Even better, you can rock the matching bag and tee at the same time — if you think you're man enough to handle it.

Hot prints from New England-based design duo GlueKit, eclectic visual artist Julia Sonmi Heglund, and self-taught fine artist Robert Hardgrave adorn the three limited edition bags. Held to an exclusive 200 of each print (read: buy them now before they're gone) these bags are up for grabs now, directly from Timbuk2.

Your current backpack likely claims it can withstand city, suburb, and jungle elements alike, all while keeping your pricy electronics intact within its plush interior. But have you been in there? It’s certainly not the silky deep-orange cush-fest enjoyed by laptops and cameras owned by Booq Bag carriers. You know that we’re fans of versatile compartments that can house all types of accessories in a ballistic nylon exterior (which frankly makes the Python series look like various forms of Megatron). Both the larger Python Pro and the more compact Python Pack come equipped with a removable camera bag, where you can build little custom forts for your sensitive gear. Or spring for the the upgraded Vyper system to make sure your gear can survive anything.

Tired of everyone stealing your look? Maybe you should stop shopping at the Gap. Instead of populating your wardrobe with mass market pieces, drop by Hanging Out and ogle the unique accessories like the Casa Nostra Pizzeria and Nintendo shoulder bags, or the very early, limited edition back-to-school agenda (crazy panda ad pictured above). All of their products are available at reasonable prices — unlike that Mulberry purse you blew your paycheck on last weekend. Although if you don't live in Europe, it'll cost you a plane ticket to buy them.

Kate Spade ain’t got nothing on us. With Elemental Threads’ line of customizable purses, day clutches, and totes, we are the master of our own design destiny. Choose between dozens of patterns, from paisleys to Geisha girls, to cover your bag. You can even choose from linings, handles, etc., right on down to the type of fastening button. Maybe it’s because the concept of these do-it-yourself designer items is, well, DIY that keeps the cost down. Either way, we already feel like Louis Vuitton’s successor.

Upon first glance, The Vael Project looks like misspelled venture for delivering baby cow meat to less fortunate foodies. While we're all for the distribution of tasty meats to those who cannot afford it, the fashion forward part of us was absolutely delighted to find out that the Vael Project is actually a stunning new line of premium leather goods that focuses on making irresistibly sleek shoes, bags, and accessories for the “wandering global creative class.” It's for folks who want their gear to be able to handle a hike in the hills of Cinque Terre and still look great at a business meeting in Brussels. Their creations are so sultry, stylish, and sensible that it's no wonder the thought of The Vael Project makes our mouth water...however, we may end up in a veritable wading pool of our own drool before we can get our hands on some of these haute hides, as they're not available to the masses for nearly five more months. The suspense is killing us. We’ll update with stockist and purchasing info as soon as it’s made available.

I’ve been making an effort of late to carry around less junk with me. Anyone who knows me knows that wherever I am, there’s a giant purse or laptop bag — sometimes both — and I’m at the point where I’m realizing that it’s not only unnecessary, but bad for my back and making it even to harder to walk in heels. The simple fact is, I don’t even use half of the crap I carry around day in, day out. Enter Toffee — an Aussie company offering pebble-grain leather sleeves, briefcases and slings (black and brown are pictured above) to protect your precious Apple cargo. The sleeves run the color gamut, while the slings and briefs stick with a basic palette; whichever you decide on, however, you’re sure to turn some heads and cut back on the excess junk you lug around. Score.

A few months ago we introduced Part of It to you — a fun, smart project started by a duo inviting artists that show up in our everyday lexicon to make designs for tees and tote bags for charity’s sake. While similar, Early Griffin instead focuses primarily on hand-made screen prints that come in a batch of only 50, with 10% of the selling price going to a charity the artist has chosen. The current, second series is fantastic, done in three colors each by Robert Hanson, Neasden Control Centre and Holly Wales. Jump on over to take a look and put in an order, if you’re so inclined.

One of the magazines I miss most living in Brazil is Monocle, a hefty tome of a magazine that has thought-provoking articles about all manners of world issues and cultures. It has a paid-subscription access area on its website, but I prefer to read the mag’s long articles via hard copy. The videos, though, are free (you can sign up for their podcasts by doing a search for “Monocle” in iTunes) and immaculately produced. In short, Monocle is a sophisticated magazine whose taste I implicitly trust.

I’d been so occupied with other parts of their site that I only discovered the shopping area of their site yesterday. There’s a fabulous bike way out of my price range but Monocle has a collection of travel bags for sale that won’t break the bank once the prices are converted from pounds into dollars. They’re made by a Japanese company named Porter, especially for them. These soft luggage pieces come in handsome, utilitarian shapes, with the only embellishments in the form of leather. The overnight bag is especially well crafted, with a laundry bag and a smaller bag for toiletries thrown in to help keep your toothbrush separate from your dirty underwear. Coincidentally, Hypebeast did a post a few days ago on some new bags from Porter, separate from Monocole, which are equally just as yummy.

Are you planning the perfect bank heist (we're not suggesting you should be)? You know what would make it more perfect? Having a perfect bag to store the loot. May we suggest the 750 Swag Bag from Money Brand? This convenient carryall is made from the finest Italian leather and equipped with Japanese made 18-karat gold–plated zips. As if the lure of luxury wasn't enough to convince you of its worth, the 750 Swag Bag has an inside lined with dollar bills — meaning if your crowning caper ends up a losing attempt at larceny, at least you won't leave empty handed.

Knock Knock Pack This! Pad: Read JS Review | Buy It ($6.99, shown as 1)
Spazzy packers like me need this to ensure that one end of the ocean is as comfortable as the next. Additionally, it keeps that nasty “Oh no, I feel like I forgot something super important” sensation pleasantly out of your gut.

Mimobot: Read JS Review | Buy It ($49.95 - $109.95, shown as 2)
There is no worse place to deal with computer problems than half way across the Atlantic, so we like to travel with our most important info safely backed up on a flash drive… and for some reason, having that flash drive in the form of a three-eyed teddy bear helps us feel even safer.

Comer-Calder Laptop Cases: Read JS Review | Buy It (2090 - 2240 pounds, shown as 7)
Speaking of computer problems, they’re a lot less likely to happen if you keep your baby safe and sound in one of Comer-Calder’s leather and carbon fiber computer cases. Elegant, buttery soft, and, okay, totally expensive, these cases will keep your laptop in pristine condition.

BOOQ Folee Bag: Read JS Review | Buy It ($199 - $204, shown as 4)
Mike Luce and readers alike swooned over this do-it-all briefcase. Easy access, portability, functionality, sleek lines - the Folee bag has it all.

WANT Les Essentiels de la Vie iPod Case: Read JS Review | Buy It ($175-$225, shown as 5)
Premium leather covers the hard shell interior of the WANT Essentials iPod case, keeping your music pumping, your electronics safe, and your vanity appeased.

Former Akademiks staffer, Sean Ziran, will be introducing a new line of modern vintage bags come Spring. Good thing we don’t have to wait that long, because the renowned bag-maker has already gotten down to business with the high end young designers at Public School to create a very sexy, very limited edition tote and duffle. Using a heavy cotton houndstooth, leather patches, and high quality hardware, the bags were made in New York, produced in a quantity of 30 in total, and are available exclusively at Fred Segal, Memes, and Arrive. The tote, which converts to a backpack, is retailing for $225, and the duffle (shown) for $250. Edgy, classy, and created with the quality that we’ve come to expect from Public School; sounds like a triple threat (or the best jetsetter gift, ever) to me.

We’ve fawned over Nick Comer-Calder’s strong, elegant, and beautiful guitar cases before, so we’re happy to report that his UK-based company has recently branched into another area in need of some high-quality protection: computers. The latest to join the family of made-to-order safeguards are these sleek laptop cases, hand built from Calder’s signature combination of organic leather and carbon fiber. That red one has been made to the size specifications of the highly rumored Apple Featherbook to be debuted next year (and will also fit a variety of sub-compacts), so if you’ve already started your Christmas wish-list, you’ll probably to make room for A) even more Apple IOU’s; and B) the cases you’ll need to keep those products safe. As in: even under the tires of a 2000-lb vehicle. Yes, they really did that.

Those SAGxOGI bags Josh gushed about not to long ago are finally up for sale, and the fact that there are only two available (alas, neon pink’s a goner) certainly won’t stop us from posting about them.

San Francisco-based OGI created these bags as good-looking study in art and ethics, and pulled his inspiration from the storied “seven dirty words” of American culture. Each one-of-a-kind bag, while entirely G-Rated on the outside, is filled with nicely hand-painted and mom-unapproved words and designs, and is running at a $600 pricetag. I sort of favor the neon green one, but that gold-on-suede also has a something wonderful going for it (perhaps it’s that “God” is written on the inside?). If you are a fan of OGI, or just in the market for a really, really incredible bag/piece of art, I recommend high-tailing it in this direction as fast as you can click.

At present, I am in the market for a new bag. It must be able to hold my laptop, a fair stack of paperwork, deal with Chicago’s temperamental weather, and travel — lots of travel. My current bag is serviceable and although the manufacturer has been good about replacing the problematic strap (number three will be required shortly), I wouldn’t want it to give out in the middle of O’Hare. Thus, I was excited to find BOOQ’s Folee messenger bag. The bag shares a number of my favorite features with my soon-to-be-retired baby: an easily accessible front pocket, a side pocket to stash your iPod or phone, and a rear compartment to hold larger items like magazines and other crucial bits of in-flight reading. In total, the Folee sports eleven pockets, plus combines a rugged shoulder strap with a handle to allow you to lug it about as you choose. Finally, the folks at BOOQ construct this little warrior out of ballistic black nylon which should make it travel-proof… and of course, black goes with anything. As you can tell, I’m leaning strongly in this direction but should any of you have some additional suggestions for stylish, business-class bags suitable for travel and everyday, leave a comment and let me hear you.

I have bad airport karma. Take this past week for instance: I went back to Ohio to see my folks and my flight both ways was delayed four hours, despite the fact that the skies were nothing but sunshine. If it isn't layovers, then it's always something else. Usually, and I fully confess, I am that person in front of you who has so much extraneous stuff (e.g. a purse full of gadgets that need to be emptied, laptop case that is ridiculously bulky and full of overflowing cords) that it backs the up the entire security line and makes for a frustrated crowd of eye rollers and loud, impatient sighers. What I need is a bag I can fit everything in like the ones made by Shambra, which are not only incredibly functional and organized, but also absolutely stunning.

The highly crafted, Italian leather pieces are divided into two collections: Maren bags and Hertha Travel Accessories (which all complement and integrate into each of the Maren bags, natch). The Maren Carry-On Bag, which may just be my savior and yours if your ever standing behind me in line, functions as both a handbag and laptop carrier in one. Carried by the handles or by a shoulder strap, it has two big zippers and an open middle section for the slightly padded laptop sleeve. The inside pockets fit all manner of tech accessories like a phone, PDA, or ipod, travel wallet and power cords. If you don't need all the room and want something more minimal, the work tote and laptop bags are just as hot looking and maintain all the pockets. They all come with Hertha wallets for even further organization and a speedy way to find your license.

Now if they could only ensure no delays…