By Marie Marra

School-aged children and parents are doing their annual back-to-school rituals:

 Subject notebooks, pencils, pens and folders: Check.
 List clothes and shoes that still fit; Fill in gaps with new sale-priced clothes: Check.
 Replace last year’s tired lunch box: Check.
 Find the latest knapsack, book bag, backpack, messenger bag, over-sized purse: Not Yet.

Off-price, overstock and surplus resellers of school supplies and carry-alls are past the buying season for this academic year. Then, maybe this is the year of repeat shoppers.

All students need to tote homework, books and papers. Teen girls look for a little extra style and space for personal care items. Everyone wants to be packing the “it” look.

The opportunity here is that this Bag Business isn’t settled yet in the schoolyard.

Backpack or Messenger? Well-equipped students, sporting last year’s or even a new backpack, may learn that this year’s “It” book pack is actually a messenger bag … a front-flap, deeper computer carrying case with shoulder strap and luggage handle. (Student trades occur when a brand new, cool backpack is surrendered for a weathered old messenger bag … considered a good trade for both.)

Backpacks are stretching their utilitarian looks and colors to compete with the messenger bags preferred by some teens this year, especially girls who prefer the look of an over-sized purse to a rustic looking backpack. Backpack must-haves now are several zipper pockets to hold small electronics (cell phones, digital music players) plus stashes for make-up and fragrance sticks. Victoria’s Secret (yes, that one, of lingerie cyber-cast fame) has even issued a bright-colored trendy “Pink” line of backpacks. Students who already shopped for their book bag and backpack may return long after school starts to upgrade their first choice.

Comfort or Style? Some parents force a later purchase based on balance. Heavy book bags can be hard on young backs; and this year’s “It” messenger bag can’t help but be lopsided, because the single carry strap goes over one shoulder.

Physical therapists advise parents of students who tote heavy book bags to opt either for camping-styled backpacks, with a frame that distributes weight to the hips and padding on shoulder straps. Or they suggest small backpacks, acknowledging that all available space will be filled, no matter what the size. If the shoulder-strap messenger bag is a student’s book bag style of choice, a physical therapist advises wearing it across the chest, rather than over the shoulder, to distribute the bag’s weight close to the torso.

Both. Tim Schifter, bag designer for singer Gwen Stefani’s fashion label, and Beyonce, singer with her own fashion label, say both backpacks and messenger bags. Both offer new styling and casual looks; but the bottom line is still functional and utilitarian for teens. Demand is also strong for scaled-down versions, like the “mini-messenger” bag, which the head of accessories sales at Rocawear noted is worn as an across-the-body purse.

Make Room for Oversized Handbags. According to one teen fashion watcher, this season’s carry-all of choice for teen girls is neither messenger bag nor backpack, but large handbags accessorized with charms.

This back-to-school buying season is not one to close out in September. With all the choices for stylishly toting books this year, new school shopping lists may appear again for the holidays.