My son’s GF is graduating and has a great job lined up. From reading old threads about this issue, it seems a Tote Bag would be a nice gift. Then someone told me the on their business trips, yes they see totes the younger generation are carrying, but she sees a lot of backpacks. I want to spend in the $150 range.
For those of you with daughters this age, which is preferable and what is a brand THEY like and think is cool?
I think the same old adage applies here - to me, this is an item I would FULLY want to choose myself. From material to structure to color to storage options, etc. Plus I will also say that it’s a typical grad gift so would you be aware if anyone else might be getting her one?
That said, my girls (30 and 22) like to have both. A backpack and a tote.
What will be her occupation? Is she a casual woman or more dress up/business-y??
I have to agree with @abasket, that a tote or backpack would be highly personal to me. I also think that it depends on how the young woman will be commuting. Sometimes backpacks are easier/safer for public transportation than a tote. But again, highly personal!
Love the sentiment though…Would definitely enclose a gift receipt.
That said, my mil (who was not my mil at the time) bought me a beautiful Coach purse for my graduation. It was something I never would have bought on my own and I love that bag (still have it and use it as it’s a classic style).
As a 60 yo women who has to travel for business, many day trips, but sometimes a couple days overnight, I use a laptop backpack. If holds my laptop and my pocketbook and Kindle and a change of clothes if I need them. I love the fact it frees up my hands to pull an overnight bag, and because my pocketbook fits inside it, it is easy to get around the airport. Is it good looking? No, but it suits my purpose. I do love a nice looking tote though. Why don’t you ask her?
I agree with others that it can be highly personal. Many of the brands recommended on here in the past would not appeal to my daughter, for example.
She has a leather tote she uses a lot but also a backpack comes in handy on those nice weather days when she bikes to work.
My daughter bought this for herself and she uses it all the time:
She also has several tote bags – it’s good to have both. Her totes are pricier - LV, Saint Laurent, Chloe, so the Longchamp backpack is a very good value comparatively.
^^Agree that Longchamp is a worthy choice—popular and very versatile, but might suggest the large tote (because it’s more versatile) instead of the backpack
https://shop.nordstrom.com/s/longchamp-large-le-pliage-tote/3241956?origin=keywordsearch-personalizedsort&breadcrumb=Home%2FAll%20Results&color=pink%20ice
If a tote or backpack is for work purposes and she is likely to be toting a laptop you/I would want laptop protection as well.
There are some backpacks on Amazon (and elsewhere I’m sure) that function as a backpack but also have a compartment that opens up like a mini suitcase area - enough for a a couple of light outfits.
Here is an example of a potential travel backpack set up - not necessarily suggesting this brand, color, etc. - but the general idea:
https://www.amazon.com/ZUQIANG-Business-Backpack-Backpacks-Multipurpose/dp/B077QJJ1TC/ref=sr_1_13
My 28 yr old uses a Kate Spade tote and a Tumi backpack. Laptop sleeves solve the issue if there is no padding.
This brand is super popular with under 25 crowd here in my neck of the woods:
https://m.shop.nordstrom.com/s/fjallraven-kanken-water-resistant-backpack/3833666
And this one:
https://m.shop.nordstrom.com/s/herschel-supply-co-classic-mid-volume-backpack/5307929
If you know someone who works the same type of job, ideally in the same industry, you might want to ask them if they have any thoughts on which would work better.
I’ve been racking my brain trying to come up with a graduation gift idea for an upcoming nursing grad. I remembered this morning that my cousin is nurse and it occurred to me that she might have ideas I would never have thought of.
At my last job we had a choice of a brief case, a backpack, or a tote (all padded for laptops). I think it was about even between backpacks and tote, with more of the guys who traveled almost all the time taking backpacks.
I like my longchamp bag. It’s great for travel and folds up into almost nothing so I like it. My D thinks it’s very boujee but my niece loves hers.
My D can’t bring her work computer home so she doesn’t really need a bag for that. She does need a bag for her workout clothes.
My H uses a backpack for his work stuff.
My D would like the Kanken backpack that BB referenced. That would be very much her style.
How will she be commuting? Taking public transit and walking convinced my daughter of the desirability of a back pack. She found a sleek one in black leather that reads understated with discrete zippers, as opposed to gear and is quite happy with it. Works well for travel, too.
As you can see, the answers are all over the place… from LV Neverfull to utilitarian packs from Amazon. 
I’ve been very unsuccessful in buying totes for my D—she’s 29. I’ve bought her Longchamps (too expensive). I also bought her Swissgear backpack similar to this one
https://www.swissgear.com/backpacks/travel-friendly-backpacks/swissgear-5337-hybrid-backpack
She uses it! It was on a good discounted price at Sam’s Club (about $25-30). It’s nice that it slides over the handle of the auitcase and is padded for laptops but has room for more than it looks.
I’d definitely include a gift receipt since these items are so personal and difficult to really know another’s preferences (like purses and wallets).
My three girls all in their twenties love their Longchamps large le pliage bags. Not for work necessarily, but it’s the first bag they reach for when traveling. It folds up when not in use and lasts forever. A classic piece that will never go out of style and still worn all over the streets of Paris.
I like a backpack. They definitely come in more professional looking styles. I like this one: https://www.ebags.com/product/ebags/professional-slim-laptop-backpack-with-leather-trim-limited-edition/357042 Lots of pockts, including one for your water bottle.
My D is 26 and I got her this about 18 months ago. She can fit her laptop or tablet in it as well as her music binders and all the rest of the stuff she carries daily. It still looks new and has a lifetime warranty.
We’ve purchased Longchamps totes for multiple graduation presents, and they’ve been well used. That said, my son’s girlfriend would NOT be happy with one, and we got her something else. She’s very practical, a minimalist, and not into “brands” at all.