September is the real new year: 39 brilliant buys to supercharge school, work and everything in between | Life and style
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Shiny shoes. Freshly sharpened pencils. New rucksack. Back-to-school season is here, and even for those of us no longer in full-time education, the energy of this time of year is undeniably one of fresh starts and renewed momentum.
A couple of well-chosen items, from a notebook to inspire ideas to a lunch box that might encourage you to bring in your own food, are often all it takes to feel a touch more pulled together after a languorous summer. So whether you’re looking for school kit or your own stuff, here’s our pick of the best back-to-the-grind products for kids, teens and grownups.
The best back-to-school buys for everyone
Young kids
Munchkin kids’ bento box lunch box
If your child has ever written off an entire lovingly prepared meal because of a single stray parsley leaf, this is the perfect lunch box. The enticing, rainbow-coloured compartments allow you to serve them separate snacks to power them through maths and beyond. Plus, it’s dishwasher-safe, BPA-free and comes with stainless steel cutlery.
Klean Kanteen kids 355ml water bottle
BPA-free and with a leakproof sports-style flip-cap, this bottle comes in a pattern to suit most interests – sharks, dinosaurs, unicorns, you name it. Also, crucially, it’s dishwasher-safe.
For more, read our guide to the best water bottles
Clarks shoe cleaning kit
Embarrassingly, my dad is still the only person who can be bothered to take some polish to my shoes, when he gets the chance. Make sure your kids get used to cleaning their own footwear early – a valuable life skill – with this kit for school shoes. Courtesy, of course, of Clarks.
Frugi navigator backpack
Fun but with an expedition’s worth of pockets, this unisex Frugi backpack says start-of-term sensible but also adventure. The reflective details feel smart as the nights draw in, and the Arctic polar bear scene adds a bit of magic.
Yolla Studio pencil case
If you want to avoid polyester, this hand-printed waxed cotton pencil case is a good alternative. Once your child tires of it, you can reuse it as a wash bag.
Legami mushroom pencil sharpener
A pencil sharpener and an eraser in one feels like an efficiency win. But the cottagecore/goblincore aesthetic is what really sets this piece of kit apart. The most fun-gi in any kid’s pencil case.
Kitpas crayons, set of 12
Chunky, smooth and, most importantly, washable, Kitpas crayons are a delight to colour with. Plus, they’re made from rice bran wax that would otherwise go to waste.
Legami erasable pens
Pens you can rub out once felt like the height of sophistication. These Legami ones still feel special, if not sophisticated, coming in a range of playful animal designs. They’ll liven up any desk and are refillable.
Regatta waterproof packaway jacket
It’s the season of mist and unexpected downpours. Kids need an anorak that can be packed away small and light, but is there when they need it. This design from Regatta comes in enough delicious colours to keep everyone happy, with sizes for ages two to 14.
M&S scallop hair bow and scrunchie
Putting your hair up is a bit like pulling your socks up – it signals a readiness for knuckling down. Marks & Spencer has a great selection of accessories, including scrunchies and a bow in school uniform-adjacent coloured gingham.
Teens
Helix Oxford stationery set
A one-and-done approach might be easiest when you need all the stationery for secondary school. Helix is a classic academic brand that provides the complete set.
Leuchtturm1917 ballpoint pen
But that doesn’t mean one super special pen isn’t worth investing in. This Bauhaus-inspired ballpoint from heritage German stationery brand Leuchtturm1917 will make writing feel like a treat. It’s refillable and comes in a few different colourways.
Kokuyo x Noritake Haco Haco pencil case
Minimalist but fun, this pencil case is part of a series created in collaboration with Japanese illustrator Noritake. The sub-compartments will be as perfect for a pencil sharpener as for some contraband chewing gum.
Ykra mini wallet
With a rope and carabiner attachment to keep it safe, this mini wallet is made from sturdy cotton canvas and will fit cards and some loose change. It’s the colourful work of Ykra, a Hungarian company inspired by the design of 70s climbing gear.
Clarks Wallabee shoes
First released in 1967, Clarks Wallabees have a rich fashion history. According to GQ, they’re “still loved by Liam Gallagher, Tyler, the Creator and basically half of Tokyo’s menswear scene”, so wearers will be in illustrious company.
The North Face Chuckwalla daypack
This bag is available in three colourways and understated enough to appeal to teens who like to blend in, but it can also provide a canvas for some extrovert DIY bag decorating. Plus, it’s big enough to fit a 16in laptop and lunch.
Post-It notes
An oldie but a goodie, and never not useful for adding some purpose to pandemonium at the start of the new academic year.
Papier academic year diary
The perfect space to plan the year ahead, revision and all, including pages for goals and to-do lists. The only downside is that there will no longer be any excuse for missed deadlines.
Koh-i-Noor eraser
Koh-i-Noor is a classic stationery brand – one of the world’s oldest. It might be best known for its pencils, but this eraser will add a touch of magic to any pencil case, and not just because it can erase graphite and pastel lines, ink stains and Indian ink.
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Women
Dilling socks, pack of three
Dilling makes seriously good socks. And a pair from this pack of three should put a spring in your step for your proverbial first day of term.
Bleu De Chauffe Musette suede bag
Bleu de Chauffe is a French brand that makes the kind of bags I imagine smart Parisian women might keep some marrons glacé, their keys and a copy of Sartre in. This suede Musette bag in chestnut-brown should fit a packed lunch and your diary, and should last for many terms to come.
Shirts
Cos, Arket and With Nothing Underneath all do a brilliant, crisp shirt with back-to-the-grind energy. But why buy new when you can search for secondhand? Ralph Lauren men’s shirts have a boxier cut that allows for more freedom of movement, and the roomier sleeves are all the better to roll up when you mean business. Plus, a brand synonymous with prep feels like the perfect fit for this moment. Vinted has a campus’s worth of excellent styles and colours.
Sebago Classic Dan leather loafers
Loafers are the grownup equivalent of a new pair of school shoes, with their satisfying head girl “clip-clop” sound. This pair from old-school Maine-founded Sebago was reduced in burgundy at the time of writing.
Crawford & Henderson Tulip card holder
William Morris was a Marxist socialist, making him an interesting choice to decorate a bank card holder. But modern life is full of contradictions, and this is a beautiful way to bring some order to an untidy bag this September.
Men
Bam stripe socks
Nothing says back to school like a pair of new socks. But unlike back-to-schoolers, you don’t have to go for black. This bamboo block-stripe pair will delight every colourphile; try them with loafers or your most “proper” shoes for a real boost.
Delfonics inner organiser bag
A bag can be a sloppy chaos or an ordered paradise. This one comes with the architecture to make sure it leans towards the latter – four outer pockets and four inner. It’s also A4-friendly and has a laminated inside to keep things clean.
Trickett Ivy shirt
East Coast preppy has been one of the most dominant trends in fashion lately, and this shirt offers that up in spades, despite being the work of a company based in Accrington, rather than Connecticut.
Hyde Wares card wallet
It’s old news that museum and gallery gift shops are treasure troves of independent brands making quality wares. But here’s fresh evidence: this wallet from a Sheffield-based leather goods company is available via the Yorkshire Sculpture Park and is the perfect pouch for all those coffee loyalty cards.
Solovair Cordovan Gibson shoes
Solovair makes the perfect shoes for people who grew up wearing Dr Martens but would now like something a bit smarter without going for a full brogue or anything too serious.
Stationery and accessories
Cambridge Imprint square notebook
Cambridge Imprint makes such pretty notebooks you’ll be tempted to keep them for decoration rather than actually writing in them.
Lamy Safari fountain pen
It’s been years since most of us wrote with a fountain pen, but an old classic, in a contemporary colour, will make taking meeting notes feel as important as your GCSEs. It’s available with different nib widths, including one for left-handers.
Clairefontaine leather pencil case
This feels like the kind of pencil case a gallerist or your art teacher might have had – understated but not underthought. Just enough to hold a few carefully chosen pens and pencils while keeping the stationery collection manageable.
Hay Multi laptop cover
Jazz up your day-to-day with a fancy new laptop case from purveyors of tasteful but fun Scandi design, Hay. The soft yellow colourway is lovely, but the darker shades might be more forgiving.
Mark’s Tokyo undated planner
Mark’s Tokyo is a stationery company that was founded in Japan in 1982, and its classic planners have brought order to several million weeks in the decades since. A safe bet if you want to get organised.
Nalgene Sustain water bottle
I’ve never been happier with a water bottle than a Nalgene. They come in colour combinations Rothko would’ve swooned over and are BPA-free. Choose between the wide or slim neck and find a hue that will make you feel happy.
For more, read our review of the best travel mugs and reusable coffee cups
Penco tape writer
I recently splashed out on one of these labellers, and it has brought order to an otherwise cluttered house (and mind), which makes it feel worth its £21.50 price tag. I’ve used mine to label jars in the kitchen but have big plans for documents and random boxes of stuff soon.
A Slice Of Green lunch box
Two-tier and plastic-free, this is the Rolls-Royce of lunch boxes. With three compartments of different sizes, it’s perfect for making sure things don’t get too smushed up on your commute.
Hightide Penco tote bag
Getting to a grocery checkout and realising you have your own bag is always satisfying. This one is perfect for those dinner ingredients you need to grab on your way home. It has a 14-litre capacity but packs down small with a strap, making it the perfect tote to keep in your other bag.
Large natural cork noticeboard
Some people don’t need order at home to function in the outside world. If you’re not one of those people, try getting yourself a massive cork board. Perfect for adding shopping lists, notes to family members and invites to upcoming birthdays.
For more back-to-the-grind inspo, read Jess Cartner-Morley’s September essentials
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