Products and Pointers

DIAPER BAGS WITH FASHION AND FUNCTION

By Kristy Larson

A crisp navy envelope bag. A versatile black knapsack. A faux-fur, animal-print tote. A camouflage backpack. Searching for the right diaper bag immediately raises the question: Fashion or practicality? Hopefully both.

Fortunately, retail shelves are bursting with endless varieties of baby diaper and toddler bags -- from the basic and functional to those featuring the hippest fabrics of the season. "Some diaper bags today do not look like diaper bags at all," says Lexie Sinton, a manager at Cradles of Distinction, a Chicago-based children's boutique. "They are hip and trendy, come in great colors, and look like a bag you'd carry every day."

Clearly, designers are stepping up to the challenge of offering an excellent-looking bag to carry bottles, diapers, and other baby necessities. In June, Prada introduced a sleek black baby bag -- for a "mere" $670. Coach also recently started making diaper bags, available in black, light blue, and pink. The water- and stain-resistant bag, which comes with a changing pad, retails for $248. And Kate Spade has been a solid hit with designer-savvy parents since she launched her nylon baby bag line about two years ago. They are available in two sizes and retail for about $200. Russ Patrick, children's divisional merchandise manager for Neiman Marcus, says people do not want to carry around the obtrusive-looking diaper bag covered in flowers anymore.

"You have to carry a diaper bag and you might as well have something that looks good at the same time," Patrick says. "Plus, today's bags look OK for the husband to carry, too." And you don't have to spend loads of cash to get a chic-looking number. At Cradles of Distinction, there are several more cost-effective, yet trendy, bags. One of manager Lexie Sinton's favorite lines is Bebe Doi, a French manufacturer that makes basic black and functional diaper bags. The price of the bags is between $79 to $150. Sinton also raves about Chicago baby bag designer Jane Baird, "a mom who designs for moms." Sturdy and machine-washable, the bag comes with lots of useful pockets and retails for $75.

But if trendy is your calling, then look to Baby Mania, a Los Angeles-based company that makes diaper bags in tiger and leopard prints and fake fur. The bags retail for about $280. Whatever bag you choose, it may be wise to check for the basics before buying: changing pad, pockets, and tidy compartments.

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