I first discovered the Cambridge Satchel Company when I spotted a (particularly fashionable) friend of mine carrying the brightest bag I have ever laid eyes on. Instant love.

So of course, I delved into an investigation and discovered that the bag she was carrying was called “The Fluoro”, a collection from the English leather company that takes on the look of a satchel with an insanely bright 80’s-esque hue. Seriously, what is not to love about that?

As the inspirational story goes, the creator of the line, Julie Deane, started making the bags with no previous design experience, but to sell as a way to pay her daughter’s private school tuition (aw!). The bags are modeled after old school British style book bags — the Cambridge and Oxford “satchel” look — and come in just about every color.

Word on the buzzing fashion streets is that British Elle magazine challenged Deane to create the world’s brightest bag. Needless to say, she rose to the challenge — the Fluoro was born and it was born in four glorious neon shades — Orange, Pink. Green and Yellow. Hellooo 80’s!

So many choices!

So the bag is crazy and outrageous and it very well may be one of those things I look back on in 20 years and laugh at — like leg warmers and crimped hair — but for now, it’s the latest thing. Plus, we all know fashion works in cycles…I’ll probably be breaking this bad boy out in years to come.

I know what you’re thinking…European leather, super trendy, all over the streets of New York, on every fashionista in town, recipe for expenditure, right? Wrong! The bags are right around $150, depending on the size that you choose.

An approachable "it" bag

So go forth, young fashionistas, and feel no guilt when indulging in the current “it” bag. I personally will be gifting myself the 13” Fluoro as a prize for completing the school year in good great academic standings (go me!) but am open and willing to take any and all color suggestions…God knows I want them all, but as a broke college student, I’ll have to stick with one.

What I'm leaning toward

I’m leaning towards the yellow — what do you guys think??