From the runways in Paris to the streets of New York, it’s clear that backpacks are back. And this week, JanSport is launching two of its most popular pack collections in exclusive prints and colors exclusively at Barneys. It’s a high-end move for the mainstream accessories line, but a move designed to target a new generation and segment of customers.

Taking cues from its own designs dating back to the late 60s, JanSport worked together with Barneys to create the perfect collection of bags, marrying cool blue tones and leather details with festive grey plaids; a mix of JanSport’s heritage with Barneys’ modern flair.

Our two faves are the “Large Frame Pack” (photo at right) and the “Swinger” (photo above) in traditional heritage plaid. The first features an aluminum frame added to JanSport’s original award-winning design to allow for sturdier and more flexible storage space. The “Swinger,” meanwhile, is a revamp of JanSport’s original 1989 design, re-imagined in a lightweight material with side stash pockets and seatbelt webbing shoulder straps.

The bags are part of JanSport’s new collection for Barneys, available beginning tomorrow exclusively at select Barneys locations and online at barneys.com.

Instead of aiming for drama, mood and atmosphere, the braintrust behind New York's highly anticipated Fashion’s Night Out have hit us with an ostensibly unfashionable “PSA” featuring some of the world’s top models. But maybe that’s the point. Unlike the rest of New York Fashion Week — which panders to the industry’s elite — FNO is for the casual fashionista; at least that’s what a series of decidedly un-glam, grinning supermodels will have us think. The above trailer features 14 of the industry’s top models directed by world-renowned photographer Peter Lindbergh, in an effort to drum up hype and support for the now annual shopping event.

See a sampling of the night’s festivities, including in-store appearances from the Olsens, Alexander Wang and Janelle Monae, after the jump…

Dreamed up by VOGUE’s Anna Wintour last year, the sophomore version of FNO looks to eclipse its predecessor in both size and scope. On September 10th, New York’s bold and beautiful will embark on an all-night (stores are open until 11 but expect after-parties galore), celebrity-enhanced, shop-a-thon of the most epic proportions. To call this year’s scheduled events overwhelming is a massive understatement. Some of the night’s festivities include: a karaoke competition at Barney’s hosted by the Olsen twins; Opening Ceremony’s indoor flea market at the Ace Hotel featuring sartorial luminaries Alexander Wang, The Mulleavy sisters, and Joseph Altuzarra peddling their exclusive goods; Andre Leon Talley hosts a Janelle Monae performance at Ralph Lauren’s Soho shop; Karen Elson performs at Balenciaga; and the list goes on, and on, and on.

But despite all the promises of rare celebrity tete-a-tetes and a chance to party with New York’s gliteratti, FNO’s not-so-secret mandate is simple: make a profit. The fashion industry was one of the biggest casualties of the recession and FNO is their chance to help its friends bounce back. Need further incentive to open up your wallets? More details and a full lineup of events can be found at www.fashionsnightout.com.

-Daniel Barna

It turns out trunk shows aren’t just reserved for ladies who lunch anymore. Barneys New York is giving everyday fashion fans a chance to get first dibs on the fall collections, with a one-day trunk show event dubbed “Trunk-a-Palooza.” Taking place this Wednesday, the event will feature ten fall/winter 2010 trunk shows happening simultaneously. Among the designers participating: Corduroy faves Shipley & Halmos and Rag & Bone, as well as Alexander Wang, Richard Chai, Vena Cava, Helmut Lang and 3.1 Phillip Lim (photos above). Many of these designers will also be on-hand to show their collections to shoppers personally. In addition to scoping out the new pieces before they hit the store racks, there will also be limited-edition items available for sale.

The event takes place this Wednesday, April 21st on the Co-op floor of Barneys flagship store on Madison Avenue in New York. Drinks, designer appearances, and live music from DJ Beverly Bond between 5-8 pm. Details online at barneys.com.

To celebrate the launch of his new book, fashion blogger and street-style photographer Scott Schuman (a.k.a. The Sartorialist) is setting up shop in New York and London, with a new pop-up appropriately titled “SartoriaLUST.” The retail space — at Barneys New York and Liberty of London — has been specially curated by Schuman to showcase all the “sartorial” things that he appreciates, uses and lusts after.

Clothing brands represented include cozy tees and heavy shirts from Schuman-approved favorites like Ralph Lauren, Jil Sander and Marc Jacobs, along with special menswear pieces from newer labels like Duckie Brown. The only leather goods line showcased at the deftly-compiled shop is WANT: Les Essentiels de la Vie — a line of covet-worthy leather bags, luxurious totes and classic accessories based out of Montreal. For the pop-up shop, WANT created a limited-edition, custom-made SartoriaLUST line, with the color, shape and size of each piece in the collection hand-chosen by Schuman himself. The pieces range from a sleek leather portfolio case to a classic black leather camera bag, perfect for Schuman and aspiring photographers and bloggers alike. All the pieces are stamped with the gold SartoriaLUST logo to ensure their collectors-worthy status. Want to check out the full line? Stop by the pop-up shop at Barneys or visit www.wantessentiels.com. The event runs until September 29th.

This fall, the special collaboration highlights animals found in the U.S. that have been listed as endangered or classified as being on “high alert.” These include the Bald Eagle, Grey Wolf, Barn Owl, Jaguar, Mission Blue Butterfly, Sand Hill Crane and Cougar. For the project, Loomstate has printed images of the animals on its trademark buttery-soft, organic cotton tees and jersey cotton dresses — think of it as a more friendly way to wear animal print. Loomstate and Barneys hope the shirts will spark conversation and awareness about the plight of these animals and encourage people to speak out or take action to help their cause. To get you started, a portion of the proceeds from the “Endangered” program/collection will be donated to Defenders of Wildlife, one of the country’s leaders in wildlife conservation. Good clothes for a good cause? Now that’s what we call a win-win. Details at www.barneys.com.

- TC