I haven't used a backpack since my embroidered L.L.Bean special in 8th grade. And then I left Montana for boarding school in New England, where everyone carried either super-expensive Il Bisonte leather packs or straight-from-the-French-countryside Pierre Deux quilted totes. I opted for the latter, which I still own and occasionally bust out for weekend trips. But I never got over my crush on the former, even though I have no real need to splash out for a pricey leather backpack at this point in my life. Which is why I think I'll go for this one instead. I think it might be an awesome way to haul stuff around the city this summer... but is it a big deal that it's not real leather? Thoughts? And while you're on Alloy, check out their other spot-on, slightly bohemian picks, like this leather necklace and this embroidered peasant top.

It must be hilarious to anyone who knows me now—I'm arguably not the most graceful person around—but I used to be a dancer. I guess I should qualify that statement, slightly ... I took ballet until I was about 13. Nobody was trying for Juilliard or anything. In an unsurprising twist, I was primarily into the outfits involved, particularly those jersey wrap skirts and off-the-shoulder ballet sweaters. While watching a preview for the Wayans brothers movie, Dance Flick (tasteless! Yet also hilarious!) this weekend, I felt a pang for my dance gear. Those wrap skirts are decidedly not street-appropriate, but I think I'm going to bust out a ballet sweater over some worn-in tanks this spring.

Camp is coming up a lot in my life lately (i.e. everyone seems to start rehashing camp memories in the springtime, or having reunions with their friends from camp). Being from Montana, where it was all fake camp, all the time, I was never sent away. I never had a camp boyfriend, a camp best friend forever. I was never a camp counselor. You get the point. What I think I'm saddest about is that I never got to wear special, camp-specific clothing. Which might explain my predilection for a rolled-sleeve button-down, aka a camp shirt. I like these American Eagle versions (under $30). This Martin & Osa version is also good—but worth an extra $40? It definitely seems more work appropriate, if I wanted to take it in that direction.

I was an art major in college, and as lame as it sounds, I intentionally allowed paint to get all over my T-shirts. Dorky, I know, but I loved the way it looked. As with most things, however, it's often best to leave splatter painting to the professionals (my tees were way more messy than cool).  I'm seriously coveting this splatter-print T-shirt from Forever 21, since it also appears to be freakishly soft. It's a bit like this dress on Fred Flare I blogged about a few weeks ago, but more understated. For $13.80, I definitely can't replicate the effect myself. But I wonder: Is this one of those retro trends I should just be avoiding altogether? What say you?

I totally think so, as long as they have a flat face and are sized for a pinkie. (And have no weird fake jewels in them.) In fact, I really want one, though I want a ring stamped with a family crest even more. But I don't have a family crest, and while I could probably draw one up and have it made, it's not what I want to be spending money on right now. That said, when it happens, it's going to happen with this guy. Aren't these rings amazing? In the interim, I think I might settle for a monotone ring from the excellent Etsy shop thebeside. I love how it's basic but still has patina. Doesn't it look old? I'm loving it.

I like the idea of an antique pocket watch as necklace (a theme that's definitely popped up in the pages of the magazine from time to time). They're fairly easy to track down at flea markets, but then you have to hunt around for the appropriate chain ... so cut to the chase with this one, which is less than $20 anyway!

In every cool home-accessory-centric store that I encountered while scouring San Francisco's shopping scene (which is great, by the way), they were bringing back the T. rex balsa wood dinosaurs. I remember building these when I was about five with my dad. You can get them here for $3.94—I want to create the entire wild kingdom, and then I might just spray paint all the creatures violet. Or cerulean blue. I like the basic natural color as well.