Being green ain’t easy. Recycling, environmentally friendly beauty products, eco clothing, you have to think about this shit. And in college when most of your brain cells are still trying to compensate from last nights drinking binge, thinking comes just about as easily as being eco conscience.

Even before the whole green movement, I discovered one of the easiest ways to help out the environment: reusable bags. The good news ladies, is that they are totally in right now! Not only can you help the earth while going on a beer run, you can be considered as chic and as green as they come.

Surely, even in the college towns, you didn’t miss Anya Hindmarch “Not a Plastic Bag” craze/controversy. Fashionistas were lining up for the $7 dollar version of the canvas tote, while they were being sold on EBay for upwards of $600 dollars. Now, international launches of the bags have been canceled in Southeast Asia because of their “concern for their customers safety.” Cuh-razy fashion folk, they’ll do anything to be in!

Despite the fact that Hindmarch’s website denies the accusations, a London paper reported that the bags were made in China using cheap labor laws and were neither fair-trade nor organic. Huh?

Personally, I like this one a lot better.

Even USA Today decided to take on the trend, with the help of Sally Singer, news director at Vogue. Now, any old tote will do. But why look smarmy when a fabulous new bag will do the trick? For my last minute grocery shopping trips, I stow a foldable bag in my purse. And for a bigger trip to the (liquor) store, I tote along one of these.

The best thing is, Singer says that the Citizens of Humanity bag has now become as popular as the jeans. I, for one, just took it from the freebie table at her little sister magazine to tote all the editor hand-me-downs that came with being a Christmas time intern.

These cotton string bags will always be some of my favorites as they evoke a very European feel. And these super cheap plaid totes, made popular when Marc Jacobs made them in Braided Leather for Louis Vuitton, are perfect for toting massive amounts of dirty clothes back home…or in my case dirty clothes and dirty dishes.

What can I say? I’m lazy AND totally eco chic.