September is the real new year: 39 brilliant buys to supercharge school, work and everything in between

September brings the “new-term energy,” and this guide curates 39 back-to-school and workday essentials—from kids’ kits to items for teens and adults—aimed at making the first weeks feel easier. The roundup opens with lunch and hydration ideas for young kids, including a Munchkin kids bento lunch box that’s dishwasher-safe and BPA-free, plus a Klean Kanteen 355ml bottle with a leakproof flip cap. It also includes a Clarks shoe cleaning kit to encourage early habits, a Frugi navigator backpack with reflective details, and a reusable waxed-cotton pencil case from Yolla Studio. Other picks focus on stationery—Legami mushroom pencil sharpener, Kitpas washable crayons, and Legami erasable pens—and ends with a Regatta waterproof packaway jacket suited for sudden downpours.