Does Your Bag Match Your Career?

By Brian Maynor

 

A while ago I wrote an article about how your bag reflects your personality, but today I want to look at how to make sure your bag is a match for your career, and why it matters.

A few weeks ago, I had to intervene when a friend of mine started carrying a Patagonia backpack as her purse.  After joking about it for a few days, clearly she was not picking up on my hints, so I had to be blunt and ask: “As a professional, accomplished woman looking to build your business do you think carrying around an outdoor backpack is the best choice?”

Her first response was typical, “I have a two-year old and this beats a diaper bag,” to which I responded, “Your daughter is at school, so why do you need to carry a diaper bag with you to work?”  Silence.

It’s easy to just stick with something because ‘it works’, but aside from the quality, color and material most consideration stops when we find a style we like that works for our needs.  While each of those requirements is important, I encourage you to add one more consideration, does the bag match your career?

Here are a few of the most popular styles of workbags and the careers for which they are best suited:

1.    The briefcase.  A quintessential symbol of the business world, the briefcase has undergone a few changes over the years.  The hard-sided double latched boxes have been replaced with softer lines and silhouettes.  This is a great bag for anyone in a structured and formal career like banking or law.

2.    The portfolio.  There are two main options when it comes to portfolios.  One is simply a pouch with pockets for your notepad, pen, a few papers and business cards, and the other is more traditional with a foldout design for holding slightly more, like a tablet.  Either way these are perfect for creative careers or entrepreneurs because they work well in meetings and allow you to keep your essentials at hand.

3.    The tote.  This bag is great when you have a lot of things you need to carry, or organize.  This is great for advertising, marketing and PR executives because it gives you room to pack in your samples while keeping it all organized.  Just be weary of overfilling it.  A stuffed bag does not read well and is likely to create an embarrassing situation.

4.    The satchel.  A personal favorite, this bag is similar to the tote with the big construction difference being the wide, flat base with fewer inside compartments.  This makes it ideal for careers that have a lot of reports or folders like publishers or consultants.

Matching a bag to your career may seem a little overkill, but we’ve all seen people impeccably dressed in a traditional suit carrying a backpack or cloth messenger bag, and it just throws off the whole image.  Function and style are still important, but there is more to consider when choosing the right bag.

 

Click here or on the images below to learn more about the outfit.

Click here or on the images below to learn more about the outfit.

 

I am always curious to hear some of your weekend wardrobe dilemmas and challenges. Please send your comments and questions to [email protected]. Also find each of these storyboards at http://brianmaynor.polyvore.com with links to purchase each item.

 

About Brian Maynor

Brian Maynor has built a reputation as one of the leading style coaches in the Southeast and is quickly expanding his eponymous company, BRIAN MAYNOR and his FIND, FLATTER & FLAUNT line of image consulting services. A professional with a fresh, upbeat and down-to-earth personality and boundless creative energy, he works frequently with with local celebrities; Fortune 500 companies and nonprofit organizations; modeling agencies; fashion designers; production companies; record labels; media and individuals. A regular contributor to various fashion blogs and online communities, Brian Maynor is one of the most trusted and recognized style experts in the region, utilizing his education and training as a broadcast journalist to serve as a style lecturer, emcee, and commentator for over a decade. He has appeared at fashion shows, expos, and charity fundraisers, as well as events with big brands like Banana Republic, Ann Taylor, Chico’s and Macy’s. His approach is innovative, creative and fashion-forward, balancing fresh, modern styles with classic pieces to keep one’s look grounded. To learn more, visit http://www.brianmaynor.com.

 

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