Rachel Zoe is famously quoted with saying that fashion is a way of communicating who you are without saying a word. This quote could not be more true, when it comes to business and your own personal image. All those dress codes and corporate culture rules are there for a reason – to make sure that you look as professional as the rest of your team. For women it means one thing – having that one perfect bag, which is as classy, as it is functional. It is not easy to find such a bag for a reasonable price, but we are here to help you remember about the most important things and help you make the most important decisions.
Know your expectations
Before you embark on a shopping spree to look for the one, perfect office bag, stop for a moment to think what it is that you are actually looking for? Do you carry a lot of documents to work? Do you need a computer bag or will a simple handbag be enough? What is the dress code in your company? Are you free to dress however you want, or do you have to abide to strict rules, when it comes to colors and styles of your outfits? Finally, how much can you spend on the handbag? If your budget is not big enough, you will have to make the decision on what is most important to you and what you do not want to sacrifice.
Functional features
Ideally, an office bag should have more than one pocket and more than one compartment inside. If you carry many things with you, a proper organization is a must. To stay professional you need to be able to pull out a required document or your mobile phone within seconds. Getting annoyed, because you can’t find something in your own bag, is as far from professional, as possible. If you need more space to carry your notebook, consider buying a separate laptop bag. There are certain advantages to this solution: two bags feel less heavy and more manageable than keeping everything in one bag. Another advantage of the two bag solution: if you do not need to take your laptop to work every day, you can simply leave the notebook bag behind, without having to repack everything.
Outer appearance of the bag
The way your bag looks from the outside is just as important, as what is inside. The best option would be to buy a leather handmade bag, but this can be expensive. If you can’t afford anything exclusive, try to find a bag, which is elegant and looks like a genuine leather bag, but has no extra adornments – they usually do not fit the office style. Classic colors, such as black, brown or nude are the best, but you can also choose red or navy, if you want to add a bit of color to your office attire. Patterns are an option only if your office garments are plain – too many different patterns in one look can be a bit distracting.
