Male Fashion; Backpacks and Professional Clothing
There are many men who need to carry documents, papers, laptops and other important files to and from the workplace. Carrying any of the above loosely in the hand runs the risk of being dropped, damaged, lost or stolen.
We were trained from the first day of school to put our books and such in our backpacks. Eighteen or more years of toting a backpack creates an instinctual rationale that a backpack is what everyone uses and a backpack is practical.
As we graduate from school, we transition into a different world where appearance is important and is the first to be judged. In short, we mature into adults. Given below is why a man should not use a backpack for commuting any documents or laptops to and from his job.
Maintaining a professional image
If your career requires you to be professional and obey the company dress code, then undoubtedly you will be wearing a well fitted suit from time to time. Even if you are not required to wear a suit or a blazer jacket, you should consider maintaining a professional image. Clothing, style and grooming are the three pillars of the professional image.
A man who wisely spends time, effort and money in classic menswear, abides by simple style guidelines and takes pride in grooming himself will certainly convey an image of a man who will put forth greater effort in greater tasks in the professional world.
Why a backpack undermines the professional image
Ask yourself this question: What do you think of when you picture a backpack?
You probably think of a young boy with an overstuffed backpack being hugged by his mother and running to the school bus. Or you think of rugged man using a backpack to carry a week’s worth of necessary items in the Rocky Mountains. These two situations almost are synonymous with the backpack.
The worlds of business, medicine, law, etc. are not. If you are a professional who takes time to wear suits, blazer or dress shirts, then should you not take the time to make your accessories professional? The mature professional image calls for maturity in all aspects. Simply, using something school boys rely on is not mature and looks silly.
Backpacks damage your clothing
Yes, it is true. If you wear a backpack, the straps stress the clothing fabric. Over-packing a backpack, will overtime damage your clothing, leading to wear and tear before it is necessary.
If you invest in well made and well tailored clothing, then you should consider avoiding anything that will damage your costly clothes. A backpack is no exception. All of the weight of the backpack is carried on your shoulders.
As you naturally move about while wearing a backpack, the straps and clothing underneath shift and twist with every step you take. Friction is created and the fibers of your shirt or jacket will be under stress. While this devastating result is not immediately apparent, if you constantly stress your clothing, you can count on the life of your clothing investments to be short.
The best alternative to the backpack for the professional man is a briefcase. This is the grown up version of a school boy’s backpack. A briefcase is a timeless accessory to any man’s professional image. Do not be afraid to get rid of your backpack and start using a briefcase. There are hundreds of different styles and many colors and materials to choose from; there are thin briefcases for papers and files, there are briefcases large enough to fit a laptop or any other personal electronic device.
You do not have to spend hundreds of dollars on a handmade briefcase; rather check to see if your grandfather or father can give you their trusty briefcase or visit your local second-hand shop to pick up a briefcase for cheap. Whatever kind of briefcase you get, it will save you money and will build your professional image.
How a briefcase saves you money
Holding your briefcase in your hand will not damage your clothing. There are no straps that rub against your dress shirt or suit coat. Overtime this lack of stress on the clothing fibers will prolong the life of your clothing.
How a briefcase builds your professional image
Using a briefcase is professional and mature. The clean lines of the briefcase will complement your professional image. A leather briefcase is simple in design and will not be distracting as a backpack would be. Remember that a briefcase is like any other leather accessory; your briefcase should coordinate with your outfit.
A black coat or suit and black shoes call for a black briefcase. Navy blue clothing and burgundy shoes call for a burgundy-colored briefcase. Are you wearing brown shoes? Then carry a brown briefcase. Simple but yet very effective. Paying attention to style and using a briefcase not only as a tool but as a style accessory, will certainly make you look more professional than if you would be using a backpack.
One last word on the briefcase
Do not use the strap if the briefcase comes with one. What is the point of a briefcase if you use a strap? Just carry the briefcase in your hand. A mature man no longer associates himself with his childhood past. As a schoolboy he used a trusty backpack to carry more books than necessary. Shoulders were raw and backs were aching from over-stuffed backpacks, but that is the price we paid when we were in school, we are no longer in school.
There is no more need to use a backpack in the professional world. A backpack ruins your clothing and damages your professional image. Save the backpack for when you go hiking or hunting; use a briefcase — whether it is a handmade leather briefcase or a hand-me-down — you can count on feeling, looking and being professional.
We were trained from the first day of school to put our books and such in our backpacks. Eighteen or more years of toting a backpack creates an instinctual rationale that a backpack is what everyone uses and a backpack is practical.
As we graduate from school, we transition into a different world where appearance is important and is the first to be judged. In short, we mature into adults. Given below is why a man should not use a backpack for commuting any documents or laptops to and from his job.
Maintaining a professional image
If your career requires you to be professional and obey the company dress code, then undoubtedly you will be wearing a well fitted suit from time to time. Even if you are not required to wear a suit or a blazer jacket, you should consider maintaining a professional image. Clothing, style and grooming are the three pillars of the professional image.
A man who wisely spends time, effort and money in classic menswear, abides by simple style guidelines and takes pride in grooming himself will certainly convey an image of a man who will put forth greater effort in greater tasks in the professional world.
Why a backpack undermines the professional image
Ask yourself this question: What do you think of when you picture a backpack?
You probably think of a young boy with an overstuffed backpack being hugged by his mother and running to the school bus. Or you think of rugged man using a backpack to carry a week’s worth of necessary items in the Rocky Mountains. These two situations almost are synonymous with the backpack.
The worlds of business, medicine, law, etc. are not. If you are a professional who takes time to wear suits, blazer or dress shirts, then should you not take the time to make your accessories professional? The mature professional image calls for maturity in all aspects. Simply, using something school boys rely on is not mature and looks silly.
Backpacks damage your clothing
Yes, it is true. If you wear a backpack, the straps stress the clothing fabric. Over-packing a backpack, will overtime damage your clothing, leading to wear and tear before it is necessary.
If you invest in well made and well tailored clothing, then you should consider avoiding anything that will damage your costly clothes. A backpack is no exception. All of the weight of the backpack is carried on your shoulders.
As you naturally move about while wearing a backpack, the straps and clothing underneath shift and twist with every step you take. Friction is created and the fibers of your shirt or jacket will be under stress. While this devastating result is not immediately apparent, if you constantly stress your clothing, you can count on the life of your clothing investments to be short.
The best alternative to the backpack for the professional man is a briefcase. This is the grown up version of a school boy’s backpack. A briefcase is a timeless accessory to any man’s professional image. Do not be afraid to get rid of your backpack and start using a briefcase. There are hundreds of different styles and many colors and materials to choose from; there are thin briefcases for papers and files, there are briefcases large enough to fit a laptop or any other personal electronic device.
You do not have to spend hundreds of dollars on a handmade briefcase; rather check to see if your grandfather or father can give you their trusty briefcase or visit your local second-hand shop to pick up a briefcase for cheap. Whatever kind of briefcase you get, it will save you money and will build your professional image.
How a briefcase saves you money
Holding your briefcase in your hand will not damage your clothing. There are no straps that rub against your dress shirt or suit coat. Overtime this lack of stress on the clothing fibers will prolong the life of your clothing.
How a briefcase builds your professional image
Using a briefcase is professional and mature. The clean lines of the briefcase will complement your professional image. A leather briefcase is simple in design and will not be distracting as a backpack would be. Remember that a briefcase is like any other leather accessory; your briefcase should coordinate with your outfit.
A black coat or suit and black shoes call for a black briefcase. Navy blue clothing and burgundy shoes call for a burgundy-colored briefcase. Are you wearing brown shoes? Then carry a brown briefcase. Simple but yet very effective. Paying attention to style and using a briefcase not only as a tool but as a style accessory, will certainly make you look more professional than if you would be using a backpack.
One last word on the briefcase
Do not use the strap if the briefcase comes with one. What is the point of a briefcase if you use a strap? Just carry the briefcase in your hand. A mature man no longer associates himself with his childhood past. As a schoolboy he used a trusty backpack to carry more books than necessary. Shoulders were raw and backs were aching from over-stuffed backpacks, but that is the price we paid when we were in school, we are no longer in school.
There is no more need to use a backpack in the professional world. A backpack ruins your clothing and damages your professional image. Save the backpack for when you go hiking or hunting; use a briefcase — whether it is a handmade leather briefcase or a hand-me-down — you can count on feeling, looking and being professional.
Culled and edited. Credit: Real Men Real Style
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