How to Style a Leather Briefcase Bag
with Your Workwear Wardrobe

You know what they say, that first impressions never have a second chance? Well that’s true, and in the work environment it is all the more important that you make a good first impression, one that lasts for a long time, but in a good way. One way to achieve that is through your wardrobe, but it might be a bit trickier than imagined. No onboarding comes with a “what to wear with your briefcase” section, so it’s pretty much up to us to figure that out. In today’s article, we are going to look over the many ways you can style one of the most versatile office accessories, your leather briefcase bag.

Why a Leather Briefcase Bag is a Wardrobe Essential

It doesn’t matter if this is your first year in the work space or if you’ve been around for decades now, everyone needs a good leather briefcase bag. No, they’re not for the old folks only and they’re definitely not only for the newbies either. It’s an accessory that is not only stylish but also very practical in the work office, here’s why:

• It has a timeless appeal: articles made of good quality, full-grain leather will always have that coveted look that everyone low-key wants. Leather is the industry standard, if you will. It’s the Photoshop of editing programs, it’s the Excel of data analysis, it’s the TNR in Word Documents. It’s what everyone knows and uses for a reason – because it’s the best.

• They show professionalism: you can’t show up to your workplace wearing the same loose and dusty canvas bag you used in high school. This is your place of work, the place where you make business happen, you need to have a professional, well put-together look and this bag is the one to make it happen for you.

• It is one of the most functional items you can own: not everything is about aesthetics; you need something that will ease your load, something that will keep your files and documents tidy and something you can count on, and that’s what this bag is. Try shoving a document in a backpack and see if you’re pleased with the results. Nothing can compare to the crispiness of a file freshly out of an office bag.

• They’re very durable: you want every bag to be durable. But we all know that’s not always the case. Some materials are simply better, and leather is one such material.

Now that you know what makes it the perfect accessory and the one must-have office supply, then we can go on to how to style your leather briefcase bag with your wardrobe.

Tip. No. 1: Match Your Belt or Shoes Color to Your Briefcase

If there’s only one thing you remember at the end of this article, let it be this one: always match the color of your shoes to that of your bag, no matter the style or location. And this doesn’t apply to a briefcase only; it works for all kinds of bags.

This is one of the oldest tricks in the book for looking put together and polished. It is also one of the easier ones. If you want to look professional and let it be known that you know what you’re doing, without looking like you tried too hard, then this is the perfect way to do it.

Tip. No. 2: The Leather Briefcase Bag and the Tailored Suit Are a Match Made in Heaven

No one can contest the perfect marriage between a good, tailored suit and a briefcase, especially one made of natural and luxurious materials such as leather. In the workspace, this is the perfect look. Here are some more tips for this outfit:

• If you wear a dark-colored suit, you should also choose a dark-colored briefcase.
• For suits that are more on the light-tone, you might want to stick to a cognac or tan one.
• Pay attention to your watch and cufflinks hardware and try to match the color to that on the hardware on your bag.

Tip. No. 3: Smart-Casual Friday? Blazers and Chinos Save the Day

You might not want to wear a suit every single day and for those days when a smart yet casual look is required, the best course of action is to put your blazers and chinos to good use. A leather briefcase bag is all the outfit needs to be perfect.

If you’re looking for more of a relaxed look that is still able to keep its shape and make you look great, then you should definitely invest in a good pair of chinos. Multiple ones, actually. And if you own multiple styles of office bags, you might also want to go for a softer one, with suede or pebble finish to give off a more relaxed vibe.

Tip No. 4: Try a Monochrome Outfit

Monochrome styles are making a comeback and we love to see it. A full black outfit, with a black suit and a black briefcase, will take anyone’s breath away. If you’re a fashion-forward individual, you can even try experimenting with different colors, such as navy blue or dark green.

If you decide to try a monochrome outfit, one thing you can do to spice things up is play with textures. Remember, if an outfit is not interesting through colors, then it has to be interesting through shape or texture.

Conclusion:

There are many ways you can style a briefcase, especially a leather briefcase bag. The problem is that no one really teaches you how to. Sometimes, the best scenario is to try things out and see how you feel and how others perceive you. It’s everyone's first shot at life, after all, we’re all just trying to figure things out, so next time you’re in doubt, just try it out and see where it takes you. It might be some big places.