Briefcase Question

[KalVarnsen]

I have an Otter Green Filson Briefcase (256), which I do love. However, I'm pretty high up in the organization (Education)....CFO/COO.

Do you think it's an eye sore if I use it with the occasional suit and tie? Blazer and tie?

Most days, I'm wearing Chinos and an Oxford shirt (mostly LLBean/Brooks Brothers stuff).

Should I go with a Satchel and Page-type leather briefcase instead. Would that seem too dressy with chinos/button-up shirt?

 

[Bankers_Stripes]

I would say it depends. My initial reaction to your post is, screw anybody who says anything to you about the bag. I googled the bag you have, and it doesn't look bad at all. Does it bring you joy? Then carry it. If you're that high up in the organization you are in, no one should be giving you a hard time anyways I'd imagine.

I definitely don't think it's any eye sore with a suit. I'll tell you what I think an eye sore is - I've seen C suite executives at large corporations walking around in a suit with white reeboks. Now that is an eyesore!

However, the only caveat I will say, is in certain situation in certain career fields, image and first impressions do still matter. Yes, it's 2023, there are hedge fund managers and senior law firm partners probably showing up to their offices today in jeans and boat shoes. But that being said, if you were a defense attorney meeting a potential client for the first time, you may want to be carrying something very formal and more expensive.

I don't work in the education field so I don't really know how image and perception is treated there. But I do know in many fields - consulting, law, high finance, etc. image absolutely does still matter to a degree depending on the scenario.

 

[rjc149]

This briefcase would be wholly appropriate for a business-casual environment or for a non money-managing/sales role. I see suits in NYC carrying Filson bags all the time.