Stylish and Practical Bags for Work and College

Finding the ‘right’ bag for work or college can be tough. You think you’ve found the perfect one, in terms of style, price and quality. You then discover your laptop is slightly too big for it or it’s too small for your laptop and notepad together. Well, I’ve found a few options that not only give you ample space but are stylish too. You’re bound to find one that suits your style and budget.  

​This one here is cleverly designed. You can either wear it on your back, over your shoulder or carry it as a holdall. It’s also made from strong material, making it last longer. If you want to store your gym gear in the bag too, you’ll have plenty of room for it. If you chose to do that, make sure to keep the bag clean so it doesn’t smell. Uniqlo are one of the best retailers for technical wear in my opinion.

If your budget can stretch higher, I’d suggest the Scandinavian brand, Rain. With a name like that you’d assume that its products are rainproof and you’d be right. Its main focus is on bags with minimalism at the heart of the designs. I’d recommend the Scout Bag which is available in black, blue and stone. It has a matte finish to give it that extra stylish look, without being boring.

​If you’d like to opt for something a bit smarter, perhaps this leather briefcase which has an outer pocket and two inner pockets is for you. There’s the option to carry it in your hands with the short straps or throw it over your shoulder and use the long strap.

The brown leather laptop bag in the image above was bought at Debenhams a few years ago and is designed by John Rocha. Due to it being 100% leather it scuffs easily, which you should keep in mind. His bags are well made and Debenhams seem to have sales quite frequently so keep an eye out. 

This chocolate brown briefcase will save you some money but doesn’t cut back on style. The blue interior with red polka dots add extra personality to the bag. The bag is made from a waterproof fabric, if you were to get caught out in the rain. Its strap is adjustable which is handy. I’d suggest using this bag if you have a notebook device or a tablet rather than a laptop so you’re not pushed for space.

So, go with a waterproof bag like one of the ones mentioned above for the autumn and winter months. I purposely went with bag colours that were quite conservative in nature to go with a classic business setting. However, the more creative your office and occupation is the more colourful you can be with your style. Rain, Uniqlo and HE Mango all have bolder colours to choose from in terms of their bag packs. I'll let you be the judge of what's NSFW.