MFA Bag Guide 2.0
by u/inherentlyawesome (2013)
The bag makes the man. Like outerwear, a bag is something that you'll wear around pretty much every day, and it'll quickly become a unique and distinctive part of your personal style. Here's some inspiration to see how bags can play a role in and/or enhance an outfit.
With that in mind, you should give some thought to the kind of bag you'll be carrying around daily. While looking for a backpack you should keep an eye out for designs that appeal to you and work well with your own personal style. Other details to note include the size/weight of the bag, whether it is waterproof or not, and the quality of the bag, which can be judged by the materials and construction as well as the brand's overall reputation. These are the two main things to consider:
Does it work with my clothes/style?
First off, make sure you're chosing the appropriate bag for your current style and needs. When you're looking for a bag, you should check to make sure it'll work with your outerwear. Typically, you'll want to have contrast between your clothes and your bag, though it's also possible to try for a monochrome look.
Typically, this means you'll be looking for plain, versatile colors, like grey, navy, charcoal, burgundy and black. If you're getting a leather bag, most shades of brown will work well, depending on your wardrobe.
However, this isn't a rule written in stone. There's nothing wrong with buying a unique backpack that you love, like this or this. However, understand that it might not work as well with your wardrobe. Furthermore, if it's a loud backpack, be wary of wearing it often: the novelty will wear off, and it will eventually come off as "tacky" to people that see it too often.
What will I use it for?
Use common sense. Choose a bag that suits your needs, whether you're bringing two notebooks and a folder to class, or if you're going backpacking through Europe for a month. Also take into account the situations you'll need it for: a leather briefcase isn't a good choice for a high school student, nor is it a good idea to wear a backpack with a suit/blazer.
Similarly, you should make sure your bag is big enough to hold everything you need (e.g., your 17" laptop), while staying at a manageable weight. Saddleback bags, for instance, can get pretty heavy. Be sure to take into account whether you'll need to carry your bag around all day or whether you just need it for the commute to work.
Also, be sure to prioritize function over form. If you have scoliosis or suffer from back/shoulder pain or otherwise have difficulty wearing messenger bags, don't buy them.
Types of Bags:
Backpacks:
For high school and college students, I'd say this is probably the best and most versatile option. You can wear them with anything short of a blazer/suit, they're convenient to carry around, and they'll have room to carry your books, a laptop, and whatever else you might need. Even if you aren't a student anymore, backpacks are still versatile and pretty useful for commuting and travel, especially for day trips to the city. Don't worry about looking juvenile, as there are a variety of styles to choose from, ranging from classic canvas bags to more technical and urban options. It's hard to imagine these styles as juvenile, though it is true that some backpacks give off a more youthful vibe than others.
Canvas backpacks work well with more classic types of styles, such as americana, heritage workwear, prep, and bizcaz styles. For beginners, I would recommend buying a canvas backpack. They are more versatile, as they work well among the pieces of the basic wardrobe. Check out this visual compilation of classic canvas backpacks for a couple of possibilities to consider. If you happen to like a certain backpack, but it's out of your price range, I'd recommend looking into the brand for similar and possibly cheaper options.
On the other hand, urban backpacks happen to work well for different styles, including streetwear and techwear. If you're more into that, I'd recommend this style of backpack. While some of these bags may not be as versatile in general, they can still work well among a variety of outfits within the streetwear/techwear style. Plus, some of them are pretty fucking cool. Black is a popular color, as that backpack color works particularly well in monochrome fits, and it contrasts nicely with most tops/jackets. /u/rjbman did a great compilation of urban backpacks for your consideration.
For more inspiration, take a look at this album, and check out more cool backpacks here.
Messenger bags:
Messenger bags serve the same role as backpacks do, though they tend to work better for college students and older. This is because messengers work better with "dressier" styles, such as prep and bizcaz. If you like wearing peacoats, cardigans, OCBDs + jeans/chinos often, this might be the right style of bag for you. The two major options to choose between are leather messengers and canvas messenger bags.
Canvas messengers are a more casual option and are better suited for class/travel than the workplace, though this varies from bag to bag. Many are actually waxed canvas, which is a nice feature that makes them waterproof/water resistant. Note that it's also possible to make your own waxed canvas bag, as /u/kerodean shows here.
Closely related are the "technical" messenger bags, made by brands like timbuk2. While they may be lightweight/durable/whatever, I will recommend against them, as most of their offerings simply aren't fashionable in terms of aesthetic design and in outfit versatility. This is neither a blanket ban on timbuk2, nor is it a set-in-stone rule. Feel free to ignore it, but you do so at your own risk!
Leather messengers are the more formal option, and play a similar role to briefcases. They work well for post-undergrad students, and can be office-appropriate. When looking for a leather messenger bag, you should look for "full-grain" or "top-grain" leather goods, as opposed to "genuine leather". This is because genuine leather is actually pretty crappy leather, and won't age well compared to the higher quality leathers. However, the drawback to requiring higher quality is the higher price. Also be sure to pay careful attention to the weight of the bag - leather bags can be heavy.
If you're interested in looking for a messenger bag of your own, /u/failspy did a cool infographic compilation of messenger bags here. Also check out this album for a few more messenger bag options.
Briefcases/Carpenter Bags:
Briefcases and carpenter bags are really more suited for the workplace and travel, as opposed to the more casual nature of the backpack and messenger bag. Briefcases, especially leather ones, really require at least a business casual level of formality, and they look fantastic when worn with a suit. As for canvas briefcases and carpenter bags, they aren't quite as formal, but you should at least be wearing dark wash denim and a buttondown to match the level of formality.
If you're in the market for a leather briefcase, again, you should really be looking at full-grain leather briefcases over the crappy "genuine leather" offerings. While it is more expensive, full-grain leather is higher quality, more durable, and will age well - check out how this Saddleback briefcase has aged, for instance. Don't cheap out on something that you'll be carrying around for years!
For more awesome briefcase pics, check out this album, and a related styleforum thread!
Weekenders/Duffel Bags:
Weekenders and duffel bags are different from the other types of bags in the sense that you shouldn't be carrying them around daily. Weekenders, as the name suggests, are travel bags that can carry exactly the right amount of stuff for a weekend getaway. Duffel bags serve a similar purpose, and they're handy for carrying a bunch of stuff, like your gym apparel. But while they might not be carried around as often, it's never a bad idea to travel in style. Most options come in canvas or leather, though I personally prefer canvas as they'll be lighter and therefore easier to carry.
If you'd like to see more weekender bags to choose from, /u/failspy also did a cool infographic compilation for weekenders/duffel bags here, and there's also this album to look at.
Other Types of Bags
Tote Bags could be a useful option if you need to tote a bunch of stuff around, like groceries or stuff for the beach. Though it has feminine connotations, there are a few examples that could work for guys: check these out.
Drawstring Bags are also a more functional kind of bag, rather than stylish - if you need a lightweight bag to carry a few small things around, this would be useful. However, don't expect it to be fashionable - most of them are made out of cheap nylon, and tend to be worn by high school seniors with senioritis.
Suggested Brands and Recommendations, Grouped by Style
This is borrowed from /u/MoPo918 's list of backpack brands, and annotated with my thoughts. I obviously haven't seen most of these brands in person, so I'd appreciate your thoughts. For specific bag recommendations, see the infographics associated with each bag type above.
$ indicates <$100 price range
$$ is for the $100-$250 price range
$$$ is for the $250+ price range
* denotes a recommended brand.
For Beginners: Cheap and Basic Bags:
American Apparel - $
Baggu - $
EASTPAK - $
Everlane* - $ - Both the Snap Backpack and the Weekender are excellent choices.
Fjällräven Kranken - $ Decent quality and a unique aesthetic - it's on the smaller side, though.
Herschel Supply Co. - $ Quality is a little lacking, though it has some great-looking and cheap options.
JanSport* - $ Great quality for the price, excellent warranty. I recommend the Right Pack.
Parrott Canvas - $
Penfield - $
Also recommended: search Etsy or eBay for "vintage rucksacks". the quality is not guaranteed, though it'll likely be cheap.
Rustic Woodsmen: Vintage, Leather, Waxed Canvas/Cotton, Rucksack, Outdoorsy
Altadena Works - $$
Archival - $-$$
Copper River Bags - $-$$ Cheap, full-grain leather bags.
Chapman Bags - $$ A quality english brand.
Duluth Pack - $$ The Scoutmaster Packs are interesting options.
Duluth Trading Co. - $-$$
Ernest Alexander - $$$
Far Horizon Traders - $$
Filson* - $$$ Rugged, high quality bags. The Small Duffle Bag and the 256 Briefcase are great options.
Frost River - $-$$ The Flight Bag is a great weekender bag option.
L.L. Bean / Signature - $$ Check out their waxed cotton backpacks and the L.L. Bean Signature Duffle.
master-piece - $$ A Japanese brand.
Makr* - $$ High quality, great looking bags.
nanamica - $$
Navali - $-$$
Orvis - $$
Qwistion - $$
Saddleback Leather Co. - $$-$$$ check out their leather messenger bags and briefcases.
Sandqvist - $$
Stighlorgan - $ -$$
Wheelmen & Co. - $-$$
Whipping Post - $$
WILL Leather Goods - $$-$$$
Tanner Goods $$-$$$ High quality bags.
Military/Technical Urban: Technical Fabrics, Ergonomic, Biking, Tacticool
5.11 - $-$$
Acronym - $$-$$$
BLACKHAWK! - $$
Burton - $-$$
Chrome Industries - $$ Tread with caution - some styles are decent, while others are overdesigned.
Côte&Ciel - $$-$$$ The Isar Rucksack is beautiful, but huge.
Dakine - $-$$
GORUCK* - $$ Tactical and pretty cool. Mudproof.
IGNOBLE - $$-$$$
Incase - $-$$
Kelty - $-$$ Stick to their Military/Tactical and Vintage stuff.
Maxpedition - $-$$
Mission Workshop* - $$-$$$ Weatherproof gear, minimal designs.
Osprey - $$
Poler - $-$$
The North Face - $-$$ The Hotshot is pretty cool.
TimBuk2 - $-$$ Tread with caution - some styles are decent, while others are ugly/overdesigned.
Tom Bihn - $-$$
Topo Designs - $-$$
Fashion: Designers, Natural & Technical Fabrics, Everyday Use
Note: With these, you'll be paying for brand as well; however, remember that high-quality leather is expensive.
Archival - $-$$
Coach - $$$
Burberry - $$$
Haerfest - $$ - $$$
Hermes - $$$
Iise - $$$. Check this review out!
Jack Spade - $$$
Killspencer - $$$
Louis Vuitton -$$$
Mismo - $$$
Solid Gray - $$ It looks cool online, but tacky in real life.
Tail Feather - $$$
Tumi - $$-$$$
visvim - $$$ check the stockists, and you might be able to find bags on sale.
Briefcase-Specific Brand Recommendations:
I actually don't know too much about briefcase brands, but here are some decent options that I do know of. Some of the brands above also make decent briefcases - the Navali Helmsman is a good-looking canvas briefcase, for example.
Custom Hide - A reputable company, decent quality for the price.
Frank Clegg - Quality American leather goods.
JP Marcellino - Quality American leather goods.
Lotuff Leather - Quality American leather goods.
Ortus - A Japanese brand.
Wood and Faulk - Technically not a briefcase, but the Northwesterner is a beautiful canvas bag.
yes, agree with your point, and very good article