Mens Style Gifts 2012 - Gift Idea for Men: Briefcases & Messenger Bags

Gift Idea #2 of 10 for Men: The Briefcase

Having started yesterday, everyday, for the next 10 days, we at Cheap-Neckties are featuring a stylish gift idea any dude will appreciate. Yesterday we featured a pair of dress shoes, and today we are serving the classic briefcase.

Anyone who works in the professional world owes it to themselves to own a high-quality briefcase. The right briefcase can take practically anyone’s appearance to the next level, and can be just as functional as it is attractive. Shopping for a briefcase isn’t always easy, however, and many people choose simply to avoid purchasing them altogether because they don’t know where to start. Briefcases make perfect holiday gifts for men who have a strong interest in fashion, and don’t have to be expensive to purchase. The following are just a few things to think about when shopping for a briefcase.

What to Look For
You’ll want to look for a few key features when shopping for a briefcase. Material, for example, is very important, and most high-quality briefcases are embossed with leather. Genuine leather briefcases can be quite expensive sometimes - especially when paired with a designer label, although they are much higher in quality than those that are constructed from fake leather. Storage is important, but given today's paperless society, where iPads trump stacks of paper and folders, a thin, sleek, and lightweight briefcase might just be the top choice. Finally, look for pieces that feature secure locking mechanisms, as this can help to prevent theft.

Best Piece of 2012
There are plenty of nice briefcases to pick from on the shelves, although the one that truly stands apart from the crowd is the Saddleback medium leather briefcase. Constructed out of thick, full grain boot leather, none of the parts on this briefcase are even remotely breakable. Rivets at every stress point means this briefcase isn’t likely to break no matter how much abuse it takes. It’s not cheap at around $400, but then again no high-quality briefcases are.

While we like the robust and rugged look of this briefcase, it may not be for everyone. After all, you want to match the briefcase to a man's overall style. Sophisticated businessmen that often like 3 pieces suits and cufflinks, for instance, would most likely prefer a finer calf-skin briefcase by designers such as Ferragamo or Tom Ford. Young and trendy suit & tie wearers (those wearing slim fit suits and skinny ties) would do well with brands like Jack Spade (shown above). Sporty men that work in a more casual business setting might love messenger type of bags by hipster brands like Friday out of Berlin, Germany or Chrome out of San Francisco. Keep these things in mind when shopping for the perfect briefcase to give as a present.

How to Wear It
Carrying a briefcase is similar in many ways to carrying a wallet, in that the best way to go about doing so is to pair colors. Brown briefcases look best when paired with ensembles that show a brown base, while black should be worn when carrying a black briefcase. Mixing these two neutrals can cause clashing, and is typically not recommended. You’ll also want to take the gold/silver buttons and clasps on a briefcase into consideration. Like blacks and browns, gold and silver accents are best kept separate from one another, and should not be combined. If you’re wearing a belt with a gold buckle, for example, a briefcase featuring silver accents may cause a disconnect.

Other Gift Ideas:
Gift Idea #1 of 10: Dress Shoes

Your Cheap-Neckties.com Team