by David Riel

Created on: April 13, 2007   Last Updated: April 25, 2007

You're going to wind up with a lot of briefcases before your career has run its course. Some will become stalwart campaigners, weather-stained and battle-scarred, others will keep their pristine looks and represent, despite their fine appearance, nothing so much as a waste of money.

Here's what you need to know to choose briefcases that will work as hard as you do.

The most important thing you have to consider is the size of the briefcase you need, because this will determine what styles are available from which you may choose.

Do you need a large case, like a salesman's sample case, or lawyer's case, or will something slimmer do? Choose the case that's large enough to meet your most demanding day - for example, one on which you need your laptop, files, a couple of books - but no larger.

This is the briefcase that will be your workhorse. It will rarely be completely full, but you'll be glad of the extra room to take some reading material you need to catch up on, or some lunch, or a gift for a client.

The next thing you need to consider is what your briefcase should be made of. Your choices are leather, nylon and other fabric, or metal such as aluminum.

Leather is nearly always the best choice. It keeps its appearance, often looking better with age, doesn't dent the way aluminum does, and unlike nylon - which can make you look like a high-school kid - always looks professional.

As for color, you can't go wrong with black, but you may also wish to consider some of the rich browns available. These can be quite stylish, and are less likely to be picked up by mistake as they're a bit more distinctive than the ubiquitous black.

Finally, it's a nice touch to have your initials stenciled in gold on the top of your briefcase. It'll only set you back another fifteen bucks or so, and it makes it less likely that someone will mistake it for theirs. This does happen, and it's always at the worst possible time.

If you keep these tips in mind you'll be able to choose a briefcase that will provide you with many years of service, and look good in the bargain.

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