Real Men Carry Their Briefcases?

[eliev]

I am going to be working for a large American consulting firm in Paris which is pretty conservative. I have heard a lot of people say that it is not appropriate for men to wear bags with shoulder straps to work (in that kind of company), and that "real men carry their briefcases". The two reasons I have heard are (1) style, image and (2) shoulder straps can damage your jacket.

Obviously a backpack is out of the question. But what are your thoughts about carrying a briefcase with a shoulder strap?

Of course, the issue here is not looking like a "real man" but just dressing appropriately in a business setting!

Company policy is to dress however your client dresses. I was wondering what was done in companies you might have worked in.

 

[xraygun]

If ever there was an example of "When in Rome" this is it.
For an American in that setting I can think of nothing better than a Hartmann attache. I love my hand-me-down one, it's 50 years old and still looks great. Hartmann didn't even charge me for a new handle.

 

[Jawaburger]

As long as you aren't using one of those carry-on bags with wheels that I see so many people use these days. I REALLY hate those!

 

[BingeAndPurge]

As long as you aren't using one of those carry-on bags with wheels that I see so many people use these days. I REALLY hate those!

HAHA +1 I've been saying that for years when they first started popping up at university.

 

[Doc4]

I have heard a lot of people say that it is not appropriate for men to wear bags with shoulder straps to work (in that kind of company), and that "real men carry their briefcases".

Is that opinions you have heard from people in that company or with direct experience of that company and/or Paris? If so, heed it well.

If not, you are left to your own devices, but ... in what you call a 'pretty conservative' company, I'd err on the side of ... well, of conservative. So, no shoulder straps.

 

[galopede]

It's in Europe. Surely we all carry man bags here! I do. Haven't seen a briefcase in years.

Gareth

 

[Go West Young Man]

San Francisco has a fairly Euro style, and everyone has a bag slung across their shoulders here.

 

[razumny]

I'd say get a briefcase that has detachable straps, that way, you can change it to suit your customer.

 

[Kazeryu]

I'd say get a briefcase that has detachable straps, that way, you can change it to suit your customer.

+1

This is what I got several years ago when starting a new job. For the first year or so I carried it by the handle every day. Eventually I became a bit more relaxed and started enjoying the shoulder strap instead.

 

[rajagra]

Do you mean a more formal briefcase with square lines, or the more casual satchel style?
The former would look very silly with a shoulder strap IMO. The latter would be fine.

But the real answer is to stop overloading your case. If you find yourself needing the strap all the time, you are probably heading towards getting shoulder bursitis.

 

[The Count of Merkur Cristo]

I've always carried (no straps...as my Father before me...[I have a vintage-look Wilsons Leather Briefcase simular to the attached image, I brought in 2000...sadly, no longer produced]), my briefcase in Europe and in CONUS.

“Too often I find that the volume of paper expands to fill the available briefcases” Jerry Brown

 

[xraygun]

Square lines with handle=attache.

 

[blantyre]

I work in a very casual setting and happen to own the company I work for. I never use a briefcase with a carrying strap - I just don't like them.

 

[little Big feather]

REAL MEN IN BUSINESS carry briefcase...No strap..!!IMHO..

 

[legrandfromage]

Carry only; leather only. You want to look serious and at least marginally sophisticated, especially if you are youngish and your time is being billed out to clients.

 

[Stubblefield]

The biggest reason not to carry a briefcase with a shoulder strap is that the strap gets in the way when you carry the briefcase by the handle. Stuffing the strap inside seems a poor option.

The first thing I do when purchasing a case is to ditch the strap.

 

[shaveitoff]

It's 2012. You can get whatever works best for you as long as the briefcase has a decent overall appearance. Straps are very handy in this day and age. If you have a smart phone, you don't want to have to put down the briefcase jut to work the phone. Also, if you need an umbrella, the strap is very handy - even while carrying the umbrella you have one hand free.

You say the company policy is to dress like the client dresses. They will likely have a variety of briefcases, computer bags, etc. You can't worry about dressing like the client to the extent that you are worried about straps vs no straps.

 

[Legion]

`No strap for business, strap for casual, IMO.

 

[johnmrson]

I think you'll find it better to fit in with the country you're working in, not the home land of the company you're working for.

 

[vegasvics]

Here is my Texier briefcase, actually bought on a business trip to Paris circa 1999.