Photo Courtesy of Dunhill

If you thought you only had to wear a suit to look like the smart man you are at work, think again. It doesn’t matter what you wear, which shoes you don or how you shave off your scruff. The fact is, at the end of the day, carrying a sleek briefcase is all you need to make the perfect impression on your coworkers and ultimately, your boss.

So how do you know that the chosen one is a quality briefcase? When buying one of these beauties, you should look for particular assets – ones you won’t find in any other model. First, make sure the leather is of high-quality, giving it a special feel as it ages. Little tip, its smell will totally give away its authenticity. Another factor that should sway you towards buying a briefcase is its water-permeability; keep in mind that you will sometimes be facing rainy days and if said briefcase is not well-prepared for showers and storms, neither will you! Also, the hardware used to perfect the briefcase should be well examined, to make sure they don’t snap under-pressure. Whether you’d rather buy a soft-sided or a hard-sided briefcase is all up to you, but paying attention to its quality is mandatory.

To keep you inspired, we’ve rounded up a series of fine briefcases in the Photo Gallery below.

Cindy Menassa