Laptop bags have come a long way since the standard issue.
You know the ones: boxy, bulky, with badly sewn velcro closures and uncomfortable shoulder straps. No wonder they came free with the computer.
Why can't laptop bags be as stylish as document bags or handbags, you wonder? Thankfully, designers have twigged that laptop bags are an essential part of every workhorse's life and that no self-respecting career woman worth her Montblanc fountain pen wants to tote a velcro monstrosity along to meet clients.
Enter chic options from Muji to Armani. British label Paul Smith, known for its quirky and colourful designs, boasts canvas carrying cases that will surely be the envy of your colleagues.
If you're in the creative industry, you can get away with clutching the one in the picture right, costing $269, from Paul Smith at Level 2, Hilton Shopping Gallery.
But Prada is a sure bet with many banker types. The Italian label has a range of laptop totes to suit the classicists, ranging from tessuto (its signature "parachute" material) to saffiano (a hardy leather).
Its laptop bags can also double as document cases and even come with handy compartments for pens and Blackberries.
This season, the saffiano leather range comes in black, navy blue and olive green, and costs from $2,150 to $2,280. If you prefer a more casual vibe, the tessuto collection, mostly in black, ranges from $770 to $1,800.
For a touch of whimsy, consider the Signat Attache range from Samsonite Black Label. It looks like an elegant retro suitcase on the outside, but holds delightful, patterned treasures inside - like a removable laptop sleeve, a pencil case and pockets for phones and personal digital assistants.
But a note about these carriers - they may not fit a laptop larger than 15 inches, so keep your computer chic and compact if you want a case to match.
For the truly discerning, Italian luxury label Bottega Veneta has a range of butter- soft laptop bags, for men, women or both.
Be it brown, black, grey or even purple, the bags come in the marque's signature intrecciato - or woven - design, and convey to every client you meet that you are all style and all substance too.
This one is especially useful as an all- in-one if you don't want to carry a handbag and laptop bag separately.
It will set you back a cool $5,770 to $6,330, depending on its size, but you will get much mileage out of it as it doubles as a weekend travel bag.
This article was first published in The Straits Times on September 8, 2008.
