14

February

Don’t Wear A Backpack With A Suit

Should we never wear a backpack with a suit? Do backpacks really not go with professional attire? All those style critics give us great advices “Men’s “Fashion Do’s and Don’ts”, we’d better listen to them and take these tips on board. As we get older we all become less self-conscious but we don’t want to look too ugly. Justin Bieber would still look pretty even in a prison uniform, but if our trousers were 1/2 inch shorter than they should be, that’d be a “faux-pas”… Do you care? Not so much?

brown shoes + beltWe all know the very basics such as a brown belt shouldn’t be worn with black shoes, and vice versa. Oversized clothing is another one – that becomes more of a challenge as you age and your body gets flabbier and stiffer. You’re losing muscles from your chest-up, so if you choose to wear a bigger shirt just because it feels more comfortable, chances are that the shoulder area is too broad looking like there’s a pad in each side. What looks ugly needs to be fixed. Either you should have your shirts tailor-made… or never give up muscle exercises!

Don’t Wear A Backpack With A Suit

Puma Backpack
Puma Backpack

Now, is it really bad? Is there any way to carry a backpack over the suit jacket smartly? Of course it depends on the colour combination, shape and quality I guess? To me it’s as if a backpack would add some sporty personality to a man in a suit. Yes he would look much more professional with a briefcase for sure, but he goes to gym on the way home. The bag on his shoulder says “I’m not just a pretentious city executive, I’ve got things to do outside working hours”.

Except that what he may have in the bag is actually a big bulky lunchbox, a flask and a family-sized Kettle Chips that would never have fit in a briefcase.

Are Backpacks For Schoolchildren?

Is it because backpacks are associated with school kids? If that’s the case, we are allowed to wear a backpack as long as it has a chic, adult looking, perhaps is a leather? But then chic leather backpack wouldn’t really be for a gym. Gym bags are usually enormous and that’s the reason those imaginary sporty executives are wearing a backpack.

Tommy Hilfiger Messenger Bag
Tommy Hilfiger Messenger Bag

Wear A Shoulder Bag Instead?

That’s probably a good idea – except that not many shoulder bags can hold as much as backpacks do. If it’s too bulky and strapped over your suit jacket, you might look like you’re carrying 200 copies of religious (or political) publication leaflets to distribute. (Nothing’s wrong with that – I’m still looking for a bag for a posh city executive guy who also works out)

Backpack Damages The Fabric Of Your Suit!

By wearing it on your shoulder, the straps will damage the fabric of your suit jacket. Yes, I agree. Therefore in that respect, only a briefcase or holdall should be allowed if you’re wearing a suit. Then it would be a “no-no” to shoulder bags too!

Adidas Backpack
Adidas Yellow Backpack – Yes? No?

Nylon/Polyester Bags Are Cheap!

Yes. They are. But what about those guys in a suit carrying a small suitcase in the City? Wouldn’t that be a very ugly sight too? You have a busy conference schedule – Edinburgh this afternoon, then to Nice tomorrow, come back via Frankfurt, so you want to take a light Polyester suitcase with 4 wheels, dragging it all the way to the Luton Airport? I see grandmas wheeling one of those in supermarkets. That’s allowed and Polyester backpacks are not?

So Would I Wear A Backpack With A Suit?

I wonder if backpacks are given such a “faux-pas rate” by fashion critics because the state left with by the owner. You polish your shoes, have your suits dry-cleaned every week, and it only makes sense if you treat your bag in the same way. And I bet those backpacks are thrown on the train floor every day, get chlorine stains from gym pool and never get washed. Those machine washable nylon bags are never the same once washed anyway.

So yes I think I would wear a backpack over my suit, but I’d choose one carefully and take care of it carefully. No black backpack if you’re wearing brown shoes!

How I "Finally" Make Over $6,000 Monthly Income

"The most valuable thing I've ever done!"

About the author 

Ray Flexión

Driven by dreams, grounded by reality, taking revenge on life's challenges. Whatever you say, I stand strong. I'm kind-hearted, though unapologetically true to myself. I stumble but I rise. I am who I am , no excuse.

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked

  1. Hi, I like your text about backpacks and when to use them. There is a lot of good arguments against using them with suits, I would agree with what you write. But this is perhaps because I never wear a suit. In fact I do not have any. Now you guess, yes I do use backpacks all the time.

    Do they really change when you wash them? Not those which I use, and I do wash them in washing machine. And no, I never put my pack on any floor. They are synthetic and not affected by washing at all. But I use good backpacks, from reliable brands, both for mountaineering and everyday life. Samsonite for the later, and Deuter for the former. Try them you will see.

    1. Hi Jovo, thanks for sharing your thoughts. It’s good to hear that someone takes care of backpacks really well, choose a good quality bag, wash it, and never put it on the floor!

      I guess my “imaginary executive men who also work out & deliberately buy a backpack out of necessity” are very rare! I do know if they have a sense of style and wear a good suit, they will choose a good business bag too.

      I’d love to know what good, reliable mountaineering bags are available also! Any suggestions?

  2. This is hilarious. The way you write seems like it belongs in a novel. Reading a post with the title “Don’t wear a backpack with a suit,” I was expecting the fashion faux pas and the reference to children, but I was NOT expecting commentary on suit fabric damage! That is something I’ve never thought of! I agree with you that backpacks are a better choice than rolling around a suitcase every… single… day. On public transportation too, ugh. But I say “no” to the yellow one!

    1. Hi Elizabeth, thanks for your comments! I’m glad you enjoyed my post – not that I’m not taking clothing or grooming products seriously, but I don’t want anyone to think that I’m trying to create a fashion guide here! Not to the yellow one then, I thought yellow could make a good contrast against “old man’s charcoal jacket”, but I guess it could look too childish. Thanks again!

      Ray

{"email":"Email address invalid","url":"Website address invalid","required":"Required field missing"}