Laptop Bag Lifeline

Suze Orman - StyleFile

With the markets in flux lately, I've been seeing a lot more of my favorite celebrity financial advisor, Suze Orman, on TV.

I've read three of Ms. Orman's eight books (Women & Money is her latest - it's excellent!) and I really admire the work she does to inspire and empower all of us to handle our own money and improve our finances.

As Suze often says, it's tempting, especially in uncertain times like these, to hide your head in the sand over your financial situation. But this kind of dysfunctional relationship with money just makes it harder to get back on track.

In each of her books (and lectures and workshops and TV appearances) Suze always offers an actionable plan for change - and I love a lady who's action-oriented!

Suze Orman always looks put together - her personal style tends towards simple and classic. And I wanted to pick a laptop bag for her that would be a good investment! So the laptop bag I would recommend for Suze Orman is the Coakley Signature Suede Everyday Portfolio.

The Coakley Signature Suede Everyday Portfolio offers a classic, professional silhouette that embodies executive elegance. Each super soft sueded Coakley Signature Suede is engineered to be durable, stain resistant, light weight, easy to clean and, of course, timelessly stylish.

The Coakley is great for traveling from TV studio to lecture hall to the trading floor. Plus, its form fitting stretch neoprene back sleeve secures the bag to carry-on luggage handle for longer trips - you know, your book tours and such.

The Coakley's roomy compartments offer stretch neoprene pockets for eyeglasses (cases fit too), digital camera, PDA, makeup kit, financial presentation cue cards etc. There's also plenty of room for files, books, and bundles of fan mail.

The Coakley's laptop pocket sleeve is big enough to fit a 17" laptop. And the bag's luxurious inner lining is light-coloured, so that it's easy to locate what you need quickly. As a security feature, the Coakley's exterior front pocket houses a dual entry zippered security pocket for wallet and valuables - because Suze is all about hanging on to your money!

So Suze - I hope you find my laptop bag advice as helpful as I find your financial advice. And for all you fabulous women growing your own wealth out there, consider investing in the Coakley Signature Suede Everyday Portfolio at CareerBags.com!

Vivienne Tam's Digital Clutch Takes Laptop Chic to New Heights

I fell in love over at PopGadget just now when I saw their piece about  Vivienne Tam's Digital Clutch.  I mean, just look at it and tell me you're not smitten too. Look at it!

The Digital Clutch is a new mini-notebook that Vivienne Tam has designed in collaboration with HP. It packs a huge visual impact into a tiny 10 inches - a beautiful, romantic example of fashion shacking up with technology.

I think the design is stunning - I love the red lacquered look (even the keys are red) and the multi-layered peony print is gorgeous. It makes me want to sip green tea and work in exotic locales.

As you can imagine, I couldn't wait to pair this unique laptop with just the right tote. Something that would protect and complement the Digital Clutch without pulling focus (I feel that the Digital Clutch would not take kindly to being upstaged). In short, I wanted to find the perfect Digital Clutch laptop bag.

Enter the 3-Way Zip Business Tote by Jack Georges. This stylish three way zip business tote is subtle and smooth - a great counterpoint to the Digital Clutch's exuberant design.

The 3-Way Zip has a padded compartment to keep the Clutch cozy (as well as space for all of your other day-to-day items). It's hand-crafted from scratch and stain resistant Italian leather. Like the Digital Clutch, the 3-Way Zip is lightweight and ideal for your mobile, fashionista lifestyle.

The Digital Clutch won't be in stores until January 2009 - plenty of time to order your Jack Georges 3-Way Zip (or put it on your holiday wish list)!

Welcome Urban Junket!

Another exciting new line to introduce this fall - we're now carrying beautiful Urban Junket laptop handbags at CareerBags.com!

Urban Junket is a Minneapolis-based handbag company founded in 2005 by Tracy Dyer and Tracy Arnold. Their goal is to combine inspired and unique styling with efficient, usable spaces to produce bags that perfectly balance luxury and utility - and I'd say they've succeeded!

This bold blue Maxine Laptop Bag was the first to catch my eye - its saturated color reminds me of that deep blue sky you only see in the fall. The Maxine's metal ring details add current style to rugged Italian leather with a distressed, vintage look.  The Maxine features double shoulder-length handles and a soft shape that makes it very comfortable to carry.

The Maxine has multiple organizational pockets and pouches inside and out - plus, each Urban Junket laptop bag comes with a removable padded laptop sleeve that can accommodate laptops up to 16". The plush, zippered sleeve features a hook and loop strip to keep it in place.

If Mary Tyler Moore was heading to work these days, I think she'd be toting the Urban Junket Judith Laptop Bag in Cognac- as you can see, it goes nicely with her "bronze" look!

The Judith is a hand-crafted Italian leather satchel with a sturdy, distressed finish. It comes with shoulder handles and a detachable shoulder strap for easy carrying (modelled on the right by Ms. Tyler Moore).

The Judith is a fantastic design - the crocodile-textured front pocket holds all of your need-to-reach essentials and, when you don't want to bring your whole bag, the Judith's front pocket detaches to become a stylish handbag!

The Judith is a pretty large bag - excellent for use as a carry-on luggage, whether or not you're travelling with your laptop.

Like all Urban Junket bags, the Judith comes with the plush laptop sleeve to keep your laptop protected as you navigate the urban jungle.

Whether you're flinging your tam o'shanter in the air or just heading to a meeting, Urban Junket bags are sure to turn heads on the street and in the boardroom. See the Maxine, the Judith and rest of the Urban Junket line at CareerBags.com!

CareerBags.com on Let's Talk Makeup Podcast

If you've been dying to hear my Texas twang (and I know you have), now's your chance! This past Friday, I had the good fortune to be interviewed for my very first style podcast - a fabulous show about fashion, style and beauty secrets called Let's Talk Makeup.

I had a ball chatting with the podcast's witty, engaging hosts, SherryB from Loose Lips New York and Ebony from Make Me Over Eb. They were as excited as I am about the fashion, function and fabulousness of laptop bags for women.  I knew we were kindred spirits when we got to discussing how matching your shoes to your laptop bag may be wrong - but it feels so right.

To hear about the story behind CareerBags.com, how I met my sexy Italian husband, and how style and durability shouldn't be mutually exclusive, head over and listen to the Calling All Career Women episode of Let's Talk Makeup.

And when you're done listening, be sure to check out SherryB's gorgeous cosmetics at Loose Lips New York and Eb's Make Me Over Eb blog for great fashion and makeover tips. Thanks again for the opportunity, ladies!

Chic Up the Office

When I was a kid, my favorite parts of back to school were the new school supplies. The pristine notebooks, the sharp, coloured pencils, the pink pearl erasers - I couldn't get enough of that clean-slate, brand-new, ready-for-educational-action feeling!

As an adult, I tend to channel my September school supply mania into choosing new office supplies. And fall is the perfect time to get the office organized (especially my office - fall leading up to Christmas is our busiest time). 

Of course, the shopping is a key component of the office organizational "process" (well...*my* organizational process). And I've been getting this fall's office supply fix at a new, woman-owned online office style and supply store called Sorting with Style.

If you're looking to chic up your office, start your search at Sorting with Style. Their colorful, stylish office supplies are guaranteed to help you get organized and brighten your work day! Because...PRETTY.

I met Sayeh, the woman behind Sorting with Style, (she also blogs at Chic.a.holic) at the gift show in San Francisco this summer and have had my face pressed up against Sorting with Style's virtual storefront ever since, waiting for them to launch.

The store offers a selection of fabulous, unusual finds - and they're just getting started! The collections they have up already offer a rich source of office supply inspiration and eye candy.

Because I'm always looking for opportunities to be more earth-friendly, I felt justified spending a good while ogling the colourful notebooks, file folders and clipboards in the Eco-Chic collection. And because I am so cosmopolitan, I spent some quality time browsing their Escape to Paris collection as well, which made me want to treat myself - and my files - to a European vacation.

I love the idea of bringing a little of your personal style to the office. Of course, coordinating your office supplies with your laptop bag may be taking it a bit far.

Or IS IT??

Yes, well...I'll leave that up to you.

Now that my real world office supplies are taken care of, I've got to get my virtual office spiffed up too! Stay tuned for my next "At the Office" post, where I'll talk about some kicky software applications that help keep my virtual desktop free of clutter. Until next time! Or, as they say in Paris, à bientôt!

Win a $25 Career Bags Gift Certificate at The Integrated Mother

The Integrated Mother is finishing off their Back-to-Mom Giveaway this week and CareerBags.com is a sponsor!

The Integrated Mother is a fantastic site for working moms, "helping women bridge the gap between motherhood and career by providing them with resources, advice and community." It's a great place to connect with other working moms - and their Back-to-Mom Giveaway gives you a chance to win some amazing prizes from Working Mother Magazine, Sitter City, Flex Success and more.

Speaking of more - you could win a $25 gift certificate towards any purchase from CareerBags.com! It's a snap to enter (the contest is designed for working moms, after all) - just leave a comment describing your ideal handbag on this post and wait for the prize draw September 12.

There are several other great prizes to be won but the contest closes at 11:59 pm EST on September 11, 2008. So head over to The Integrated Mother and enter now!

Welcome O Yikes!

I'm thrilled to introduce another fantastic, functional line of bags - we're now carrying O Yikes! bags at CareerBags.com!

O Yikes! has created a line of colourful, stylish bags with a focus on versatility, organization and efficiency. O Yikes bags are designed to keep up with your ever changing life – whether you're toting your laptop to the office or packing the baby’s diapers.

O Yikes! has three main stand-alone silhouettes - the traditional laptop Messenger,the signature hands-free Slingback Backpack or the retro Square laptop tote.

All the O Yikes! bags have ample pockets and great organizational features - plus, the bags can be further customized with purpose built matching accessories to meet the everyday demands of your active lifestyle.

I personally can't keep my eyes off the hipster chic Square bag (it comes in Turquoise, Apricot and Avocado). The shape may be a square but the functionality and appeal is anything but!

The nostalgic wool 1960s retro inspired bag is perfect for active, urban living, with plenty of room to carry all the essentials while you’re hanging out at the record store or sharing a hookah with friends.

The bag is lined in micro fiber and is nicely padded to protect your 14" laptop. The Square is also expandable, allowing an extra 2” - perfect for carrying everything from family, school, travel, and work gear.

I also love the 9.2.5 Slingback Package by O Yikes - not only is it the perfect collection of bag and accessories, but it's also a great value.

The package includes the signature Slingback bag, the padded 15" laptop sleeve and the accessory case for your cords and other necessities.

The Slingback has two large main compartments and six internal pockets to help you keep everything in its place. It also has an external bottle holder with a drawstring closure - handy for on the go hydration!

The matching accessory case keeps all your cords, USB keys, etc. in one place. The case's see-through mesh pockets are an excellent feature for a compulsive bag-checker like me - they make it easy to see what's in there.

Sometimes, you don't need your whole bag. That's when you whip out the matching laptop sleeve! The padded, stand-alone laptop sleeve comes with handles and shoulder strap. It also has a back folder pocket, for extra storage, making it perfect for popping out to a meeting or heading to the coffee shop.

I've just given you a taste - there's plenty more O Yikes! goodness to see! Check out the entire O Yikes! line at CareerBags.com.

The Public Health Educator and her Leaf Laptop Bag - Professional Profiles

Our latest Professional Profile comes from CareerBags.com customer Kristin, whose search for an eco-friendly laptop bag ended when she found the Leaf by HER Design! Below, Kristin talks about her work as a public health educator, why the Leaf fits her lifestyle and, of course, what's in her career bag.

Name: Kristin Tehrani

Location: Berkeley, CA

What do you for a living?
I work in public health education programs and have done this nearly my entire adult life. The purpose is public education campaigns and promoting services that motivate people to live healthier lives. I have worked in breast health education, nutrition education and counselling, taught quit smoking classes and designed community programs.

How did you choose your career?
I chose my career out of 2 passions:  my love of food and good health, and a strong sense of community stewardship.

What's been your biggest career challenge?
Behavior change and social change is slow. 

What's been your most rewarding professional experience? 
My most rewarding professional experience has been teaching health and nutrition education in Guatemala, Central America as a Peace Corps volunteer in the early 1990’s. In a developing country like Guatemala, small changes in health education have such a great impact.

What advice would you offer other women interested in pursuing a career in your field?
Be patient, be committed, stay positive, and don’t expect to get rich. The work is very rewarding, and can also be very challenging because of political climates, inadequate resources, and the enormity of needs in some communities.

How would you describe your personal/business style? Classic? Casual? Funky?
I am definitely casual.  The nature of my work doesn’t require a formal style because I spend more time working directly in the community than I do in meetings or in an office.  I also work in Berkeley, California, which has its own casual dress culture.

What were you looking for in a laptop bag and why did you choose the Leaf?
I was looking for a bag that was lightweight on its own and earth-friendly in its production. When I can, I research and evaluate what I buy so that it has a low impact on the earth and does not expose workers to unsafe chemicals or conditions. I chose this laptop bag to go with my newly purchased refurbished Mac computer – another earth- friendly selection because no new materials were produced for my laptop.
 
What's in your career bag? What day-to-day essentials do you carry around?
During the work week, my career bag is also my purse so I want it lightweight, stylish and versatile. I always have an emergency essentials kit, my lunch, my wallet, and a few work files. On the weekends, one will find my computer, current knitting project, a book, or some combination of all three.

Thanks, Kristin! I'm sure the Leaf is a big hit there in Berkeley. If you know what I mean. And I think that you do. Readers, if you're looking for a little leaf of your own, check out the Leaf Laptop Bag by HER Design at CareerBags.com!

Try Your Bag On at CareerBags.com

It’s important that your laptop bag fits all your stuff. It’s important it fits your stature too. Even if you know the dimensions of the laptop tote or business case, it's still hard to know if it will look out of proportion with your frame.

When I first started CareerBags.com, a lot of our customers would call me with questions like:

"I'm looking at Laptop Bag X on your site. It seems rather large and I'm only 5'2" - will this bag make me look like a hobbit?"

or:

"From your picture, you look like you're about my size. Does Laptop Bag Y look good on you?"

The need to address these questions is the raison d'être behind our new “Try It On” feature at CareerBags.com! The "Try this bag on" button helps you take some of the guesswork out of online shopping by giving you an idea of the size of the bag relative to your height.

Here's how it works:

Pick a laptop bag that tickles your fancy over at CareerBags.com. I'll choose the McKlein Serra Laptop Tote, one of my faves for fall.

Once you're on the individual product page for your bag, check at the bottom of the page, under the "Add to Cart" button, for the "Try this bag on" button.

Once you click on the "Try this bag on" button, a screen will open like this (this one shows the Serra on a "petite" frame):

Simply select the right height range (I've picked tall just for fun - I'm really a medium):

And see how the bag will look with your frame!

Many of the laptop bags on our site have a "Try this bag on" button already. We're working on adding this feature to the rest of our bags so that you can try them all on with just a few clicks of the mouse.

In the meantime, if you have a question about a laptop bag or business case that doesn't have a "Try this bag on" button yet, don't hesitate to call CareerBags.com at 1-877-261-7953! Together, we can find your perfect laptop case - the one that says "Fabulous!", not "Frodo".