Laptop Bag Lifeline

Fall Fashion Colors Perfect for the Office

I know it was 107 degrees last week here in Texas but I dragged my girlfriend out to shop for Boots because I couldn't wait another day longer. 

Every year I splurge on the September Issues of all of the fashion magazines. I love them and mark the pages of all of the yummy sweaters and jackets while I dream of living in a place where I can wear my new boots the first week of September. 

I do purchase the magazines for work so that I can help all of you choose just the right laptop bag to go with your new fall wardrobe and I even chose a new laptop bag for myself from Theresa Kathryn to go with my new Riding boots.

When I first decided to design Business Totes and Laptop Bags for Women back in the early 90's, it was the color Burgundy that drove me to make the decision. I went into store after store trying to find the perfect Business Case for an important meeting and all of the sales people showed me the same and only Burgundy small brief case.

After 10 stores I knew I had to help all of those women out there just like me and design a line of briefcases for women. I had to save them from the same Burgundy experience since I had nothing in my closet to go  with a briefcase that color. I eventually sold my company to follow that dream and have been saving women from boring business cases for almost 20 years.

And now ladies, BURGUNDY IS BACK! and we have some beautiful Rolling laptop bags and laptop totes that will make you look like a million bucks.  

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Red and Black shown together was all over the magazines and I have had quite a few customers ask if we had any laptop bags that are red with black trim and the answe it is YES.  One of our favorite brands called Jack Georges has some terrific styles as well as a few other brands

 

 

 

 

 

Here is another great laptop bag that would be perfect for this season that is well priced, made of yummy mahogany colored leather, can hold a 15.4" laptop computer and all of the essentials to go with it.                             

 

 

Rich deep brown, camel, black and Animal prints seemed to rule the runway as well for Fall 2001 and we have a fantastic assortment of laptop bags that will  compliment all of those colors.

 

Let us know what your favorite Fall 2011 trend is and we can find you just the right laptop case.

What to wear now that you landed that fantastic new Job!

So you are about to start a new job and you want to look sharp when you walk into your new position. To me, nothing exudes more confidence than feeling like you look your very best. Look like a CEO, after all that is most likely your ultimate goal.

Promise me that you won't walk in with a bulky black nylon laptop bag that was given to you with your brand new shiney Laptop Computer.

There are so many options out there and you want to look impressive the minute you hit that door.

Until you get acclimated I would go with classic and elegant. Once you are in there and you make your mark there are tons of fashionable, functional, and colorful bags that will fit your career and personal style. Until then I would stick with the classics.

 

  You cannot go wrong with a Classic, elegant bag from Coakley business class. I promise you will look polished, fashionable and in-charge. 

Each super soft sueded Laptop bag is engineered to be durable, stain resistant, light weight, easy to clean and fashion forward. Our luxurious Signature Suede™ line is available in a fresh new palette of colors that look great on everyone. A professional silhouette, this classic style portfolio embodies executive elegance. Was $350 Now $295 plus you get a free set of the fabulous accessory pouches for your power cords, mouse and makeup.

Dimensions: 16" W x 11.75" H x 6" D
Laptop Compartment: 14" Wx 10.75" H x 2" D
Fit laptops up to: 15"
Paroduct Weight: 3.4 lbs

Exterior Features:

• Leather top flap
• Densely woven nylon is light weight, water resistant and virtually indestructible
• Exterior front pocket houses a dual entry zippered security pocket for wallet & valuables
• Stretch neoprene pockets for cell phone, sunglasses and travel documents or transit pass

Interior Features:

• Luxurious light colored lining provides easy visual contrast to contents
• A leather key tab snaps to secure keys
• Leather pockets adorn the outside of the laptop compartment to hold PDA, business cards, mini disks and two size pens
• The dual access security pocket

 

 

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!

Tina Fey - StyleFile

I've loved Tina Fey since her Weekend Update days on SNL and I can't wait for the new season of 30 Rock to kick off (October 30 seems so far away...).  Award-winning writer, producer, performer, mom - Tina Fey does it all and makes it look easy.

Well, not always easy. Sometimes, painfully awkward. Yet hilarious. But that's all part of her brilliance

Not only is she smart, funny and feminist (three traits I deeply admire), Tina Fey is also, as my mother would say, a snappy dresser. With her dark brown hair and trademark dark-rimmed glasses, she owns her look and has created a style that is unmistakably her.

Which laptop tote could possibly compliment Tina Fey's look?
Behold the Quimby Quilted Laptop Brief by Clark and Mayfield!

As you can see, the Quimby is fun, flirty and fashion forward outside but inside, this bag is all business. The well-padded, removable laptop sleeve in the front compartment protects your computer and leaves plenty of room for your peripherals and daily essentials.

The back compartment of the bag is a large fan-fold section to keep files, scripts (and notebooks full of brilliant ideas) secure and organized. 

The Quimby also comes with an adjustable strap with a deep sponge-rubber cushion, making it super-comfortable to carry from home to office meetings to the set.

I think the quirky yet stylish Quimby would suit both Tina Fey and her 30 Rock alter-ego, Liz Lemon. Maybe I should send her a note at Ask Tina and see what she thinks? In the meantime, check out the Quimby Quilted Laptop Brief at CareerBags.com!

Christiane Amanpour - StyleFile

I'm a great admirer of award-winning journalist Christiane Amanpour. She is the Chief International Correspondent for CNN and over the course of her career, she has reported from countless war zones, secured exclusive interviews with world leaders and covered scenes of devastating natural disasters.

Her reporting is intelligent and very compelling - as she says,
"I have always tried to focus on human stories, to get behind the headlines."

Keeping the myriad demands of her profession, as well as her personal style, in mind, I found choosing the right StyleFile business case for Ms. Amanpour was a bit of a challenge!

Naturally, she needs a laptop bag that travels well, holds all of her files, gives her easy access to all of her news-gathering gadgets. But she also needs a business case that won't look out of place when she's receiving her Commander of the British Empire from Queen Elizabeth II or interviewing some of the world's most powerful leaders.

In the end, my laptop bag pick for Christiane Amanpour is the ultra-sophisticated Jack Georges Veroncia Business Case on Wheels. The Veroncia's hand-crafted styling, paired with its excellent laptop protection, smooth-rolling wheel action and extremely functional design makes it the ideal bag for an international on-the-go correspondent like Christiane Amanpour.

So Christiane - that's my laptop bag scoop for you! To get the full story on the Veroncia Business Case on Wheels (and the rest of the Jack Georges line), visit CareerBags.com.

Padma Lakshmi - StyleFile

Everyone I know is totally hooked on Top Chef. The drama! The disaster! And the FOOD. Good God, the food.  During the finale of Top Chef 4 in Chicago, speculation was running high over who would take home the title. For me, of course, Top Chef always has the same winner - the show's fabulous host, Padma Lakshmi.

It's easy to see why this accomplished food expert, actress, model and award-winning writer is an international sensation. She's articulate and funny, down-to-earth yet impossibly glamorous. Also, I would like her job.

Part of the fun of Top Chef is checking out Padma's style choices every week. I'm clearly not the only one - after the shows air, you can get the both the chef's recipes and take a look at what Padma was wearing.

I always admire her chic ensembles - well, maybe not the football jersey outfit she wore for the tailgate challenge in Episode 6 this season. But I admire MOST of her chic ensembles.

An international star and world traveller like Padma needs an international laptop bag. So my StyleFile pick for her is the Josselin Laptop Tote by London's Knomo Bags. It's stylish, modern and very lightweight - perfect for the fashionable woman on the go. Plus, the Knomo lost bag tracking system could come in handy for this jet-setting star.

So Padma, if you want your laptop to look as hip as you do, check out the Knomo Josselin Laptop Tote at CareerBags.com. Or, you know, just call me! Call me, Padma.

Arianna Huffington - StyleFile

As you can see in the sidebar, I'm reading Arianna Huffington's On Becoming Fearless at the moment.

And I regularly read her online magazine, the Huffington Post, where I can get both my incisive political commentary as well as up-to-date news on the latest Mini-Me sex tape scandal.

So naturally, when I was considering the next candidate for laptop bag matchmaking, Ms. Huffington was first on my list!

I'm a big fan of Arianna Huffington's confident, forthright style. Who wouldn't be inspired by her success as an entrepreneur, media mogul and activist?  With the election coming up and Obama yet to choose a running mate, some even say she should be the next Vice President. She certainly has my vote.

I think the Coakley Timeless Tweed Laptop Bag in Sand is the perfect match for Arianna's classic, polished look and on-the-go lifestyle. It's an elegant and very practical laptop tote, with a timeless, simple exterior and an interior packed with pockets and zippered pouches.

Sadly, Arianna rarely calls me for style advice - she's so busy these days, and then I suppose there's also the fact that we don't know each other. But if I see her toting the Coakley Timeless Tweed Laptop Bag around on Inauguration Day, I'll know my StyleFile message got through!

Reese Witherspoon - StyleFile

I was visiting Hot Mama Daily yesterday (one of my new favorite style sites!), when I saw this photo of the lovely and talented Reese Witherspoon on the go:

I totally agree with Hot Mama Daily's comments on Reese Witherspoon's hip style and the Fendi bag - gorgeous!

But the laptop tote? Reese, I must protest. Just because your laptop bag is black doesn't mean it has to be boring.

If you're looking for a slim, stylish ladies laptop bag in basic black, might I suggest the ACME Made Slim Cargo Laptop Tote? Its classic lines, sleek exterior and well-organized interior satisfy both fashion and function. I think this bag will make you look like a star you are - without pulling focus.

The ACME Made Slim Cargo Laptop Tote comes in Chocolate, Ecostripes and, for the Oscar-winner who wants to reminisce, Red Carpet Red.
 

Photo credit: Newscom

Ellen Degeneres - StyleFile

Given my line of work, I tend to see the world through laptop bag lenses.  I just can't help it. I see a woman in a suit and I immediately think "Ooo - I can think of at least three business cases that would pull that whole look together."

So I'm starting a new feature here on the blog that I call "Professional Style File", where I'll pair some of today's top business women with - what else? - today's top women's laptop bags!

For my first official attempt at laptop bag matchmaking, I thought I'd start with one of my favourite business women (and entertainers), Ellen Degeneres. I'm such a huge fan of hers - plus, we have the same first name, which makes me feel cool.

Ellen's on top of the world right now - her talk show's a huge hit, she just won another Daytime Emmy and she's getting married! She's witty, savvy, successful and a true inspiration.

Ellen generally sports a classic look but she has a wild and crazy side too, if her daily booty shaking on her talk show is any indication. So the bag I'd pick for her is the Golla "Dance" Laptop Messenger. It's bright, colorful and stylish, just like Ellen herself.

Plus, Golla Bags are made of cotton (like the Golla "Jive" Laptop Messenger) or nylon (like the Golla "Dance" bag), so they're animal-product-free - perfect for an animal lover and activist like Ellen Degeneres.

So, Ellen, that's my StyleFile tip for you! I think the Golla "Dance" laptop bag is just the right accessory to help you get your groove on and keep it going all day.