My solution to that for interviews is the Tom Bihn Cafe bag. (I have the medium, which is big enough for iPad + keyboard case, a letter size folder (9x11ish inches), and I have it in black so that it looks professional when it needs to look professional. (when it does not need to look professional, I have pin-on buttons on the flap.)
Which is not to say you need *that bag*, but rather that this kind of thing might do? The things that I think make it look more professional include:
- Smooth lines (not a lot of pockets and straps visible, the foldover flap helps a lot, etc.) Also smoothish fabric finish.
- Solid dark color (you could do black or gray or navy, but anything outside that is a little iffier.)
- I tend to think the vertical alignment (rather than horizontal) makes it look less like a messenger bag-for-computers and more like something else.
- The fact it's over the shoulder rather than hand-held (though it has a strap for easy picking up/etc.) helps too. (Maybe it's just me and my hatred of over-the-elbow purses.)
I've seen similar styles on Etsy in cloth, and in a couple of the leather bag places - which makes me wonder if you might also find a smallish leather satchel type thing (either in leather or in some other material) that might work.
Re: Shifting paradigms
Which is not to say you need *that bag*, but rather that this kind of thing might do? The things that I think make it look more professional include:
- Smooth lines (not a lot of pockets and straps visible, the foldover flap helps a lot, etc.) Also smoothish fabric finish.
- Solid dark color (you could do black or gray or navy, but anything outside that is a little iffier.)
- I tend to think the vertical alignment (rather than horizontal) makes it look less like a messenger bag-for-computers and more like something else.
- The fact it's over the shoulder rather than hand-held (though it has a strap for easy picking up/etc.) helps too. (Maybe it's just me and my hatred of over-the-elbow purses.)
I've seen similar styles on Etsy in cloth, and in a couple of the leather bag places - which makes me wonder if you might also find a smallish leather satchel type thing (either in leather or in some other material) that might work.