Choose the right briefcase for your needs: Here's how

Are you looking for that perfect leather briefcase? With an ever-growing range of leather briefcases both online and offline, this is going to be a difficult task for you. However, you can simplify this task by categorizing leather briefcases into color, style, price, number of compartments and overall appearance.

Features of leather briefcases to look out for:

Are you looking at good quality leather? Quality leather is of prime importance when choosing a leather briefcase. If you go in for a good one, with time, its quality will be enhanced, so even after years of use, it will remain as attractive as it is now. If you go online, you can check out a range of leather briefcases at stores like Argos.co.uk and take your pick.

Capacity of a leather briefcase: Apart from the above, you also need to take into consideration the capacity of a leather briefcase. For example, if you're a lawyer or a marketing person, you will need a large briefcase that accommodates all your papers and documents. But if you want to slip in your laptop, you'd need a small one.

Construction material: Some leather briefcases are embellished by brass zippers, locks, shoulder straps, buckles, etc. These add to the appearance of the briefcase, increase the durability and impact the price. When buying, it's important to check the quality of such materials. Also, check that the stitching is even and the threads do not come loose.

Compartments: When new, briefcases can look attractively slim and very compact. But it's only when you get to use them do you realize how flexible the interiors are and how spacious its compartments so that you can store your laptop, files and other necessities. When buying a briefcase, consider what you're going to put in it. One way of doing this is to put all that you want to go into the briefcase onto a table and then see what you really need.

Ensure that the briefcase you're looking at has several compartments that can keep your things organized, particularly if you have many things to carry with you. It would also help if you have one compartment only for things you need to reach out to often, like a wallet, mobile phone, bunch of keys and, if you're travelling, your boarding pass.

Color: The most popular choice in leather briefcases is black, though brown and tan are also big hits. All three colors are considered professional, so go ahead and choose the one you like. You can choose from a variety of briefcases on sites like Dealslands.

All-weather briefcase: If your briefcase is water-repellent, you won't look clumsy carrying it in bad weather.

Versatile: Choose a sleek design of leather briefcase that can easily become your bag to a cocktail party at the end of the day.

Size & Weight: Ensure that you don't choose a briefcase that's big and cumbersome, unless your job demands it. Else, you'll look stupid and clumsy carrying it around. Ideally, it should be 11"-13" in height, 15" -16.5" in width and 4"-6" in depth.

Cost: You might be interested in buying a really good leather briefcase, but you could be deterred by its cost. Yet, you should consider a leather briefcase as an investment in your career and go in for a good one. You could never go far with a cheap briefcase, and will have to buy a new one every year or so, so it makes sense to spend a little more and buy one that goes a long way.

So, choose your leather briefcase bearing these factors in mind.