Ever struggle on color choice for "professional" look?

[mruseless]

I never said I thought there should be no debate?
I simply can not believe anyone really thinks alternatives to a black Exterior look as professional as Black does.

By the way,I love your Sig. and I have been using it for a while myself now too.
I am amazed how many people just give me a blank stare when I mention it.
People are funny?

My apologies, I took your initial comment (about not understanding the debate) as a cynical statement meaning that you thought the debate was stupid or shouldn't be happening. That's what happens when I try to read intent into a post instead of just reading the words. Let that be a lesson to all of you!

I know what you mean about the blank stares, I gotten a few of them myself.

Back to the topic, I suppose I have to concede that steel is not quite as professional as black, but my point is that unless you are a C-level executive (I'm not), then I think steel is fine and the color would never cause a problem. Of course, my experience with this is my EB, which is almost all black with a steel front flap. I've seen some pretty wacky stuff in business meetings.

[pretzelb]

there is definitely something to be said for the conservative black or steel choices for the exterior with a more lively color for the inside of the bag.

I am a new fan of the bright interior color. It's to the point where I'm almost requiring it. It makes finding things so much easier. It should be an option with every bag if possible.

i personally like the navy blue, and the steel may be interesting. but black just doesn't do it for me.

maybe it's because every other laptop bag i ever came across before i found tom bihn bags was black.

I think that's my problem. It's not that I don't like black but I feel generic if I pick the same as everyone else. It's not practical for bags you check IMO because it's too easy to get confused with other bags. For security, it's nice to have a non-black bag so you can easily spot your bag being stolen (but I have to admit it's silly to plan your bag color just based on the fact it may be stolen).

I have to say though, the more I stare at pictures the more the black bags are growing on me. It is a nice traditional look when it's dust free.

I think my big problem is that when I find a bag I like I'm so happy with it that I want it to stand out, which isn't always good if you happen to be on a job interview or something.

[AVService]

Disagree. Steel looks very professional too. Black perhaps a bit more neutral, but I've never had anyone say anything negative about my briefcase in Steel and Black. Just because you don't think there should be a debate doesn't mean there can't be one.

I never said I thought there should be no debate?
I simply can not believe anyone really thinks alternatives to a black Exterior look as professional as Black does.

By the way,I love your Sig. and I have been using it for a while myself now too.
I am amazed how many people just give me a blank stare when I mention it.
People are funny?

[backpack]

Before Gates, there was no such thing as business casual.

Everybody was wearing a white or blue shirt with tie and nice looking but uncomfortable pants or a suit.


People liked the idea of wearing nice and comfortable cotton at work so much, that designers, followed by jeans houses, then department stores, and ultimately, discount chains stores made their own brands of khaki and cotton shirts.

The Stylish designs of Tom Bihn bags in Black and/or Steel Cordura can replace leather bags the way khaki has replaced the wool pants.

[maverick]

there is definitely something to be said for the conservative black or steel choices for the exterior with a more lively color for the inside of the bag.

i personally like the navy blue, and the steel may be interesting. but black just doesn't do it for me.

maybe it's because every other laptop bag i ever came across before i found tom bihn bags was black.

I just had delivered to me an Imago in Steel/Steel/Cayenne and it's really nice. My Super Ego is Black/Steel/Wasabi which is also a very good color for me. I don't like carrying or wearing loud colors and steel is very good for me. I use my bags to carry stuff to work and for general purposes. I like Navy Blue also. Maybe my next bag will be that.

I will use my Imago for those times when I don't need to carry a laptop with me and less than 'everything but the kitchen sink.'

[tommylane]

Imago in Steel

I just had delivered to me an Imago in Steel/Steel/Cayenne and it's really nice. My Super Ego is Black/Steel/Wasabi which is also a very good color for me. I don't like carrying or wearing loud colors and steel is very good for me. I use my bags to carry stuff to work and for general purposes. I like Navy Blue also. Maybe my next bag will be that.

I will use my Imago for those times when I don't need to carry a laptop with me and less than 'everything but the kitchen sink.'

[mruseless]

I don't even really understand the debate here?
Black is the answer.

I take my Black E.B everywhere and it is next to every other Black bag all the time but I never fail to be asked about it anyway, it hardly resembles the others.

Anything else just is not as Professional unless it is Leather.

I like a lot of the other colors but that is not the question.

Ed

Disagree. Steel looks very professional too. Black perhaps a bit more neutral, but I've never had anyone say anything negative about my briefcase in Steel and Black. Just because you don't think there should be a debate doesn't mean there can't be one.

[AVService]

I don't even really understand the debate here?
Black is the answer.

I take my Black E.B everywhere and it is next to every other Black bag all the time but I never fail to be asked about it anyway, it hardly resembles the others.

Anything else just is not as Professional unless it is Leather.

I like a lot of the other colors but that is not the question.

Ed

[mruseless]

I'm going through this same debate in my mind. I'm excited about the TriStar, and I will be using it for business onebagging. This means it will have to look fine in a client account.

I'm leaning toward steel (I'm really hoping for a wasabi or solar interior!) and black. Black seems boring, but sometimes that's what you want in a business bag. However, I have to agree with others here that Steel is a nice color, goes with nearly everything, and stands out "just enough".

I've been using a steel and black Empire Builder for over 2 years (Here's my review) and I haven't regretted the color choice for this type of bag.

[rabergnc]

I currently have a Western Flyer in steel and it looks fine in my opinion. There is black trim and the handles are black which make for a nice appealing contrast. I use the bag for travel - as a suitcase, not a briefcase (I use the ID for that - black/steel/wasabi). The color works well on those occasions when I need to carry the bag into a meeting because of an early checkout/flight. Seems to be professional enough for my purposes. For a point of reference, I am a neuropsychologist and for my national meetings may not need to be quite as formal. As a speaker or surveyor I have not been viewed askance with either bag.

[pretzelb]

I loves me my steel Brain Bag and Steel ID. And they both look completely professional... even if I don't.

This may sound odd but there are times when I like Steel and times when I don't. For some reason it looked really nice on the Smart Alec I tried out but on my Brain Bag it looks a bit dull. Since I was using the bags for work I didn't mind it being a bit neutral but there was something about the Smart Alec that made it seem more pleasing to my eye.

One other issue is that with some bags steel is a complimentary color with black and other times it's the only color. The Western Flyer is totally steel for example. It's hard to tell how that will end up looking just based on the pictures.

But a black/steel combo would probably be a decent compromise if available. It's not the same as everyone else but it's still not overly bold.

[pretzelb]

Well then, buy 2

Ha. It's bad enough I'm even looking for another bag. I absolutely don't NEED one.

[MagicTiki]

I loves me my steel Brain Bag and Steel ID. And they both look completely professional... even if I don't.

[dclawyer]

I should say that I do like black for a professional look. It's an easy comfort zone pick for a work bag. But I just hate having the same color as everyone else. Plus, on vacation trips it blends in with everyone else and can be easy to lose track of.

Well then, buy 2

[pretzelb]

I should say that I do like black for a professional look. It's an easy comfort zone pick for a work bag. But I just hate having the same color as everyone else. Plus, on vacation trips it blends in with everyone else and can be easy to lose track of.