While the briefcase throughout a great deal of history (in various forms) has been a functional item for those needing to carry documents and other items to and from work, home, and meetings, it also has become a fashion accessory of sorts, with styles changing to reflect the times. Here are some trends that have impacted the briefcase, and some ideas to consider when choosing yours.

In the era of the 80's, business garb was pretty strait laced and buttoned down. Men and women alike wore power suits. Wall Street was booming, and everyone wanted to look the part. Formal business dress said success. Accordingly, briefcases were hard, leather-bound, brown or black, and boring. As the years went by, and Generation X moved onto the job scene, a more casual style came into play. Garage entrepreneurs like Bill Gates proved that clothes did not make the man. Remember “Casual Fridays?” At some businesses, it seems like every day is casual Friday. Briefcases have gone along for the ride. You can still get them in leather, but today they are more likely to be soft sided, and they come in colors like orange and purple. If it strikes your fancy, pick up one in silk, with an oriental pattern from Wabags. If you'd rather have something a little more durable, try a microfiber or canvas bag.

With the lines between work and home becoming more blurry, people have more stuff to carry between the two. Cell phones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), laptop computers, where to stuff it all? Accordingly, briefcases with soft (and therefore expandable) sides are popular, as are those with backpack straps to distribute your heavy load more evenly. There are even briefcases with wheels. Messenger bags, which formerly were relegated to well, messengers, are becoming popular as people appreciate the hands free features of an over the shoulder bag. That way, you can keep things close to you, dig in your pocket for keys of cab fare, and talk on your cell phone. We love to multitask.

Finally, while soft sided bags are becoming more popular, the stuff that people carry in briefcases is becoming more fragile, like laptop computers, so people need bags that are padded, or at least compartments that are, to protect their electronics. While the first computer bags were tailored to fit and protect only a computer and its accessories, computer bags now are designed to hold your computer and other school or business items like papers or books, so that people don't have to carry two separate bags.