Here is a quick and simple guide to how to carry your personal belongings this fall. Which catagory do you fit in?

1.) Middle schoolers – you rock the backpack. Canvas, many pockets, pencils slots. This is the bag for those of you who haven’t graduated on to lace up shoes and given away all of your cargo pocket pants yet. Right on bro! And don’t think that having a brand name one makes any difference…two padded straps and zippers are inexcusable.

2.) Hipsters – The classic canvas tote. This particular example is semi-mainstream as it features the logo of a small, not very well known Rum brand. How ironic! This bag works well over the shoulder or carried on your side, either way you are telling the world that you got this bag at a music festival and it’s purely functional. Yo hipster, you do you’re thing.

3.) Average Joe Cool – This is the mainstream messenger bag. Usually a nice brown or black leather, this is the side slung strap bag that says ‘I dabble in fashion but I’m not trying to make a statement.’ These used to be a big time statement a few years ago, but have trickled down to become a common sense alternative to the backpack. While some have a very stylish design, they’ve already passed their hay day as trendy.

4.) Geek chic – Aahh, the classic briefcase, or attache case, as the spies call it. This could either go with your thick frame glasses and be referred to as a ‘throw back’ or be actually vintage and match that tweed blazer your grandfather gave you. Either way, it’s very cool and if carried with confidence, a serious statement. Be wary of the thickness however, the thinner the more ‘fashionable’ but not as classic.

5.) Trend Setter – Here we have a staple of every fashionable man’s collection. A well made canvas weekend tote bag. It’s big enough to carry a few days provisions but not quite a duffel, and with sturdy leather accents and a thick handle, this screams prepared gentleman. Many have taken to carrying this sort of bag in a day to day scene, and this is perfectly acceptable as long as its carried in hand and not in the crook of the elbow; but be prepared to take flak for carrying a ‘murse.’ Stay strong, and carry on…if you dare.