A lot of men enter the workforce not knowing what to wear or use. Yes, many look fashionable with their dress shirts and pointed leather shoes, but their whole look gets ruined with the backpack they’ve used since college. Yes, there are polished backpacks that look office-appropriate, but many of the ones I’ve seen look better with textbooks than reports.
It’s important to dress well in the office, because people take you more seriously if you come in looking put-together with your pressed pants and shiny belt. But the little details matter, too, like your phone case, wallet, and bag. As they say, “dress for the job you want, not the job you have.”
Being professional doesn’t have to mean boring, though. There are many polished-looking accessories that look cool. Below are some of our favorites:
Kiko traditional bifold wallet
Kiko is an American brand that has decades of experience crafting leather goods. I especially love this wallet because it’s light and soft to the touch, unlike other leather wallets that are hard and heavy. The wallet is made of glove tanned cowhide leather, which is a remarkably strong but buttery-soft material. It’s easy to tell when you’re holding it!
It has space for eight cards and has a detachable ID window. It also has two bill compartments, which I found convenient when I recently traveled to Vietnam and Hong Kong. One had my US dollars and the other had the local currency.
YaY ultra-slim wallet/cards holder
This product is technically a wallet and card holder, but I use it to carry my business cards. YaYÂ is right, it’s very slim and easy to carry. It comes in a custom-constructed woven elastic with a good stretch recovery, so I can stuff as many cards as I can. It also comes in a lot of quirky prints! Mine is called Dad’s Closet and it’s a great conversation starter whenever I whip it out. And oh, YaY gives 20% of all profits go to charity, so you get to help out with every purchase!
Elecom leather phone case
I’m the type of person who drops his phone a lot, so I need a really good (but sleek) phone case. I like this phone case from Elecom because it’s made of leatherette and looks totally sophisticated. It even doubles as a stand so you can watch videos.
Elecom sound advancing technology stereo earphones
I usually listen to podcasts or music whenever I commute. I never really bothered with how my earphones looked as long as I can hear what I’m supposed to hear (and drown out the world when it’s too early for real life). That changed when I saw Elecom’s stereo headset, which had this futuristic design. I never knew that you could look cool while listening to music without using those clunky headphones. This earphones also has hi-res audio, which makes listening a crisp and immersive experience.
Artiart Suction Mug
I’m a heavy water drinker so I always carry a tumbler with me. I’m also a clumsy fellow so water containers don’t mix well with me. Luckily, the Artiart suction mug has a grip-pad at its base so it will never tip over. It can handle both hot and cold beverages, so you can also put your morning coffee and afternoon tea.
Jelt belt
As the packaging says: you need this belt. This is an important accessory for jetsetters as it doesn’t have any metal parts for easier movement at airports. I’m a belt-wearer so this was a godsend going to and from the Noi Bai and Hong Kong international airports. It’s made of recycled materials and each purchase means a $1 donation to the Warriors and Quiet Waters Foundation!
Pacsafe Instasafe Z400 anti-theft shoulder bag
A lot of officewear gets ruined by the bag men wear. To look like an executive, I highly recommend a messenger bag. And if there’s one messenger bag to get, it should be the Pacsafe Instasafe Z400. It looks sleek enough to make you look sharp, but not too serious for you to look like a bore. But the real strength of the Z400 is not the design, but the capabilities. First, the whole bag (including the strap) is coated with a lightweight eXomesh slashguard, a stainless steel wire mesh that prevents thieves from cutting your bag. There are also locking features, like an interlocking zip puller that works as a lock, a smart zipper security to prevent pickpockets, and an anti-theft anchor lock so thieves can’t unhook your bag. If you’re traveling, there’s a special RFIDsafe blocking pocket so high-tech criminals can’t download personal information off your credit card or passport.
Inside, the bag has a 15″ inch laptop sleeve, a tablet sleeve, a mobile phone pocket, four card slots, and a passport pocket. Before you think all these features make this bag heavy, think again! It’s slightly heavier than your traditional messenger bag, but not by more than pound. And given the features, it’s an excellent option for commuters and travelers.
All these products are available in Urbanize, a lifestyle brand that caters to street style, smart casual, and business corporate. If you want to elevate your style in the office without losing your street cred, check out Urbanize’s stores in Alabang Town Center, Uptown Mall BGC, UP Town Center, Gateway, EDSA Shangri-La, Glorietta 3, Serin Tagaytay, Solenad 3 Nuvali, and The District Imus. Like their Facebook page for sales and promo updates at www.facebook.com/urbanizeph.
