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Mobile & Laptop Protection
Technology, and more importantly mobile technology, are having an increasing impact on the day to day life of the modern male. Leaving the house without a mobile phone, iPad, laptop and the like is today’s equivalent of forgetting to wear a pair of shoes; while you may just about make it through the day, it’s certainly going to make it a little more difficult.
Being able to work on the commute has become an expected necessity and keeping the entirety of your working life on your smart phone or tablet of choice is definitely not unheard of. The absolute reliance we now have on these devices to see us through the day (some would say it’s on par with eating and drinking) now means that keeping them safe, and not to forget stylish, is essential.
So today, I am going to be showcasing some of THE most stylish protection on the market for both your mobile phone and iPad, as well as giving you some buying tips so you know what to look out for. You may just be surprised at the choice of designer covers and cases you can find these days.
The Dos & Don’ts:
First let’s start with some tips when it comes to purchasing your new fashion must have.
Do:
- Go for a muted design. Colour is acceptable in a casual setting but black or tan are timeless (as much as technology related items can be), easier to coordinate in your outfits, and far more sophisticated.
- Look to leather. The tough wearing material will ensure whatever is inside is kept safe from scratches and it looks sleek and professional at the same time.
- Make sure that it fits. Like your clothes, your case should fit the gadget is going to protect. It serves no purpose when your iPad slips out of it and receives an irreversible scratch straight down the middle rendering it all but useless.
Don’t:
- Scrimp! A good leather case may be a little pricey but not as much as replacing the thing it was supposed to protect.
- Pick a garish design. Rather self-explanatory considering number one on our ‘Do’ list. A union jack or leopard print design is hardly going to impress a client, or anybody else for that matter.
- Buy a belt clip. Under no circumstance, in an attempt to avoid that mini heart-attack you get when you think you’ve lost your phone, invest in one of these monstrosities. I believe the phrase “It is arguable only a man engaged in a primitive war dance would be seen with his phone clipped to his belt” was coined by our very own Luke Todd. Any good man bag will have a pocket inside to keep your phone in, and as an added bonus it helps to keep the bulge in your pockets down to a minimum.
Stylish Phone Protection
Stylish iPad Protection
Stylish Laptop Protection
The Man Bag
At the turn of the century a man bag would more often than not be met with a snide comment or sneer, thankfully the realm of man has evolved since then and embraced fashion and lifestyle on a wider scale. The man bag is no longer an outward show of metro-sexuality, nor is it ostracised by the masses; in fact, it has grown into an everyday essential.
A sturdy man bag is vital for transporting your laptop or tablet as well as your everyday effects. And in doing so it combats those unsightly bulging pockets, which do nothing but break up the clean, slim lines you have worked so hard to create.
Choosing your man bag is no longer a straight choice between, well a canvas satchel and its leather equivalent. Holdalls especially have become much more prevalent due to the ever expanding list of essentials we need with us on a daily basis, and the backpack has certainly made some trend waves this season. On top of this, it has become much more common to invest heavily in a top quality bag from a luxury brand which will last a lifetime – it’s not just women who are lusting after a Mulberry these days.
Mini Trend: The Tote
We have hinted towards it a couple of times on site over the past few weeks, but the tote has become THE trend bag of choice for the foreseeable future. They were prevalent within the runway previews for this spring/summer, whilst they have also been seen on the runways for both autumn/winter 2011 and now spring/summer 2012.
We can understand the appeal, as by their very nature it is easy to just drop in (or get out) important documents, your laptop and other essentials quickly whilst on the move – perfect when on the morning or evening commute in rush hour. They come in a variety of styles, fabrics and prints, although if you would like a timeless piece then opt for leather or hard wearing canvas (perhaps with leather trim or handles) in your neutral colours.
We must make you aware that in the past, the tote (or shopper) was usually an ‘open bag’, meaning that the main compartment did not have a zip. If you are looking for security and protection then we recommend checking out the new style totes which incorporate a zip closure; much better for work, whilst the open style has always been the holiday bag of choice.
Finally, there is just something much more sophisticated about the tote bag; holding it down by your side using the handles looks chic (rather than slung over your shoulder), and also makes the bag become more of a statement piece – a true 21st Century fashion accessory for the modern male.
Conclusion
The hustle and bustle of modern life is a dangerous environment for your cherished machines and valuables. Ensuring they stay protected is crucial considering how much importance we place on them; I know that if I was to drop my laptop this very second I would be a little peeved and totally lost.
Function is not the only merit to consider when purchasing a new case. When carried, treat your iPad or laptop as an additional accessory and aim to have it compliment your look in some way or another.
What I want to know is:
- How vital of an accessory do you see a man bag/carry case?
- Have you invested in a premium quality man bag, iPad Case, or mobile phone case recently?
- If so, what brand and style did you opt for?
- Are you still subjected to the ridicule and sneers of your peers for carrying a man bag? Or have attitudes finally changed?
As always, let us know in the comments below.
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Back To Top
I don’t go anywhere without a bag now, I’ll admit to being a ‘stuff everything in pockets’ guy in the past though. I opt for a canvas tote bag for day to day use, it’s convenient and looks great (In my opinion anyway). Though, for a bit more flamboyant look I have chosen to invest in an old leather doctors case. On the last point, yes I’m subjected to ridicule from people I know and odd looks from the general public for carrying a bag, and I don’t think that attitude will change for sometime yet.
This is a bit of shit article imho. Telling people what phone covers to buy? Come on. Really though, do people care if you have a stupid phone cover and don’t look sophisticated. It makes me laugh when people are going down to minute details like what phone covers to buy. It’s not going to impact your life in any way, shape or form. If you think you look more attractive because you have a sleek leather phone case as opposed to a daft union jack one you really must be failing in the women department,
No-one is ‘telling’ you what to buy PT – that is not what we are here for. We are just taking a look at how these types of accessories have become essentials for the modern male in order to protect their belongings. The fashion market has adapted to this and are now offering sleek alternatives to your rubber cases or ‘union jack’ cover. There are a lot of people who would definitely consider these fashion accessories worth spending money on, just like they would their wallet, card holders and even wash bags.
Are you telling me you wouldn’t consider investing in a leather iPad case or laptop bag if you had to carry it around to meetings all day or visit clients? Phone covers are just the same for a businessman or someone who cares about the details – no-one mentioned that it would make you more attractive to the opposite sex if you have one.
I can’t help but feel you’ve missed the point of this website entirely. Isn’t the point of FASHIONBEANS is that it is for men that do care about those small details. It’s what set’s a FASHIONBEANS reader from the average man in the street.
The idea of making a fashion statement with your technological items seems as appropriate as for example a watch.
Don’t read it then. It’s not like you’re paying for the FB team’s hard work…why expect it to meet your needs specifically? Perfect details can make for a perfect outfit. Piss off.
I have to agree with PT on this one. Some of the articles are just getting really weird. No offence to Alex as I enjoyed your summer fashion mistakes articles, its just when specific, pointless details get expanded into huge articles like this and the shirt tucking one and that Man series thing. The quality of wirting hasn’t slipped, just the things being written about. Sorry to sound harsh guys. FB is still my #1 fashion read for all intensive purposes! :)
Thanks for the feedback Dalton. Due to the nature of fashion being cyclical and many trends reappearing each year, we obviously have to look at other topics and content in order to provide you with daily insights and articles – and not just rehash the same stories or ideas.
If you have any suggestions as to what you would like to see more of, then we would like to hear it, so we can begin to tailor our content more to the needs of the audience.
However, we are also aware that articles like the shirt tucking have actually gone down well with a lot of the readers, and the MAN series is a build up to another feature entirely which I know will be well received. We are also publishing double content on the MAN days in order to compensate for those that are only coming here for fashion.
Hi Dalton, your feedback is really appreciated and as Ben said it would great to be hear any ideas so we can produce content to meet the needs of our readers.
In regards to articles such as this one and in particular the shirt tucking piece my focus with them was on the finer details of an outfit. I see these smaller details as ‘the next step’ and as commenters have already noted, it adds that little extra and is what “sets the FashionBeans reader from the average man on the street”.
I have to agree with the last comment. Neither I go anywhere without a nice and practical bag, although most of the people still think that a bag is not for a man. But I firmly believe that if you stuff everything in your pockets, that can also look ridiculous. The comments regarding the little accessories are a bit harsh. I think these little things can make the icing on the cake and if someone likes keeping up the detalis, why not?
Good to see FB covering some alternative accessories for the modern working gent! Nice work.
Android outsells iPhone – for example, the Samsung Galaxy S2 has been outselling Apple’s smartphone, so why only concentrate on Apple products?
I have an idea for another article, how about ‘Fashion no-no’s’ or ‘things to avoid’? This would be about the tedius little things that people might not even notice they do, but the keen eye would spot. Like putting lots in trouser pockets and how it ruins the lines of the trousers or not ironing the shoulders of your shirts.
It could be a light-hearted pedantic article.
Not sure what people aren’t getting here. Sure, you can use your union flag phone cover if you’re going for a very casual style, but I would personally come close to laughing if I saw a business man take one out whilst wearing a suit, because it looks silly. Likewise depending on what wallet and bag they used, even if they were dressed smart-casual instead. Only if you always dress casually might this article not be applicable in some form.
This is why I tend to buy these kind of accessories in neutral colours, and without excessive detailing, because they’re more likely to match a variety of outfits. Sure if I went out on business I would go out and get some leather bags as opposed to my fabric ones for casual use, but for the likes of my wallet I just stick to black leather because I wouldn’t be bothered to move everything into a casual wallet just for that occasion.
Wow I go away for a week or two and people get snappy.
Why would you read come regularly to a site like this if you didn’t care about dressing and looking better. If you are a completely casual dressing men skip the articles that are more focused on the style and keep to the trends.
** I am a confessed “bag man”. It started in school with a cool backpack and now I have a full array of interesting and cool bags. I just bought a new leather tote and I think it’s great and timeless. Sophisticated leather and stylish shapes and fabrics.
I only keep the pare minimum in my pockets. I have a cover(s) for my phone and laptop. I even carry and change wallet because I can’t stand the jingle of coins in my pocket.
Bags are great if others don’t like them, they only have to look to my bright red summer shoes and stylish sunnies to know I really don’t care.
Keep up the great work. I’ll catch up on the other articles later, (ie Tucked shirt-?)
There is a massive practical aspect to both mobile cases and some form of bag – the aesthetic is important however if one contemplates the amount of kit now carried by the modern man I would suggest that a bag is essential .
As an academic Lawyer I possess several bags to transport the detritus of life with me but my favourite has to be my Gianni Conti brown leather satchel which adapts to both formal and informal situations with ease.
I have never encountered any derogatory comments because there is an expectation that I will have a bag and I still purposely use the bag on weekends whilst shopping with my wife again without comment – it just looks stylish.
Your articles and informed opinion are excellent – keep up the good work.
One suggestion to possibly consider is an article aimed at the more mature but fashionable man – your article on Milan was impressive with a nunber of mature Italian men on show – I am part Italian so inevitably and naturally possess La Bella Figura and Sprezzatura however I feel it may be a useful exercise.
A piu tardi e buona fortuna