The rise of the rucksack: make your commute more stylish
While rucksacks may not exactly be a groundbreaking or new accessory on the scene, the last couple of seasons have undoubtedly seen a rise. Everyone from the coolest bloggers in the industry to the best-dressed gentlemen on the street now carry a rucksack, so we decided to look into the bag that was once only worn by geeky school children or hikers and give you the best options to make for a more stylish commute. The rucksack has done a complete 180 and been flipped from something considered wildly ugly to one of the most stylish items a gentleman can own. But how?
Fashion has a way of working in circles. If you’ve any interest in the subject, you will have noticed that a lot of the trends from the 80s are now prevalent in the world today (think burgundy velvet jackets, big beards and long hair). The difference when it comes to rucksacks, however, is that they were never actually seen as stylish until now. The aforementioned gentleman, who’s inclined towards mountaineering, was potentially the first to make the rucksack a universally recognised bit of kit. Beyond that (other than the incredibly stylish ones worn by the Swiss Army in the 60s), rucksacks have generally been designed for function rather than for class or style.
Not anymore, though. Everyone and their mother (literally) uses a backpack today. Whether it’s the city boy using a slick leather number to carry around his papers or a stylish gentleman with a bit of Lanvin on his back, there’s no denying the pull of a fabulous rucksack. And here are the best of a great bunch. A word of warning, first: you need to be ready to make an investment. A decent rucksack won’t come cheap for that exact reason – because it’s decent. If something’s made from real leather and great materials is going to last you years, not months, and that’s exactly what you want when you’re looking to invest.
For the city slicker
This is the perfect rucksack for any gentleman who wants to commute in style. Not only will it look great with your suit, but it will also separate you from every other gentleman walking around with a briefcase. With room for your laptop, your document case and even your gym kit (if you’re that way inclined), you can’t go wrong with this.
For the casual gentleman
This is the perfect investment for the gentleman who wants to up his style game, but who doesn’t want to switch up his entire look. The nature of the design (and the colour) mean that you can wear this piece with absolutely anything – whether it’s for work or play – and still be at the top of your style game.
For the first time investment
If you’re still a little bit unsure about whether or not you want to go for a rucksack (if it makes any kind of difference, in our eyes there is no question), this is the perfect starting point. You can truly wear this with anything in your wardrobe and it will never look out of place, trust us.
For the gentleman on a budget
You are a gentleman and therefore you shouldn’t talk about money. However, as much as we want to spread the good word about fashion and style, we do understand that investing in a bag that’s going to cost you half of your pay check isn’t necessarily the smartest idea.
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