The messenger bag is one of those things that works brilliantly when it works and looks slightly chaotic when it doesn’t and the difference usually comes down to size and structure. We’ve had messenger bags that were technically carrying our stuff fine but because they were too big they flapped around and ruined the silhouette of every outfit we wore them with. Getting a bag that’s proportional to what you actually need to carry rather than buying for maximum capacity is genuinely the main advice here. Beyond that we love a messenger bag for its versatility in a way that a briefcase can’t quite match. It works with a smarter outfit but it also works thrown over a coat on a weekend in a way that a rigid briefcase simply doesn’t. Good quality canvas or leather makes a significant difference to how it ages and a well structured messenger bag that’s been used for years often looks better than a new cheap one fresh out of the packaging.