Once associated with the corporate uniform, the briefcase is finding its place in menswear again. From classic leather to polished aluminium, these six designs make a convincing case for its return. 

For a while, the briefcase seemed to belong to another era. Backpacks became acceptable in the office, totes offered more space and increasingly relaxed dress codes made the traditional leather case feel unnecessarily formal. Now, as menswear turns its attention back to tailoring, craftsmanship and pieces designed to last, the briefcase is beginning to make sense again. 

Its return does not mean a return to the corporate uniform. The modern briefcase is softer, more versatile and far less predictable. It can accompany a suit, but it works just as well with relaxed tailoring, knitwear or a great coat. From Bottega Veneta’s signature leatherwork to RIMOWA’s aluminium interpretation, these are the designs proving there is still a place for the proper work bag. 

Hermes Kelly Depeches 36

There are few better examples of how refined a briefcase can be than the Hermes Kelly Depeches 36. The design borrows the instantly recognisable clasp of the Kelly and places it with the cleaner lines of the house’s menswear universe. 

Crafted in France from Togo calfskin, the interior is designed to accommodate a 13-inch laptop alongside documents and everyday essentials. The result is understated, but not anonymous. It has just enough of the house’s identity to be recognisable without allowing the hardware to overpower the simplicity of the design. 

This is the briefcase at its most luxurious, and the kind of piece that could remain part of a wardrobe for decades. 

Berluti E’Mio Briefcase

Berluti approaches the briefcase with considerably less rigidity. Created in 2010 by Olga Berluti, the E’Mio was the house’s first soft satchel and reinterprets the traditional shape through slightly trapezoidal proportions. 

The current Summer 2026 version features two separate compartments, a centre zipped pocket and enough room for a 16-inch laptop. A removable strap also allows it to be worn over the shoulder, giving the design an ease that older briefcases rarely had. 

It has the polished expected of a traditional leather work bag, but without looking overly formal. It is a good example of why the briefcase works again when the rules surrounding it are loosened. 

Bottega Veneta Getaway Briefcase 

A briefcase does not have to rely on rigid structure to look polished. Bottega Veneta’s Getaway is crafted from grained leather with intrecciato detailing, immediately giving the familiar business bag a more contemporary character. 

Two zipped compartments, a padded laptop section and a rear strap designed to attach to a suitcase make it particularly suited to modern working and travel. An adjustable and detachable cross-body strap adds another way to carry it. 

It is recognisably Bottega without depending on obvious logos. More importantly, it shows how easily the briefcase can move beyond the boardroom and into a less formal wardrobe. 

Brunella Cucinelli Calfskin Briefcase 

Brunello Cucinelli has long championed a quieter approach to luxury, and its calfskin briefcase follows the same philosophy. 

Supple leather soften the traditional shape, while the large flap closure and adjustable buckles retain some of the formality associated with classic briefcases. Inside, three expandable compartments provide space for documents, a laptop, tablets and the other pieces accumulated throughout the workday. 

This is the option for someone whose work wardrobe is more likely to involve an unstructured blazer and fine knitwear than a sharply pressed business suit. It is practical, polished and deliberately restrained.   

RIMOWA Aluminum Attache

Not every returning classic needs to look nostalgic. RIMOWA takes the briefcase in an entirely different direction by replacing traditional leather with the grooved aluminum usually associated with its luggage. 

Crafted in Germany, the attache combines a sleek silver shell with a matte black leather interior. Two large compartments provide enough room for documents and a laptop of up to 16 inches, while an integrated combination lock and aluminum handle maintain the clean exterior. 

Placed alongside its leather counterparts, it almost looks futuristic. Yet the proportions remain unmistakably those of a traditional attache case. That contrast is exactly what makes it interesting. 

Dunhill Bourdon Briefcase 38

For something closer to the traditional British idea of the briefcase, Dunhill’s Boudon 38 finds the balance between heritage and modern practicality. 

Part of the Autumn Winter 2026 collection, the design is crafted from grained calf leather and finished with hardware that draws inspiration from Dunhill’s historic Unique lighter. Inside a slip pocket accommodates a 13-inch laptop, while the detachable shoulder strap makes the structured design easier to carry throughout the day. 

There are plenty of heritage references here, but they are handled with restraint. The result still looks unmistakable like a proper briefcase, just without the stiffness once associated with carrying one, 

The briefcase may have started as something a man carried because his working life required it. Its appeal today is different. Choosing one now is closer to choosing a good watch pair of shoes or coat. Function still matters, but so do craftsmanship, material and personal style. The briefcase is not returning because the old office uniform is returning with it. It is back because, in its new form, it no longer needs one. 

By Sayhrah Noor Asif-Ali