Have you noticed that you tilt a little bit to the left or right when you’re standing up “straight”? This is a sign that you need a backpack (and perhaps a visit to an orthopaedist). Shoulder bags are for the young and hardy. Backpacks are for people who don’t want to aggravate an already aching back – plus there are some very stylish options out there. TOM FORD makes a sleek, pebbled leather option, while Brunello Cucinelli has one that would look right at home in the Italian countryside. Even SAINT LAURENT, patron (ahem) saint of cool kids has a leather backpack in stock at the moment.

OK, forget everything we said about your spine requiring a backpack. Sometimes your outfit requires a tote and, as we all know, style is paramount – as is having a chiropractor on speed dial. There are few things easier than tossing your entire kitchen sink into a tote and then heading out for the day. If you want something punchy, try the logo-embossed leather bag from LOEWE. KAPITAL makes a canvas option that will make you smile, thanks to the smiley face on one corner and we’re partial to the working man’s leather bag from Métier, which has a handy shoulder strap in addition to the short handles.

Designed to be worn cross-body, these messenger bags are not outfit afterthoughts – rather they are quite obviously part of a fit. Take Bottega Veneta’s Intrecciato in acidic green, for example. This might just be the focal point of your getup, no matter how flashy the rest of your duds are. Ditto the monogrammed Gucci bag we’ve chosen here, which features the brand’s classic red and green stripe that will draw eyes. The Acne Studios small leather messenger bag, on the other hand, is more subdued, but still makes a statement, if more quietly.

Going away for a couple nights? You lucky devil. Well, you’ll need a larger format bag to toss into the boot. We like a grown-up duffel for such occasions and Berluti makes a gorgeous, gleaming leather version that fits the bill – and a couple of sweaters. If a throwing around a leather bag makes you nervous, then both AMIRI and Mulberry make excellent nylon bags with leather trim and elegant shapes that will look better a bit beaten up. (To be honest, however, the same will be true for a leather duffel – patinas suggest a life well lived.)

For the hands-free man, it’s got to be a belt bag (aka bum bag). You’re not squeezing much more into these than a phone and some keys, but what else do you need, when you really think about it (maybe a little SPF, if you can swing it). CELINE HOMME makes a nice logoed option for you in an army green. If you want a more classic, 1990s look, Balenciaga delivers. And if what you’ve really been dreaming of is a bag that looks like a hat (who among us has not)? Then you must choose the JW Anderson bag, because that’s exactly what it is. These are the fun bags, if we may say so, so wear them with that in mind.