A Guide to the Best of Southern California : FASHION : Black Bags

Looking for a new job and want to make a lasting impression on potential employers? Trade in that Gucci briefcase for a pig-shaped one. Or, if you don’t care to associate with swine, carry a kitty or doggie.

San Francisco-based Sulan keeps its rivet-ridden rubbery cutouts simple: no designer logos, no secret compartments, no lining, no magnetic clasp, no triple-digit price tag.

“I’ve had an older woman buy one as a knitting bag and a public defender buying the pig case to make a statement,” says Dyan Ullman, who sells the bags for about $50 in her Santa Monica store, Just in Case. “Would you trust an attorney with one?”

Sulan bags are available at Just in Case, 2718 Main St., Santa Monica, (310) 399-3096, and Zulu, 7402 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles.