STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

So I've found out today that I will be doing a small editing job for a professor who is a friend of mine. I will get 300$ - sweet! I'd like to invest in a  good purse in that price range.  I am basically looking for something classic that will fit my thin but large notebook, a folder with files (A4), and some random stuff. I want to use it for conferences and interviews, and I guess it has to be pretty conservative in shape - but  I still want it to be stylish and funky. I would love something in brown, dark green, plum, etc - no black; or a light color. With bronze or gold hardware. Phew! I guess that's a hard one! Please help!!!