From Male Murse to Manbag
Men's Fashion 2008 - Satchels, Briefcases, Duffle Bags & Totes
The current obsession with handbags is no longer a female domain. The carrying of a messenger bag or a manly tote is now a modern phenomenon for fashion-foward males.
Until recently, the average British or American man wouldn’t be seen dead clutching a handbag. But now, masculine arms proudly carry a fashionable satchel, tote, duffle or long-strapped sporty bag.
Whilst the wearing of handbags is nothing new to European, Russian and Japanese men, (who have been carrying small male clutch purses for years), the rise in popularity of larger messenger-style satchels or manly totes is something that has become a prominent feature of men’s fashion in the last two years.
Design houses such as Louis Vuitton and ZZegna have their runway male models flashing men's bags in all shapes and sizes. And men are taking notice.
With clever marketing, the current interest in manbags has been stimulated by three main factors:
- The sheer practicality of being able to carry a holdall that contains all your technological gadgets, or a more fashionable take on a standard work briefcase or sports bag.
- The interest in manbags from high-end fashion designers and big brand retailers who have realized the potential in selling expensive designer bags to men.
- The renaming of the bag to the more manly term “manbag” rather then “murse” – a hybrid of man and purse, which for some, instilled feminine connotations.
Manbags - Practical and Fashion-Forward
- Just as the women’s bag market has seen a trend in oversized bags to carry an assortment of electronic gadgetry; if a woman can carry her life in her purse, then why not a man?
- With today's high tech notebooks, Ipods and Blackberrys, it is no longer a case of just sticking a mobile phone in a pocket.
- Gordon Richardson, design director for the UK retailer Top Man says "With all the skinnier-fit clothing, where do you fit everything? You do need somewhere to put these things now clothing has got slicker and skinnier and if you are wearing a suit the last you want to do is carry things in your pockets" Top Man started selling bags for men a few years ago but Richardson noticed that sales have begun to escalate in the past two years.
Manbags - Big-Brand Retailers
- According to the UK newspaper's Guardian online edition, Patrick Barkham's article “Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag” of June 29, 2006 states that “Top handbag designers Mulberry report a 64% increase in sales of men's accessories (i.e. bags) this year compared with spring/summer last year, helped by the number of celebrities, including Jared Leto, Jake Gyllenhaal, Tom Hanks and Mick Jagger grasping Mulberry bags."
- UK men’s magazine GQ in its article “Bye-Bye Predictable Bags” January 2008, tells us that men’s bags currently contribute to 30 percent of UK designer, Mulberry’s turnover. Designer director for Mulberry, Stuart Vevers says, “Mulberry was definitely at the forefront of men wearing bags." According to Vevers, the "undesigned" look taken from the English countryside pursuits such as hunting, shooting and fishing are proving popular. Michael Kors, fashion designer agrees. He says, "I have an issue with men carrying bags that look too slick."
From Murse to Manbag
- Whether it be a sporty, unstructured long-strapped bag, a leather satchel tucked underneath the arm or a double handled masculine tote, current men’s fashion trends mean that bags are more stylish than briefcases, rucksacks or traditional sports bags.
- Manbags are moving into the main stream. Whilst, in the past many men had an open hostitility towards manbags, feeling that their masculinity was somehow under threat, the likes of David Beckham seen clutching his Louis Vuitton, Chris Eubank, Jude Law, Bob Geldof, P Diddy, Jose Mourinho and Hollywood characters Indiana Jones and “Joey” from Friends can’t all be wrong!
- Part of the bag’s recent success in the marketplace is the change of name from murse to manbag, a manlier, masculine term. However, according to Barkham’s Guardian article, some men still feel uneasy because it is based on the term handbag, which is for women.
How to Choose a Manly Manbag
- Go for function, not fashion. Forget all the designer whistles and bells, like fashionable buckles and clasps unless it has got a purpose.
- Make sure you buy one with enough compartments and storage areas for your needs. Look for inner pockets to hold you Ipod, phone, keys etc rather than have everything rolling around at the bottom on the bag.
- Think portability and ease of carrying. If the bag is heavy before you fill it with stuff then it may prove too much of a weighty burden to carry around all day.
- Fashionable manbags don’t have to be designer or high street. The current trend in country pursuit type bags means that you may come across them in wide range of outlets. Fishing bags, shooting bags may be picked up in the most unlikely places.
- An alternative, more preppy alternative to the larger manbag is a Pochette, (especially at Prada) which has an appearance of an exercise book for a back-to-school look.
- Anything goes in terms of color and style matching. No need to co-ordinate your shoes with your bag.
It seems that today’s modern men have a lot to deal with in order to make a fashion statement. For some, they may feel that things have gone too far. For men eager to keep up with high street trends, the world of designer chic means that in 2008 the average fashion-forward male is expected to carry a trendy shoulder bag, wear a pink shirt and sport a male turban! However, carrying a manbag is not only about fashion. There is the practical and convenience aspect too.
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