America, meet the man-bag. Also known as the man purse, murse, messenger bag or satchel. A descendant of the handbag, the man-bag is a growing breed, originating in Europe. Recently the man-bag population migrated to the United States in search of a better life. Instead they found themselves the butt of jokes and the subject of intense debate.
According to those in the pro man-bag camp, modern man has more belongings than his pockets can hold. The briefcase is outdated and the backpack clashes with his neatly pressed suit. He needed a place to store his cell phone, wallet, keys, sunglasses and iPod. Thus, the man-bag was born.
Naysayers argue that the man-bag is nothing more than a woman’s purse, carried by a man. They find the idea of such a bag embarrassing. But if this is the case how do you explain its prevalence in the media alongside some of America’s manliest heros?
1977: Star Wars hits the big screen featuring a Wookie named Chewbacca and his man-bag
1999: Rachel helps Joey pick out the perfect bag the Friends episode titled, The One With Joey’s Bag
1981: Indiana Jones sports a satchel in Raiders of the Lost Ark
2001: The hit drama 24 debuts, giving America a new messenger bag-carrying hero by the name of Jack Bauer
2009: Alan Garner proudly wears a man-bag on his quest to find his friend, Doug, in The Hangover
2009: Fosters launches a commercial, which educates the public on the Australian version of a man purse
Whether you love it or hate it, it appears as though the man-bag is here to stay. As more and more male celebrities are seen running errands and attending award shows with their own bag in tow, the phenomenon continues to grow. Where do you stand on the great man-bag debate? It it hot or absolutely not?
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Pockets sometimes just aren’t big enough. Or stuffing them with your stuff makes them bulge and ruins the lines of your pants. Men need bags, too. However, I like my men to be men, so the bag should be bigger than a lunch box for sure and preferably big enough to hold a laptop. Anything small just looks girly to me.
And please, no designer prints. Becks is hot, but… just no.
Amanda, I couldn’t have said it better myself. I think as long as the bag is proportional to the body both men and women should be able to carry a bag.
Well noted. I guess man-bags have come to stay. Thanks
They’re certainly an undeniable trend!
Nice post. The pictures are really nice. I like this post.
I was just reviewing your “man bag debate” i appreciate the picture of Alan from the Hangover, it really brings the man purse to a whole new level. I was wondering if you would ever be interested in reviewing the Lotuff & Clegg leather messenger bag, along with many other bags. They are a modern day version of the so called “man purse” with an edgy masculine twist. These are also becoming more popular with women as well.