Christian Davis is a 24-year-old Los Angeles based writer who up until now has focused mainly on writing about video games. Really. He recently began wanting to dress better, and he’ll be cataloging his process for us here on Dappered. He might be new, but he’s learning quick.
The man bag is something that I feel is a great accessory for anyone to have. There’s a bit of sophistication associated with it that’s lightly doused in a coating of class. The strap, strap color, the fabric, large logo or subtle one, color of the bag, etc… All of these elements come into play when selecting a man bag. It’s a fun experience when selecting one and it’s going to be a standout in your group of friends. Generally, for all the wrong reasons.
When I bought my man bag (Rogue Territory’s Denim Tote Bag), I knew what I was getting into; a couple months of not so funny jokes and slanted stares from random people. It’s almost unavoidable really. No matter how masculine the bag itself is, someone (everyone) will call it a man purse (“murse” for those who get real creative) at least four times, per person, per day. Even the title of this article doesn’t bode too well with me;
Man Bag–gross.
Keep it minimal and simple.
But I’ve got stuff I have to carry. Stuff that won’t always fit in a briefcase. I could’ve gotten a higher end backpack, but those still have that schoolboy element to them that I personally feel is engraved into the creation of any type of backpack; no matter the price, make, or material. The backpack doesn’t have the maturity of a man bag that I was trying to achieve. Not saying they can’t achieve this, it’s just harder.
Is it impossible to keep hold of your masculinity while carrying a man bag? Absolutely not. You just have to put a bit more thought into it.
When utilizing a man bag, or tote as many menswear brands use, you need to ensure that the addition of the bag is still cohesive with the outfit. It’s not something I would bring to a county fair while I’m wearing some old jeans and a wrinkled t-shirt; it’s out of place. Perhaps some nice trousers, solid button down, blazer or cardigan and some great shoes to wrap it up. Yes, the bag is there to carry your belongings, but it’s also an accessory; much like a watch or a bracelet. It has to have some sort of flow.
Something I’ve noticed in my research about man bags is the amount of detail that they have. Meaning, there’s jus not a whole lot. In fact, they’re the complete opposite of ornate. Most of these that are intended for men don’t have a bunch of frills or tassels. Maybe you’ll get some external pockets with some buttons, combination of fabrics or the company’s logo . Doesn’t get to be much more than that. Keeping things simple and clean provides a great aesthetic to these bags (and your outfit) and stops them from crossing over into the purse-domain.
The Rogue Territory bag I carry is made from a dark blue, 15oz Japanese selvedge denim, with some natural veg-tanned leather straps. There’s some text on the outside and that’s it. It’s rugged, clean, goes with just about every outfit I wear and I love the hell out of it.
Steele Canvas Basket Co. – $68 (made in the USA), Apolis City tote – $68 (numerous cities available) ASOS Shopper – $50.63
Other options include the Market Bag City Tote from Apolis that will rep the city you’re from. Asos has a very simple and inexpensive tote that looks durable enough to withstand the test of time and could go with most of your outfits. J. Crew and J. Crew Factory have similar totes, with the J. Crew option being a made in the USA color block tote from Steele Canvas Basket Co, and the J. Crew Factory version being much cheaper (but perhaps much less durable). So you’ve got options and there’s dozens more that I haven’t mentioned or even know about. Do some research and find what’s best for you and your individual style.
Notice that all of these bags, though diverse, have the traits that I spoke of earlier. Yet, with all that, it still doesn’t matter. You’ll be the guy in a group with a man purse for a while. The struggle is real my friends.
Here’s the process of how introducing your bag into your circle of friends will go (yes, this is scientifically proven):
- Poor jokes will get thrown around.
- You’ll accept those jokes and get over them rather quickly.
- You’ll then create a phenomenal outfit with the so called “man purse”.
- Finally, everyone will shut the hell up after seeing what you’ve created.
How about a weekender bag? I picked up one from Bespoke Post (but have yet to find an occasion to use it).
To me, it depends what you’re carrying, and how frequently you need it. I don’t think a messenger bag or a rucksack would get the schoolboy look. Also, it seems like you are saying you can deal with the judgements that come with a man-bag, but not those of wearing a backpack. That denim bag looks basically like a reusable grocery bag, for which I wouldn’t have a problem using it. However, if you’re going for something stylish, what’s with the big logo and lettering?
If its simply a flair of your personal style, I say rock it and don’t look back, but if you’re using it purely for utility, (1) do you need all the stuff you’re carrying, and (2) would a different conveyance be better suited?
Nothing about this article makes sense to me. I’ve never heard of a canvas tote bag being called a “man bag”. The canvas tote bag isn’t something a woman carries – it’s something a preppy mom buys from LL Bean to use as an eco-friendly grocery bag. It is something you throw towels and extra clothes in when going to the beach or sailing at the yacht club. Its something you get for free at a business conferences, silk screened with logos and filled with totchkes and promotional materials. A canvas tote bag is about as informal as it gets and is absolutely more appropriate with jeans and a t-shirt than with a dressier outfit. Am I crazy?!?
No, I see it pretty much the same way. If carrying a canvas tote bag subjects you to jokes about carrying a purse (with the implied gay bashing undertone that necessarily accompanies such jokes,) perhaps you need to consider a new circle of friends.
Haters gonna hate. As long as the bag serves a purpose, such as holds your headphones, gym clothes, whatever, then go for it. The only opinion that matters is your own. That, and your significant other’s opinion of course 🙂
That’s precisely what I use to corral my gym gear in my car.
No… they don’t look good at all. Just big and clumsy with obnoxious branding on so many of them. Get a duffle bag if your briefcase or messenger bag is too small and you don’t have the confidence to wear a backpack.
I finally figured this problem out a year ago. As a lawyer, I need a briefcase that can occasionally haul a file or two plus a computer so the customary laptop bag is too small. But the standard “lawyer” briefcase is awful…bulky and square (heaven forbid you get the model with wheels and a telescoping handle) and doesn’t allow for easy transport of just a few items when scaling down.
I found this tool bag made by a company I’m still unfamiliar with, but its perfect for my situation: http://www.unitedbyblue.com/store/leather-canvas-tool-bag.html
Manly looking so it avoids the man-bag/man purse jokes. Carry handles and leather trimming make it court/conference room appropriate but I also use it as an overnight bag when traveling. Lots of compliments. Looks like they make a couple different types of bags including a tote.
Bingo. If someone in your social circle is cracking ‘jokes’ like that, it merits genuine scorn in return.
I think the only one of those I’d even consider is the Asos one. The key to these things is to keep it utilitarian and understated. Giant logos and text? Nope. Loud colors? Nope. Make “Keep It Simple, Stupid” your watchword and save the flash for a different part of your wardrobe.
The other problem with the “tote” style of bag is that it occupies a very narrow space. There just plain aren’t very many occasions that wouldn’t be better served by either a briefcase or messenger bag on the small end or a duffel bag or weekender on the large end.
I think the Asos one is a little more flexible and would be useful more often thanks to the internal zipper pocket for small items and the removable shoulder strap for when you absolutely MUST have an extra hand free. I’d like it better if the straps were reinforced all the way down to the bottom instead of just being riveted to the top, though; I’d be worried about how much weight it could handle.
I can see keeping one around for the few occasions where it’s called for– carrying extra food for a picnic or towels and a change of clothes for the pool or the beach, for example– but if it’s starting to act as an everyday staple, that’s when you start to come across as “that guy who always has to have his man-purse with him.”
I am all for a man bag, messenger, backpack, etc but cannot get on board with a tote bag. It just seems like it would be so annoying to carry around.
That is a sharp looking bag. I’m tempted to order one but I’m not sure how much actual use I’d get out of it. I just don’t carry that much stuff with me except on rare occasions.
On one hand, if it serves a purpose, I say why not.
If it seems like your using it as an accessory piece to your outfit, then I’ll make the jokes.
I personally don’t like tote bags because I’d rather have the option of regular handles for carrying and the shoulder strap when I need both hands for something else, but when a guy needs to carry more things than can fit in his pocket, obviously SOME sort of bag is in order. It’s all a matter of personal taste. I wouldn’t go with the tote, but Christian looks pretty put together in the photo above and I wouldn’t care to hang around with anyone who was actually giving him a hard time for it.
If the stuff you’re carrying needs a totebag, sure. But I don’t see why anyone would want it as their everyday carrier. Sure there are the jokes and the potentially feminine look, but if that is your main concern you need thicker skin. More important is it just isn’t comfortable. If you are rushing for a bus or the metro (or your mass transit rail service of choice) you don’t want a glofied shopping bag slowing you down. I’d rather have something I can sling over my shoulder or my back. These are great for the beach, farmer’s market, carrying larger items, but there are so many other options I’d rather have for my day to day commute.
The only time I find myself using a tote bag is if I am going record shopping. It actually fits vinyl.
A tote? Hell no. I just don’t think totes look that good, nor do I think they are comfortable to carry.
But I do have a “man-bag” that holds all of my daily gear. I use a Billingham Hadley Pro (http://www.billingham.co.uk/acatalog/HadlyProKhakiTanCanvas.jpg ) in black canvas and tan leather which lets me carry a small camera and all my computer stuff in a pretty minimal package. And if I need even more carrying capacity, I have a Mission Workshop rolltop messenger bag (the “Shed”: http://missionworkshop.com/products/bags/messenger/roll_top/large_shed.php ) that is absolutely humongous. Seriously, it’s a literal Bag of Holding.
I have this one too and often take it when I go away for the weekend, which I do a lot. I’ve gotten a lot of compliments on it. It’s not a bad bag, sturdy and good looking, but can really only fit a weekends worth of stuff.
In reality it’s just a stone mason bag, used for carrying tools, etc. If you didn’t get in on the Bespoke Post deal you can always pick on up else where. Just Google “mason bag”. They run about $70 or so a good one. They will last a lifetime.
I use a Makr backpack as of right now, but I love that Rogue Territory bag. If money was no option, well, this…
http://www.teranishibrand.com/collections/luggage/products/day-tripper
I use one of these: http://goo.gl/x8f5in
I love it.
as long as grown men stop wearing backpacks when not hiking i don’t care what they put their stuff in.
Any discussion regarding a man-bag must include a reference to Jerry’s “European carry-all”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=rnKRbEPbItE#t=44
YES.
I think the problem is that those bags cross the line from tool to accessory, and while I’m perfectly comfortable with that for watches, shoes, briefcases, &c., it doesn’t seem to match the purpose of the tote bag. It can be the right tool for some jobs, but it has to stay a tool.
I think bags like this are an unnecessary risk. I just use this $20 messenger bag from target for carrying around my laptop and work documents. It’s convenient, utilitarian, and it never looks out of place.
http://www.target.com/p/merona-men-s-bag-olive/-/A-13929969
I have nothing against tote bags but generally prefer something that keeps my hands free. So, I carry a very minimalist backpack (the Fjallravn Kanken – designed for Swedish school children) even if you-all don’t think it’s dapper. People ask about it so it must not look that bad. Or maybe it looks terrible and they want to avoid my mistake.
Oh, $15.99 now. Looks like I got ripped off.
get a classy duffel or a larger pseudo briefcase…man bags are awful, so many better options, these are half a tick above fanny packs
Can’t beat that price. I’ll have to check it out.
I’m just struggling to understand what the professional man needs to carry every day that won’t fit in his pockets, jacket, and/or briefcase.
Everything that’s ever been reviewed or given away on Dappered. Oh, and… my lunch. Rarely fits in the briefcase.
I believe that Christian is trying to justify his belief that “the man bag is something that I feel is a great accessory for anyone to have” in order to defend a purchase against his circle of friends who aren’t very accepting of it for aesthetic reasons. That being said, I think the man bag / tote, while having a purpose, is not nearly as versatile as several other designs. Furthermore, to purchase it as an accessory seems more fashionable than stylish. A better option would be something like Frost River’s Flight Bag or Beckel Canvas’ Possibilities Bag. The latter is $65, made in the USA, and has attachment points for a shoulder strap. http://beckelcanvas.com/products_view.php?products_id=45
I don’t really agree with the majority of comments made here. It all depends on the situation. Living in NYC, there are a lot of reasons to carry a tote. It’s a perfect bag for stopping at the hardware store on the way home, grabbing a few items for dinner, and the corner store for the toothpaste you forgot you were out of. I have to wear a suit every day for work and carrying a plastic grocery bag just doesn’t cut it when it defeats the whole purpose of trying to look nice. You also can’t fit most of that stuff in your briefcase or messenger.
Maybe living in a city where you have to make multiple stops while walking home from work is the exception, but I agree with the entire article. It’s useful and looks nice and can get some jokes from coworkers or friends if you stop after work for a drink and have it on you.
Since I’m in the city and don’t have a car, I need a bag. Always carrying work files home, Amazon deliveries, shopping, bike helmet.
The Everlane tote is pretty nice for only $40.
https://www.everlane.com/collections/mens-tote-collection/products/reverse-denim-tote
Hazard 4 Plan B Evac bag, before that a Maxpedition Noatak Gearslinger. Only comments they get are “What the hell is that and where can I get one?” Lacks the leather and canvas style, but here in Alaska, form follows function.
What Joe said. I eat like a horse. I have a canvas tote to lug around my 20lb lunch bag. Holds my coffee, water bottle, food, snacks, and if I really get stuck at school long, dinner.
I think there are 2 keys with a tote for a guy:
1) that at the very least it looks purposeful, clean, etc. – The words on the bags above, to me, kind of scream “fashion accessory” similar to big logos on clothing.
2) short carry handles – i.e. able to be carried in your hand with your arm extended without grazing the ground. if you want to wear it over a shoulder, it should be messenger style.
For my everyday carry I use a different color variation of this from billykirk: http://www.billykirk.com/products/no-256-zipper-tote-color-block-denim Simple, purposeful, looks good with jeans or a suit, tough as nails, blurs the line between a tote and a messenger. Hitting on all cylinders for me.
Man Bag, Manscape, Man Cave. Real Man. It is all smacks of juvenile, you may as well just go with your backpack if you are going to call it that.
Students definitely have reasonable excuses to need a lot of portable storage. But if you’re not in school, and your job doesn’t require you to carry a lot of equipment (like a photographer), what are you carrying around all day?
why are such jokes “necessarily accompanied” by implied gay bashing? because gay men are stereotypically feminine and so are handbags?
I think there is a place for conventional images of masculinity and femininity, and yes, even light teasing – as friends are wont to do – of someone who normally conforms to one or the other flirting with the distinction by trying to pull of something like a handbag. You don’t necessarily need to cross the line into homophobia and closed-mindedness. And I say this as someone who regularly carries something that could be called a “tote”.
I would still say lunch, personally. I try to not eat out for lunch (though hypocritically had to today). What do other people carry their lunch in?! That’s what perplexes me.
Seems like that would put you one car-door mishap away from $60 worth of Japanese selvage that permanently reeks of Caesar dressing. If all we’re talking about is getting food from place to place, these might be a bit overkill.
Lunch, gym shorts, shoes, phone charger, notebook and pens, headphones, a bottle of wine for a dinner at a friend’s, laptop, ipad, camera, actual books, jacket if the weather is iffy, leatherman, frisbee… you know, things people might keep in a car if they had one handy.
I don’t carry all that stuff around all the time. For the times that I do, a bag is useful for holding things.
I also live in Santa Monica. I use my Saddleback thin briefcase as my daily bag every day of the week. On weekends if I’m walking to the beach, I have a small canvas bag which I guess could be compared to the above, but all I use it for is beach stuff. I don’t bring it with me anywhere else. Why would I want to carry a bag as an accessory?
Thank you! That’s all I could think of when I saw the title of the article. And the clip was no where to be found!
A lunch bag. 😉
You know, I totally expected that response. I guess I am constantly astound at folks that only need to consume that much in a day. I’m not a big guy and I go through an entire tote bag full of food between the hours of 8-5. Being a student, my grocery bills are a bummer.
Completely agree. There are too many bags that fit the needs that look much better than a tote and won’t fall into the man purse section. This seems more fashion forward than just enough room to carry your stuff.
Man bag. More of a satchel/messenger bag though. I don’t know about the tote. I think handles (short handles) and a strap are ideal. I use a Fossil messenger bag like the one below (unfortunately mine does not have handles though).
As many other comments, I can’t see where a canvas tote would serve me better than any other bag. I think it is leaning to much on the fashion chic side, if you will, that is unnecessary and more or less asking to be made fun of. Seems to have a “functional” justification behind it, but an “anti-functional” presentation in every other sense
Lucky for me I do photography/videography on the side. So if I ever need to put something in a bag, I simply throw it in my big camera bag and I look like I’m headed to a shoot (filled with gorgeous models of course)
You do realise that backpacks are generally bigger and clumsier than totes…do you not?
No offence, but saying that leather trimming makes a bag court/conference room appropriate is like saying that work boots are court appropriate because they’re made from leather. It may well be appropriate for courts/conference rooms in certain places, but I could not carry that while wearing a suit. That said, with all honesty, I find it terribly proportioned and a little grotesque regardless of how or where it is carried.
Tote bags generally have a single set of handles that are long enough while being short enough for both methods of carrying.
Do you carry a Jil Sander lunch bag though?
http://fashion.telegraph.co.uk/article/TMG9509261/The-Jil-Sander-paper-bag-that-will-cost-you-185.html
No love. No love for this at all. Its a purse, and it looks very feminine. Get a briefcase, or a messenger bag.
I think everyone here is clear on the core concept of what constitutes a tote bag, but I was referring to a shoulder strap being long enough to allow you to have the strap on the side of your body opposite the bag itself so you don’t have to worry about it slipping off.
I am one of the people that make fun of my friends for the Murse. As a man I don’t see the utility in carrying a bag with only a handle. The whole point of a bag is so I can carry around a bunch of stuff that I need easily, so why occupy one of my hands with it? Given it would look weird to be wearing a suit and a backpack, but I think it looks just as wearing a suit and carrying a tote.
Uh…. a paper bag? Or if you want to get a little nicer how about a waxed canvas or leather lunch bag?
http://www.gearculture.com/goods/artifact-lunch-bag/
As a photographer, I have multiple bags depending on what kind of shoot I’ll be doing. They range from small enough to only carry something like a Fuji x100s to large enough to carry a full Canon system with lighting. You know what I still wouldn’t carry if I needed more space? A canvas tote.
Aesthetics aside, I need something with a shoulder strap to keep my hands free. On the rare occasions I carry a bag, I use a duffel or messenger.
Messenger, Duffle, Tool, Pilot bag, etc… No “totes” or shopping bags. The ‘bay has tons of good bags cheap, just picked up an Eddie Bauer bag for $15…
Seriously, no hyperbole here. In those bags I could fit my snacks that tide me over between about 8-11. That’s not including my main lunch dish, a small dessert if I’m feelin it, afternoon snacks, water bottle, and coffee mug. But regardless, that’s just me. I’m just making the case that bigger bags exist for a reason and one with handles on the top are quite handy.
I carry left over bags from shopping at my local grocery store. I might stand out like dogs balls but I simply dont gave damn.
A weekender isn’t a murse, it’s luggage. It’s something you throw some clothes in when you’re going away for, well, a weekend. It can do double-duty on the odd occasion that you need to lug something around that’s too big for a briefcase, but if you’re using it for everyday carry, you’re doing it wrong.
A tote? No. Anything I can’t fit in a pocket goes in a Saddleback thin briefcase or a backpack (depending on my state of casualness and touristyness.)
When on vacation or being a tourist, the camera and the stuff the Mrs. needs all go in a backpack. When at home and doing business, I use the Saddleback.
NEVER a tote, unless it’s got groceries in it.
what a lot of people aren’t looking at is why do you have to limit yourself?
I spend a decent amount on sunglasses, so I like to keep them pristine, and carry a sunglass case and a cloth to clean them. I carry my wallet, my cell phone, my keys. I have a pen, a small pad of paper, some business cards (don’t want a fat wallet) I have my work ID badge, chapstick, and hand sanitizer.
I don’t like having bulgy pockets, I’m far from this guy, I’m somewhat stylish but I am interested strictly in utility. I sometimes carry my tablet in there and a sweatshirt if the weather might get colder, I don’t have to leave it in the car. I can throw a camera in there, I never have to wear sunglasses in the store on my head, on my shirt, etc.. I throw it in a protective case and out of site. If I get a ride from a coworker for lunch, I don’t have to make a special trip to the car to get them. When I leave for work in the morning I throw my laptop in it and it has everything I need, no making sure I have my wallet in one pocket, my cell phone, etc..
It just makes life easy, my wife appreciates it also, as it makes her life easier. If she needs a sweater she’ll ask to throw it in there. It is a great tool. I get razzed about it all the time, “you bringing your purse?” I don’t give a crap, it makes my life easy. I never misplace anything anymore.