Boys Just Want To Have Fun...With Bags

Somewhere along the age-old evolution of fashion, a great divide naturally surfaced within the industry's gender roles. Women aimed to be chic, and men preferred to meet chicks. Women subscribed to the monthly Vogue, and men wore jeans, sneaks and other things not à la mode. Women were allowed bags, and men were assigned to carry them as their partners shopped the day away. In other words, men became bag holders rather than bag carriers. In this ill-fated world, men were beginning to fall into perpetual faux pas. But leave it to the gentlemen of Europe to revolutionize the public perception of what a man should wear and emphasize the meaning of class, a term classically unrelated to biological anatomy. Men too can carry bags if they wish. In fact, as conveyed by the exquisitely chic Filson bag in the above photo, men can give women quite the run for their money in the accessory department and still have time to bring home the bacon.

Salvatore Ferragamo, Hermès, and high-street counterparts like River Island are only some of the many brands that have envisioned a new life for the everyday man. This man can carry a functional tote across town without being considered effeminate. Or bear a designer clutch at fashion week without worrying about passerby criticism. Or sport a leather satchel on the way to the office without drawing semi-comical references to The Hangover. The limits in men's fashion have come close to being limitless, and the concept of "masculine" style has come a far ways from the days of gym shorts and fanny packs. But while the bag trend has signified a bright future for men's fashion, it is not very likely it will soon transcend the territory of couture gowns and dresses. Could it?

Text Ricardo Hernandez

Image courtesy of Jak and Jil by Tommy Ton