You can’t really blame us for concentrating almost entirely on women’s bags; they have, for PurseBlog’s entire existence, been much more aesthetically interesting than those made for men. The male-focused accessories market is starting to expand a bit, though, and it’s a great time to be a man in the market for a new bag.
There are lots of fashion-forward options in the men’s market now, but we wanted to start with some bags that are a little more functional. After all, men are still, on average, less willing than women to experiment with fashion, and even the aesthetically brave among us still need a solid everyday bag. All of the options below will get the job done, with one or two fun pieces thrown in for good measure.
Bally Balzaco Briefcase
$1,595 via Saks
Buscemi PHD Large Backpack
$2,750 via Neiman Marcus
Coach Unlined Mercer Tote
$550 via Coach
Fendi Peekaboo Monster Bag
$6,650 via Saks
Fossil Estate East-West Messenger Bag
$178 via Macy’s
Givenchy Cross-Print Briefcase
$2,450 via Neiman Marcus
Gucci Suede Tiger Head Messenger Bag
$2,980 via Gucci
Hermès Cityhall Bag
$10,300 via Hermès
Herschel Supply Co. Survey Brief Backpack
$100 via Bloomingdale’s
Jack Spade Dipped Tote
$198 via Bloomingdale’s
J.Crew Harwick Messenger Bag
$98 via J.Crew
Louis Vuitton Gustave Daily Bag
$4,150 via Louis Vuitton
MCM Bionic Coated Neoprene Backpack
$1,295 via Neiman Marcus
Miansai Lenox Tote
$485 via East Dane
Mismo MS Backpack
$550 via East Dane
Polo Ralph Lauren Two-Tone Zip Tote
$428 via Macy’s
Prada Leather Shopper Tote
$2,055 via Bergdorf Goodman
Rag and Bone Derby Overnight Bag
$795 via East Dane
Saint Laurent Rider Shearling Backpack
$1,850 via Bergdorf Goodman
Thom Browne Grained Leather Briefcase
$3,400 via MR PORTER
Tom Ford Buckley Zip Briefcase
$3,250 via Bergdorf Goodman
Valextra Pebbled Leather Backpack
$3,740 via MR PORTER
I would love the Gucci Tigerhead for myself! And the Prada is so underwhelming — very TJMaxx-y.
A lot of these look too feminine for any of the guys I know. Some men’s bags are great for women – I have an LV cabat messenger bag that I use for business travel – super light and under the radar.
I like seeing some of the more masculine bags. My husband has been looking for a bag made out of something other than canvas that doexnt look like a handbag. Some of these, however, still look like purses.
I’ll take the H City Hall. Please & Thank you
The Hermes is possibly the most interesting design but outrageously expensive for a bag with a manufacturing cost of c.$1100-1200.
The Gucci bag has my dad’s initials, lol. Are they trying to give me a hint or something? Out of this lot, my absolute favourite would be the Hermes. But even with a lifetime warranty (unlike Chanel) I’m still a bit hesitant over the price tag. It’s not like it’s a Birkin or Kelly that will hold or even increase in value.
I want the Givenchy one for myself!
OMG! Now I am getting confused. I have finalized this leather bag for my hubby but after seeing this collection I am not getting what to purchase. What do you think of this leather bag? Is it worth?
I would never blame PurseBlog for concentrating on women’s bags, because as Amanda said, they feature more interesting and evolving designs. And many thanks for posts like this one. But as a man who is drawn to “statement pieces” for even everyday wear (but not necessarily for EVERY day), the problem isn’t just lack of options. There are certainly labels that do indeed design fashion-forward men’s collections, but they are almost always priced out of reach (for me). The monster peekaboo bag is really the only one here I would carry (I’m a huge fan of those eyes), but $6,500 is rough-if-not-impossible for me. Brands like Fendi, which to me epitomizes fierce playful luxury for men’s, or Saint Laurent or Givenchy, which are also options for men’s glamorama, feel like my only options. From what I can tell, women have far more diffusion lines to choose from, and more moderately priced labels that still incorporate dramatic flare. This is a personal sticking point for me, and I raise it only to increase awareness. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been asked by people WHY I spend so much money on my clothes and bags. The answer is because I dont feel I have many other options 🙁