The answer would have to be — that depends.
If they continue to be called handbags — then they may well not
catch on at all.
Call them something else and they more than likely will!
As the speed of business and everyday life continues to grow,
men too are going to need something small enough to carry the
various daily bits and pieces in, without subjecting their
pockets to a barrage of seam bursting bits and pieces.
For the majority of the week, men are catered for quite
adequately with the briefcases or laptop bags. Many now cut
straight to the chase and pile everything into a backpack,
caring less for appearance and more for practicality of being
able to walk around easily.
But consider for a minute those trips where a business case
isn’t required. Maybe they aren’t going out and about with their
laptop or files of papers for the day. Would they still need a
laptop bag or messenger bag?
Unlikely!
So maybe the advent of man carrying some form of male handbag
isn’t that far away.
Indeed, designer names such as Louis Vuitton, Dior and Tommy
Hilfiger already market bags specifically for men. They
obviously believe the market is the there and that it’s worth
tapping into sooner rather than later.
Nor are they just your standard duffle or messenger bags.
They are specific, cut down versions of these, more suitable for
carrying wallet, car keys and mobile phone easily than lugging
big and heavy items. Slip in a PDA or iPod and you’re away.
The styles and materials used are still very pointedly
masculine. With thick leathers and rough looking suede they
still shout out “manly” rather than ‘girly’. The cut and style
are purposely made to appear different to anything else gone
before.
The Dior line for instance –- thinned down and mini sized
messenger type bags that aren’t messenger bags but men’s
handbags.
And that’s the whole crux of the matter.
Men will start to carry the man’s handbag — for want of a
better name — just so long as it doesn’t destroy their
perceived likeness to John Wayne or the Terminator.
But if it has any likeness to a true handbag as touted by
millions of women then they’ll run a mile — fast! It’s that
word, you see. Strikes fear into even the biggest man.
“Handbag.”
It just sounds girly. It’s a word all men associate with their
mom. Nothing wrong with that, you say! I agree –- but although
most men love and respect their moms –- they don’t want to dress
like her. That includes the ‘handbag’.
Then you’ll have the diehards who wouldn’t touch a handbag for
their wife, let alone themselves. These men, I suspect, would
rather see NASCAR racing made into a non contact sport and the
NFL forced to impose a non violent tackling rule before they
ever handled a real, live handbag!
Mark you — I bet these are the same men who, as soon as they
get the car parked on a family trip out anywhere, turn to their
wife and say “Gee honey, can I put my keys in your handbag??”
“And my cell phone?”
“Will my wallet fit in as well, do you think?”
Tch. MEN!