Can fashion be both stylish and utilitarian?
Trend followers may sacrifice function for aesthetics, but the fashionable might not do the same. Legendary talent scout, William Morris, once said, "Nothing useless can ever truly be beautiful," and when it comes to men's fashion, it's the cardinal rule.
It is crucial for a man to appear as though he's unaffected by fashion, even if it takes him two hours of mirror time to achieve that look. If a guy looks too unkempt, he's seen as a slob, but if he's too fashionable, he's labeled a dandy. The right look for the modern man comes from an equal concern for comfort, aesthetics and utility. With these criteria in mind, let us turn our attention to man purses.
The men's carryall is a widely accepted accessory for the European and Asian male, but here in the States, they're taboo.
Many men think carrying a bag is frivolous, since their Levis have five pockets to carry anything a "real" man should ever need. But the problem is, by the time the "real" man puts his wallet, keys, cell phone and PDA in his pocket, he looks like he's popping a boner under every pocket, scaring off girls even before his pickup line does.
Enter, the man bag; with your items of necessity packed away, you can give your pockets a rest, and girls get to ogle your butt, without wondering what's under the protruding wallet bulge.
But, it's not just for what we men need to lug around in our pockets. It's also for all the little things we wish we could have with us, but can't fit in our pockets. Ever find yourself in the middle of a "Girls Gone Wild" scene, only to have no camera? Ever show up to a house party with no good music, only to remember you left your iPod at home? There is nothing quite as sweet as having the right gadget at the right time.
Yes, a man bag is the very definition of utility. Being accused as fashionable may be a pleasant side effect of carrying a man bag, but this men's accessory is all function. So, even if you wear socks with sandals or white after Labor Day, the man bag has a place on your shoulder. Imagine having breath spray, business cards and writing utensils, on demand, when an attractive opportunity presents herself.
But, because the world of man bags might be new territory, here are some tips to keep in mind when toting around your purse ... er ... man bag.
Reach the reporter at saman.mehrazar@asu.edu.
