Remember the things in menswear that were always subject to scrutiny but now seem commonplace. Like whatever happened to the 'tsk tsk' that resulted from pattern clashing, the odd glances at no socks worn with a suit or the peculiar stares that came after one would don an armful of jewelry instead a just a wristwatch. Times change and since they do you either become part of the populace that embraces it or complains and jokes about it to get a laugh. However, it's seeming more and more that the last laugh is falling to those who move forward instead of standing still doubled over from a guffaw.
I seem to recall a time when the only bag a man was expected to carry was a briefcase. On his days off, that's what his car was for; hoarding the things his significant other refused to carry in her purse. Knapsacks were for students, briefcases were for businessmen, messenger bags were for, well, messengers and gym bags were purposely kept sporty as to suggest 'of course I'm going to the workout, don't be ridiculous!'
However, like I stated earlier in this recounting is that times in fact do change. Chalk it up to the mixing of lives and livelihoods and the perpetual hustle of the modern cosmopolitan man that has him getting up, going to work, the gym, dinner, live show and perhaps even naughtily spending the night out all in a single 24 hour period. I have always been carrying a bag with me wherever I go since college and with due reason; you never know where you're going to end up. Now add to the mix the liberation of mens clothing and them realizing what women have long before known. One raggedy ol' duffel bag for everything just won't do.
Now while there is just cause for owning a sturdy bag (or several), European menswear designers conjured up some sweet murses and man-bags alike for the Spring/Summer 2013 season that took into account all walks of life and kinds of lifestyles. There was no shortage of color, quality, shapes and styles offered for next summer which leaves nothing to laugh at. It's high time to replace the dashboards, blazer pockets, glove compartments, cargo pockets, plastic grocery bags and recycled department store bags, embrace a bag and find redemption for your life's mentionable and unmentionable crap.
*All Photos Courtesy of Style.com
