Man Purses

[CoachR64]

Ok, so I definately realize the need for men to carry their things with them.... but a purse? Come on, dudes!

I have seen this trend really taking off. A lot of guys are now carrying man purses, murses, attache bags, messenger bags, etc... Whatever you name them, they are purses. It drives me nuts. I know a lot of guys who are masculine guys, but have started carrying these things to keep all their gear close. It makes me laugh a bit.

If I am going somewhere where I need to carry stuff I don't have pockets for, I will carry a backpack.

It's really funny to me when I see these couples walking down the street or around a mall, and the man and the woman are both carrying purposes.


I totally understand a lot of this had to do with gender stereotypes. I just can't for the life of me see why men need to carry a purse!

So, what other traditionally gender specific items do you see a lot of men and women crossing over and adapting?

Coach

 

[Laurie919]

I don't even like to carry a purse, so I would have a problem with a man who carried one.

 

[sunshineray]

Oh gosh - when I first met my boyfriend he had this lap top bag that he insisted on calling his murse. I'm sure now he did it to annoy me, because everytime he called it a murse it made me nauseous. Anyway, he stopped calling it that which made things a LOT better.

But on the topic of guys carrying man purses or bags or whatever.... I don't get it when they just bring it to the mall or whatever, but I don't mind if a guy is carrying a nice leather shoulder bag instead of a brief case or a book bag. Maybe that's just me. I guess I like guys who dress really well or very trendy... hence why it doesn't me.

 

[Trashionista]

I don't mind murses/man bags. But it takes a very stylish, gutsy man to pull one off.

With jeans, black blazer, cool sneakers, striped oxford - man bag works.

Sweatpants, golf shirts, baggy jeans, etc. or the standard, male uniform? Doesn't work quite as well.

I don't think most men can pull off a shoulder bag. But I think a black messenger bag in a nice exotic skin or just plain leather can be pulled off very well with a somewhat stylish outfit.

However, do I find it attractive? Yes. Have I ever seriously dated or been very attracted to a metrosexual man? No. As much as I say its attractive, I don't see myself settling down with a stylish man.

But I walk around in men's slouchy cardigans & the v-neck Hanes undershirts. So, I'm probably not the best person to comment.

 

[CoachR64]

There is a huge difference in taking care of yourself and pride in your personal hygiene and being metrosexual. I have a huge issue with the whole metrosexual trend, especially with it getting it's major infusion into society through shows like "Queer eye for the straight guy" and such.

Coach

 

[deliciousBass]

Hehe, yeah... if I'm going anywhere and have stuff I need to take with me, I use a backpack. I would consider carrying an attache case for work though if I had a lot paperwork to lug around.

 

[Luther073082]

I agree with you coach. I don't understand it at all. Anything i could ever need when I'm just out and about I carry in my pockets or attach to my body.

My cell phone
my watch
My keys (BTW I attached a flashlight to it)
My wallet (Has all sorts of useful stuff)

I could still use a pocket knife that I could put in the pocket with my cell phone.

But what in the world do I need that would require a murse?

 

[CoachR64]

During the summer, I wear cargo shorts alot. I like the looks and feel of them, plus I have extra pockets should I need them. They work well for my camera should I need it.

When it gets colder, I wear a jacket and that includes extra pockets for carrying the things I need. I also wear my cell phone on my belt and that frees up extra pocket space.

I can carry a phone, wallet, keys, flashlight, pocket knife, lighter (not a smoker, just a habit from when I lived in the woods for a few months) and even a firearm (legally with my concealed carry permit) should I feel the need or desire to carry one. All of those without a bag or "murse" and no one would ever even know the stuff was there.

If you have so much stuff to carry as a man that you need a purse, maybe you need to rethink all of the stuff you actually "need" during a day.

Coach

 

[Trashionista]

But why?

You can still be male & wear nice clothes, and not be homosexual or come off "queer".

Its not about being flamboyant, a la Boy George. Queer Eye wouldn't have been the sucsess it was without the flamboyance of the hosts. Its no different really to what Clinton Kelly does on WNTW, except Clinton isn't particularly flamboyant.

Likewise, Nakata, a model for modern masculinity in the Asian media, is pretty metro:

This said, I don't think men should have free-reign. I can't see most men looking good in skirts, or dolphin shorts, or the man-leggings. But... so long as I'm wearing slouchy cardigans, & skinny tuxedo pants, again... I probably shouldn't say anything.

However, I like the metro look. If a guy can pull it off, he's golden.

 

[deliciousBass]

During the summer, I wear cargo shorts alot. I like the looks and feel of them, plus I have extra pockets should I need them. They work well for my camera should I need it.

When it gets colder, I wear a jacket and that includes extra pockets for carrying the things I need. I also wear my cell phone on my belt and that frees up extra pocket space.

I can carry a phone, wallet, keys, flashlight, pocket knife, lighter (not a smoker, just a habit from when I lived in the woods for a few months) and even a firearm (legally with my concealed carry permit) should I feel the need or desire to carry one. All of those without a bag or "murse" and no one would ever even know the stuff was there.

If you have so much stuff to carry as a man that you need a purse, maybe you need to rethink all of the stuff you actually "need" during a day.

Coach

YES!!! I do the exact same thing as far as the cargo shorts and jacket! Preach it brotha!

 

[Apollo Celestio]

Ok, so I definately realize the need for men to carry their things with them.... but a purse? Come on, dudes!

I have seen this trend really taking off. A lot of guys are now carrying man purses, murses, attache bags, messenger bags, etc... Whatever you name them, they are purses. It drives me nuts. I know a lot of guys who are masculine guys, but have started carrying these things to keep all their gear close. It makes me laugh a bit.

If I am going somewhere where I need to carry stuff I don't have pockets for, I will carry a backpack.

It's really funny to me when I see these couples walking down the street or around a mall, and the man and the woman are both carrying purposes.


I totally understand a lot of this had to do with gender stereotypes. I just can't for the life of me see why men need to carry a purse!

So, what other traditionally gender specific items do you see a lot of men and women crossing over and adapting?

Coach

I'm the same as you, back packs are much more convenient than man purses. I don't carry too many things with me, but I doubt I'd ever need a purse.

 

[CoachR64]

Why would you want your man to behave and be like a girl? That makes no sense at all. The metrosexual look is totally ridiculous and the worst idea we could have come up in society.

Again, there is a difference in trying to take care of yourself and adopting all of the female rituals and styles.

Coach

 

[Apollo Celestio]

Metrosexual, what is that? Is that like not looking "manly" enough or something?

 

[Luther073082]

Metrosexual, what is that? Is that like not looking "manly" enough or something?

Dresses like he's gay and sometimes acts like it.

But isn't actually gay. At least thats my understanding of it.

 

[Trashionista]

Well, heels started out as an item for men. I'm a woman, and I'm short. Should I then, not wear them? Is it masculizing? Who's to say in 20 years bags won't be for men & women.

Its also not about being BryanBoy, or carrying the same bags the women are carrying. As Kanye West shall illustrate...

Its fine to be casual. But its so much more interesting to have some flare - a murse can add that. Also, I wouldn't say Kanye looks particularly "queer" in that photo either.

This isn't to say, again, I feel all men should have free reign. But if a man like West or Nakata or whomever can pull off the manbag, I see no issue. No matter what the item - if its David Lee Roth or Rod Stewart or a dude in glam-rock band, I don't think its metro to wear the Marni man-leggings. Sure, a dude in sweats will look ridiculous in a manbag, but I don't think the names that are selling manbags are trying to appeal to the man who wears grey sweats out.

 

[Trashionista]

Gah. Anyway to make the pic smaller? Sorry!

 

[Niels]

Backpacks are fine for the playground and campsite, but they aren't well suited for the business world. I have a black laptop bag that I carry my laptop, paperwork, phone, and mp3 player in... but it's basically a padded briefcase with optional shoulder strap. Before that, I used a messenger bag to carry stuff to and from work. They look similar, but the LT bag has more padding.

Nothing effeminate about one of these:

A murse, on the other hand:

 

[deliciousBass]

LOL I love the murse pic.

And what are those shoes he's wearing called? Crocs or something? Those are so gay! lol

 

[Trashionista]

Ew. He's wearing Crocs.

I don't know if that's really accurate. I can't see any truly, self-respecting metro guy wearing the plastic Devil's Shoe.

Also, the tote in question is fugly.

 

[vballbball17]

a guy at my school use to have a pures but i guess he got sick of people asking him why do u have one of those