Men's Handbags - Will They Ever Catch On?

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