Er, hello. At what point did men discover they needed a handbag to carry their stuff? Blame Beckham and Ronaldo, but the man bag (otherwise known as a chap sack) is here to stay, writes Brian Keane
IT DIDN'T TAKE The Irish Times/Behaviour & Attitudes Men Today poll to convince me that Irish men have lost the plot. The warning signs have been there for a while. It's not just the fact that men can now openly discuss everything from make-up to modern art, and tanning to the theatre, without breaking into a sweat. The point of no return has been reached, however, with the prevalence of the man bag (a progression from the original moniker: murse), from messenger bag styles to emasculating on-the-shoulder leather types.
Did this trend creep in from nowhere? And have we learned nothing from the fairer sex with their glorified bin-bags that get stolen in nightclubs, lost at parties, puked in, trod upon, and generally treated like the hindrance they are?
A little research revealed that the early handbags were essential for men and women. From the 14th to the 17th centuries, no right-minded chap would be seen without a man-purse in which to carry items of value. It was only as pocket sizes in men's clothing increased that the use of purses diminished. We all remember Joey from Friendsbeing ridiculed for his bag, but thanks to the rise of the metrosexual, the tide has gradually turned. Over the past decade adoption has been slow but steady. Today, two of the most photographed man bag users are Christiano Ronaldo and David Beckham. Heck, even Woody Allen has one.
How bad will things get? Very, if current trends continue. A UK study last year suggested that two-thirds of British males carry a man bag. Functionality and fashion go hand in hand. Many of them can store laptops, mp3 players, books, magazines, gym gear and phones, with further pockets for items such as hair gel, body spray and diaries (not good for the owner's back, but great news for chiropractors everywhere).
Just when did we need to start carrying so much stuff? It appears that men can't be apart from the modern gadgets that support our multi-faceted lifestyles. At Urban Outfitters in Temple Bar, Dublin 2, the majority of bags cost less than €50. Gavin Brunker, their menswear manager, is loathe to use the term man bag, preferring "hold-all" to describe his stock. Does man bag have negative connotations? "Definitely. I would never class these as man bags. They're just bags for a man."
Fred Perry bags, feeding the current vintage love-in, are the most popular. "People will buy Fred Perrys instead of laptop bags. They're taking on more of a fashion role."
Brunker cites Paul Weller and Pete Doherty as prime examples of role models who can add some street cred to the man bag cause. What has changed in the past 10 years that has men going bag mad? "I would put it down to an Irish confidence thing. And that would be across the board in every aspect of clothing, but especially with bags. People wouldn't have taken a risk in fashion before." He reluctantly admits the man bag could prove to be a useful term in the future: "They are getting bigger and more feminine, so I can see why that description is used."
Ample proof of this is provided in Brown Thomas on Grafton Street, where the sales assistant I'm speaking to has no qualms in referring to their men's stock as "handbags". The display area has recently increased in size, due to customer demand, and offers a selection of brands such as Gucci, Dolce & Gabbana and Prada, all falling into the €300 to €2,000 price range. I'm told that exclusive Burberry bags are in high demand.
Occasionally, women purchase the bags for themselves, and a man recently bought one, Paris Hilton-style, for his dog. You may laugh, but the evidence points to further man bag integration. Handbag website purseuing.com has a staggering selection of designs for men (including one modelled by Chewbacca from Star Wars) and men's magazines including GQand FHMregularly carry features and advertisements on mag bags. With oversized shopping-style bags gaining in popularity, it's only a matter of time before men are seen doing precisely what makes women's handbag usage so incomprehensible - desperately rummaging through the bottomless pits, unable to find anything when it's needed.
While it would be wonderful to uncover a worldwide marketer's conspiracy, the truth boils down to a basic economic principle of supply meeting demand, with bags to suit every budget and taste, for macho "don't dare call this a man bag" blokes as well as the most ostentatious show-offs. Like the hunters of yore, we are carrying our most precious possessions around, except now we prefer prettily designed, brand- label bags. All this, borne by an increasingly fashion-savvy and confident Irish man with a belief that if it's good enough for New York and Paris, then it's good enough for us, too.
Am I convinced I need one? Not at all, I can manage perfectly well with my pockets, thanks. Now, where did I leave my keys?