The Man Bag: What if Your Pappa Got A Brand New One?

There has been lots of chatter about Mens Fashion. Mainly because it has begun to once again blur the line it maintains with womens fashion.

First it was skinny jeans. The snug fitting bottoms once worn only by old school Rockers came back on the scene a couple of years ago, though really only on the Womens side. The few guys who were wearing them were from the "EMO" sect, and were purchasing across the isle...or just borrowing a pair of their sisters.

THEN: Like a mighty river, the 80's rushed back into our lives and suddenly everything was tight and colorful again. Now it wasnt just the "EMO" guys crying out for a tighter fit, it was all guys. From Skater Boys to B-Boys; they, much like a certain commercial from the time, declared "I Want My Skinny Jeans!" And the industry responded.

Now they can be seen in most every shop and boutique, and on almost every size and frame. Reminding all of a safer time...when what was in a guys pants moved around less than Denzel in The Bone Collector.

NOW: The big issue? The Man Bag. The topic has been toted around more than any of the actual bags have. And the reason- typical apprehension to new things. A particular problem for men whenever something comes along that challenges outdated views of masculinity.

Ive heard the arguments and read the blogs. The best they can come up with is that the bags look like purses and therefore, make the men who carry them look like women.

Really?

When women wear pants do they look like men? No. Because aside from the fact that the styles are different, they embody them in a completely different way. There is nothing inherently feminine about a non-bifurcated piece of cloth that is worn around the pelvis and buttocks (what we commonly call a skirt). Because with the right pattern, that same fashion is called a Kilt in Scotland, and its anything but feminine!

*Believe me on this one. Ive clubbed in Scotland before*

The wearers of the Kilt don't carry themselves as women, so they aren't confused with women. Are men in the US afraid that if they carry bags they'll be mistaken for the fairer sex? Surely they're smarter than...oh who am I kidding? Guys cant even stop screaming "No Homo!" (trying to reassert their imagined manhood) long enough to realize that if they feel like they have to do it, they're not really men.

Real men know who they are and don't give a damn if you don't! And style works the same way. Style is very personal, unique to an individual. You have to be able to know that you look good in what you're wearing. Fashion will continue to blur the lines between men and women, because both groups are distinct enough to extract their own feel. Fashion is for everyone, but style is all your own.

FUTURE: Men wont be patting themselves down while doing the "Keys, cellphone, wallet" check, but will instead be going through their man bags.