Far from being
an encumbrance, bags have become a necessary extension of the
modern gentleman's style. Necessary because on the one hand, they
are a vital vessel for transporting our quotidian detritus from
place to place, while on the other they serve a very important
aesthetic function. One can be extremely adept at putting a look
together, but leave the house with a mismatched bag and your
exemplary styling starts to look rather silly. There are many
different styles of bags, each serving a different stylistic and
functional purpose, but the following four genres are the most
versatile, adaptable and stylish we saw doing the laps of Pitti
earlier in January. There's no nylon, logo-dipped monstrosities
here, just beautifully crafted carry-alls with a classic
aesthetic.
Old-School
Rucksacks
Taking a cue from military bergens, this season's most
prized rucksacks come flaunting exceptional leather fabrications,
hard-wearing canvasses and pockets' worth of functionality. There
were plenty of khaki iterations of the classic roll-top and
top-flap backpack in Pitti, not least because it's a
masculine-looking casualwear option but it can also give more
formal garments a rugged militaristic edge. Certainly, the canvas
styles have a more outdoorsy, Boy Scout vibe about them, but
the more polished leather variations can look every bit as
distinguished as a briefcase in the city.
Classy
Weekenders
The Weekend holdall has really come into its own in recent years
as a stylish alternative to the ubiquitous spinner case. Yes the
spinner case might be easier to transport (if you're a weakling,
that is), and yes, the hard shell may provide a little more
protection to the contents inside, but as far as character, patina,
and aesthetics go, spinner cases can go swivel, as it were.
Discerning gents would be far better advised to invest in a leather
weekender, which if cared for well, will not only last a lifetime
but will accumulate all the stories of trips past in its
ever-changing patina.
Distinguished
Totes
Once upon a time, the tote bag was something septuagenarian
ladies carried to the shops to top up on weekly grocery supplies,
but nowadays it has become a vital part of a man's ferrying fleet.
It's easy to see why: the modern tote is lightweight but sizeable
and comes in infinite guises, from sophisticated leather styles to
casual canvas models. Naturally we favour the timeless approach, so
opting for a style in tan leather will stand the test of Old Father
Time, or opt for black in the city.
Clutch
Control
Men and clutches? Who would have thought? While our collective
wives and girlfriends have been embracing the unisex fashion
movement by appropriating elements of the male wardrobe, it's a
little harder for a man to pull off (or rather, put on) a dress.
However, the clutch (let's call it a portfolio for the sake of
argument) - historically a dainty bag carried by ladies - has
been adopted wholesale by the menswear industry, and as you can
see, it can look both chic and masculine to boot. Naturally,
the bigger styles provide a more masculine aesthetic, but either
way, the portfolio is an extremely useful addendum to your look,
besides being a great vessel for the technological picnic that
usually resides in your pockets.
