My own tinywinks,
A loyal reader wrote me absolutely hounding me for advice on man bags. He was no doubt remembering the infamous Chicken Bag of last year’s General Assembly (Jake, are you out there?) and wanting a more soigne option for his own wardrobe. I mean, look at Tinky up there with his handsome red satchel. What a bold use of color! What a statment of confident individuality! Or else he took it from his Mom’s closet; I can’t tell!
I think that this hip young minister has answered his own question by referring me to Man-n-Bags, a company that sells three styles of purses bags for men that are definitely not trying to be briefcases. The people at Man-n-Bag not only design mighty fine bags for the gents, they’re funny, too! And we love that. We double-love that they make fun of fanny packs and the hideous, morally offensive CELL PHONE PANTS CLIP.
Also recommended by our Loyal Reader is this really quite wonderful site devoted to man bags. Purseuing.com isn’t just a place to purchase a really fine-looking bag, they even have discussion forums! There, you can agonize about whether a diaper bag or briefcase or sporty little shoulder number will work for your needs. Because honestly, if you’re not a big transporter of papers and files, a briefcase probably won’t be the best option for you. Embrace the revolution!! Get a nice, roomy man bag and find out what we gals have known for eons: a good bag is a busy cleric’s best friend.
Even Chewy knows that.
I’m not a man, but just wanted to say “great post.”
Praise Jesus, I think I found a father’s day gift for my husband! I for one am tired of him (my husband, not Jesus) saying “can I put my palm pilot in your purse?”, while complaining about his lower back pain caused by back pockets bulging with a wallet and a cell phone. Too bad the bags are all out of stock, though.
By the way, not to jump on the Jerry Falwell bandwagon, but I caught an episode of Teletubbies recently and Tinky Winky not only had his red pocketbook but also was wearing a white tutu. I’m just sayin’.
I am virtuously refraining from speculating as to the appropriate color of the alleged bags. 🙂
Also: http://www.bulgebag.com. AWFUL name for a website, but the bags are sleek, handsome and well-made – and my pastor husband actually CARRIES (and swears by) their “Mineymo” (which has a little happy face). Just enough room for PalmPilot, keys, IDs, cash, and receipts. And sometimes my lipstick, when we’re out dancing and I’m wearing something pocketless!
Sorry, I should have said that my husband carries the mineymo bag in BLACK. It does come in leopard – but surely that’s stretching it, for most men…??
Years ago when cell phones were the size of bricks I purchased a padded camera case at REI to carry the phone. As a relatively early cell phone adaptor, I never cottoned to the idea of wearing the thing – it was heavy, bulky and if you sat the wrong way you could do yourself a mischief. Does this make me an early innovator regarding ‘man bags’? I thought I was just geeky.
There’s a mfg named Domke that makes different sorts of very rugged canvas bags for journalists and photographers. I can imagine several of their models making good “man purses.”
coming in late to say – my husband has carried a variety of man-purses over the years, and now will never stray from his microfibre Healthy Back Bag which I bought him at LL Bean. Sufficiently masculine, durable, non-descript (which is to say, tasteful enough to carry with a suit, not ridiculous with jeans and polo) with pockets inside and out for organizing his myriad electronic organizing and communications devices, medical supplies, recreational reading, cough drops, plus a few of the diapers and associated items that are now part of our life.