But that all changed when I moved to Hong Kong. Thanks to the prevalence of man-purses here, I too have acquired a purse for everyday use. Gaspety gasp! Now, when I say "man-purse" I don’t mean the ubiquitous leather messenger bag that appears when you google “man bag” or "man purse" (Um, be careful when you google that. Some conservative search filters may think you are looking for something slightly more risqué. Unless you are. I’m just saying.)
Man-purse refers to, for all intents and purposes, a large handbag with shorter tote handles/straps (and sometimes a larger shoulder strap), that is usually worn slung over one shoulder, very much how a woman would carry a handbag. (See pic below) In Hong Kong, I have seen scores of young men carry a black nylon bag in this manner since August 2008, and gradually, I began to want one too, because carrying a bag in this manner was now ok for men…making it unisex and androgynous, thus aok for my ungirly style.
As to how the man-purse became mainstream for men in Hong Kong, I can make a few conjectures. The influence of Asian male pop idols is one reason, definitely. Pop idols from Japan and Korea are fashion role models, and their adventurous looks have slowly trickled down to the masses. Male pop idols are unbelievably skinny and pretty, and can pull off some really progressive metrosexual looks. Things that they have sparked a trend for include the skinny scarf, sparkly man jewelry, and of course, the man-purse.
Another reason for the mainstreaming of the man-purse is the blurring between a travel carry-on overnight bag, and a shoulderbag/purse. One fashion house in particular has profited greatly off this blur – Agnes B. Agnes B came out with a line of Voyage luggage and bags a couple of years ago, in understated black nylon (think Prada’s signature bag in the 1990s), with simple, clean lines. The most popular bag was an overnight tote/duffel with short handles that you could hold in your hands or sling over your shoulder like a shoulderbag, and a removable longer strap, so the bag could be worn messenger bag style. While the bag was meant for travel, it was adopted by the masses for everyday use. The availability of cheap knock-offs sealed this bag’s status as the ubiquitous “It” bag of men and women alike. So while technically, it is a unisex overnight bag, the way the bag is worn, shoulderbag/purse style, makes it a man-purse when men wear it, dammit. This is how the Agnes B travel duffel looks. Credit to http://mymanybags.blogspot.com for the image.
Another reason why the man-purse has gained mainstream acceptance may also be attributed, I think, to the scores of men forced to carry their female partners’ purses out in public. It’s an interesting sight to see men (ahem!whipped!ahem!) carry their girlfriends’ or wives’ designer handbags in public. What’s cool is that they do it unabashedly, and often sling them on their shoulders purse-style (as opposed to toting them sheepishly like briefcases). More power to ‘em.So that, my friends, is how the purse/shoulderbag became acceptable for the masses of men here…and for the unequivocally ungirly and androgynous as well!
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