On Trend-the "man bag"

On trend-the man bagThis fall guys, why not take a note from Seinfeld and Joey from Friends and rock a man bag!? Whether for class, work or just for fun you can look ultra chic by carrying a man bag instead of having that crazy bulge in your pants, and NO I don’t mean that kind! I mean that type that your ultra fat wallet leaves in your back pocket.The man bag ranges in styles from briefcases to messenger bags. They are ultra hip and surprisingly masculine. The man bag can be used to carry your laptop, cell phones, work papers for travel and school work. The signs of a well made bag are as follows: good structure, quality construction, durable material, supple yet sturdy leather, adjustable and thick strap and strong closures.If you are a white collar worker such as a lawyer, who needs to carry papers around and hopes to keep your papers in good shape a durable and strong briefcase would be your best option. If you are a student or typical guy who wants to carry around a laptop and some additional work, a messenger bag might be your bag of choice.When it comes to purchasing a bag you need to keep a few things in mind. First, you want to decide what you will use your bag for, second: you need to decide the size you want to use, thirds: you want to decide what kind of interior you need (folder pockets vs. wide space etc. ) and finally you should decide what kind of material you want your bag in (leather vs. fabric).Once you narrow down what kind of bag you want, you need to decide the color. Man Bags that are masculine will come in bold and strong colors. Do not be afraid to go for a funkier feel because conservative can sometimes be seen as boring and why not take a risk and show your fearlessness?! Bags can often make an impression on potential employers so do keep that in mind when picking your final piece. Designers like Piet Breinholm make some incredibly fashion forward bags. According to the New York times, “Piet Breinholm, a former drummer for the Berlin-based trio 18 Dye, who has transformed the once-ubiquitous leather school bag carried by Danish children into a chic unisex accessory. The Last Bag [was] named for the Last Band.”Bags like this are carried by men who want to make an impression and who find it helpful to utilize something other than a wallet. Some great trends that you can see in men’s bags are vintage closures, refurbished styles, dyed leathers in colors like hunter green, distressed messenger styles and canvas styles.The man bag has definitely been a hit in Hollywood! The “Man’s Man” Kiefer Sutherland of Fox’s hit TV show 24 has been seen carrying a man bag! He uses the bag to carry around essential items, scripts and of course the electronics all men need! This season men, don’t be afraid to sport the man bag! You’ll look fresh and funky!Jennifer M. Lezan is a freelance fashion designer and writer for:Briefcases Direct, a website offering luxury briefcases direct from the manufacturer.