Post by Guest Editor Samuel Johnson
Hello fellow Bag Snobbers!!! I would first like to thank Bag Snobs Tina and Kelly for inviting me to be their guest man editor, allowing me to share my latest man bag purchase from Chanel with all of you. Is my bag technically a man bag? No. Do I tell myself that to make myself feel better? No. Why? Because I'm a man who can pull this bag off with confidence - and if you're going to go out on the cutting edge, you have to do it with confidence. I love walking downtown wearing my Chanel bag, turning the heads of both men and women, causing them to wonder, does Chanel make man bags? Or maybe simply thinking, wow, what a great bag. Granted, they may be thinking something else about a man with a Chanel bag, but this is a polite website, so I won't go into that. Why do I love this Chanel bag? First, it's black (if a man is going to have a Chanel bag, I would say it has to be black), the quilting at the bottom of the bag is large (more masculine), the double C's are small and unobtrusive, I can unzip it and make the bag larger and use it as a gym bag if I wanted to (which I would never do), and I can use it as both a messenger bag or a man tote since it also has handles. The inside of the bag is lined in nylon, has an inside zipper pocket, a place for my cell phone, and a place for a Blackberry (which I use for my wallet).
So what do you think readers? Is this bag ok for a man? I would like to emphasize that this bag is HUGE!!! I 'm six feet tall and the top of the bag hits me almost at my hip. I have to agree with the sales associate at the boutique that a woman would have to be a glamazon to carry this bag since it's so large. Bag is $3150 at Chanel boutiques. Call Alexis at 214-520-1055 to purchase.
i'm a man and i probably wouldn't wear that bag to work, but i would definitely rock it on the weekends (if i could afford it). keep turning heads sam and let these ladies know that gents can be bagsnobs too!
Well,well I must say that I´m so oldfashioned that I find it hard to understand a man carrying a bag like this. I like the Marlboro Classics bags for men, they look and feel a bit rough and that´s how I´d like to see a man with a bag. This one is a bit too elegant. But--this is only my opinion.
To me, the bag itself could be totally pulled off by a man, it's the chain shoulder strap needs to go. If it were a thicker strap, or just leather instead of the gold links, I think it would be a perfect man bag.
No no no! I think this bag would look SO much better WITHOUT the interlocking Cs. The interlocking Cs obviously equates to a woman's bag, no? They should have stitched the logo to make it more discreet. I love the shape, the chain strap, the leather and the handles.
The strap and the zipper pull kill it for me.
Kudos Samuel! I'm not much for the manbag - but your wit, your size and this bag work for me. Somehow, I see that you pull it all off. Enjoy it!
Thanks for all of the comments guys and gals!!! But in reading them, I want to point out that this bag (when not being a tote) is worn as a messenger bag, across the body. I apologize for not making that more clear in my original write-up.
I think I would vote "yes" for this Chanel bag if the strap didn't have the chain....that kinda kills it for me with respects to the "Man Bag" aspect of it...sorry Samuel! If Chanel did make a Man Bag, they might consider a lesser "Woman Bag" strap...just a thought.
I am going to have to pass on this. A huge no no for my hedge funder of a man. I would die if i saw him with this bag. Its way to fairyish. But to each his own. If you love it Sam , you wear it!
I am going to agree with Mette and Pam on this one. My husband would never carry a bag and I wouldn't want him to. However if Samuel enjoys carrying this bag I think that is fine.
MY gay friends please slap these guy he is making you look bad. Guys stare cause they think that your a gay men that carries a women bag. Women stare cause there jealous cause they cant afford that bag being CHANEL Nothing manly about these bag at all. I am a man that designs age 22, brief case should be the only men bag, and wallet. Making gay men look bad!!!!!!
I don't usually comment, but this is just too closes to home. Now, granted, I am a gay man, so I've spent my life trying to figure out what context fabric and stitching plays in the persona of a person, but that said, who cares? I am 6'2", over 300 pounds, and carry a purse. It's not a man bag; it's not a European male carry-all; it's a purse. In fact, it's one of the 85th Anniversary Gucci scarf print velvet totes with metal bit hardware on it. My other bag is a Prada nylon and Cervo leather tote. I carry both to work (in publishing) and in public all the time, neither of which are carried across the chest as a messenger bag. For formal events, I carry the cream/violet Derek Lam ram's-head closure clutch, although my digital camera doesn't fit in it. I probably get looks, but my bags are beautiful, and they hold my stuff (with the exception of the DL) perfectly. I love purses; I'm addicted to purses. I think it's absolutely asinine to consider large quilting, being carried as a messenger bag, and being black has anything to do with the masculinity of a an accessory that schleps all your crap. I wear jeans, t-shirts, and VANS black skater shoes every day, and my purses somehow fit in perfectly. My question is, how on EARTH could a man (gay or straight) think that the make of the bag bag makes the character of the man? Besides, what are out there being peddled as man bags are hideous. It's bag; it's a purse; I'm a human; you're a human, move on. Why should beauty be confined to discretion?
Bravo, PJH.
Sam, if I saw you walking down the street, I would turn my head and think "Who is that stylish man who had enough confidence to pick up that fabulous bag and think of wearing it as his own?!" Wear it, rock it, and enjoy! I don't think there is anything to be said about a man carrying a Chanel bag-- I probably wouldn't bat an eyelash if I saw a 6' man carry a Chanel FLAP, nonetheless this gorgeous (and functional) tote! Other people have too much say in our private lives- just as they will scoff and scorn me, a 20-something-year-old who looks 12, for carrying a fab Chanel bag, they will to you as well. But it's okay! I mean, YOU'RE the one with the bag, right?
PS. It really is gorgeous! But being 5'1" means that I must stick to my flaps and satchels- that tote could probably eat me! :D
Wow, fashion-in-the-making has some serious issues. He apparently has a very low sense of his own masculinity since he is letting society define what is masculine and what is not for him. And I would like to congratulate PJH on feeling comfortable enough with himself to carry what he does. And beauty is always confined to discretion - what is beautiful for one is not always beautiful for the other. That being said, so PJH, you wouldn't carry this Chanel bag cause it's not feminine enough for you?
Because social boundaries still exist between men and women.
I am very sorry if I offended anyone with my opinion, but I am in title to give my opinion when the editor says So what do you think readers? Is this bag ok for a man?. I mean everyone can wear and buy what they want. But like CARRYING CONTRAPTION said ,“Because social boundaries still exist between men and women” If I was to wear a Versace dress, Manolo Blahnik shoes, and a Fendi fur spy bag. When people see me, are not going to say oh wow how manly is that man to wear that. Most will say its a drag. These is all my opinion
Eloquently said, PJH.
Why should we just blindly agree to boundaries that might not serve us? Why not question and challenge what's out there and be willing to find or create something that speaks to your authenticity even if it disturbs the comfort zone of a handful of strangers?
I'd hate to shrink my spirit or see others shrink theirs, out of fear of being a social threat to those who would rather live well within the narrow societal confines they may never have the courage, self-awareness or inclination to question, doubt or break through.
Sam, I have several uber-stylish men friends (both gay and straight) who could pull this bag off and look amazing doing it, so you're in good company. I only wish it had a simple turn-lock closure and plain leather strap! But I have no doubt that the confidence with which you wear this would make people stare enviously and think twice about their "acceptable accessory" assumptions.
Still a NO NO .. To me , men equal Money Clips & Wallets. Thats it .. :). It has nothing to do with society or social norms, or fear of what people think. Its all about Pam! and what I think is ok. And the "man bag" for my man of current or future is not ok . Simple Simple. JMO
If the shoulder strap was leather and not chain...then I say guys..go for it. but unfortunately...it is chain...so I will not be caught dead with that bag. way too feminine, even when I do have a few ladies bags that can pass off as men's bag.
Pam: It's interesting, to me anyway, that in your posts you essentially equate your man (maybe masculinity too?) to money: hedgefunder, money clips, wallets.
Fashion-in-the-making: If you wore a Versace dress, Manolo Blahnik's and a Fendi Fur spy bag, I'd say you were having an affair with a hedgfunder. Where does that desire to come off as manly come from? What are you trying to prove?
Carrying-contraption: I know they do. That's what sucks.
ManBag: Whether a bag is feminine or not doesn't even enter my mind when an accessory is filtered through my personal taste. I wouldn't not carry this bag because it's not feminine enough. Honestly, I wouldn't carry this bag because it's ugly.
@PJH! Its always about the money ! :) But to clear it up for you . He feels the same way about his dear Pammy. He likes gals that can afford their own glitter as well. ;)
i thought the whole point of most fashion blogs was to comment on how a fashion looks, how it works or doesnt work on a particular person or situation.it doesnt have to make much logical sense. are we changing that now? i must have missed the memo. frankly i say that bag is too feminine for men, who should stick to briefcases, backpacks or plain short-handled totes.
ALMOST my dream come true! Ive always PRAYED for a chanel men's bag. I understand that it is difficult to create a chanel men's bag because of the famous chanel chain and interlocking Cs which will make it look too feminine (which has happened for this design). I wish Chanel will give it more thought to creating a less feminine messenger bag for men to carry. I am sure some women will buy it too for a more casual look. Men are willing to spend on chanel too! Personally my options for leather goods are narrowed to hermes and bottega but chanel would be the best!. PLEASE CHANEL!
FAB. Why shouldn't men have bags as well? Why should they be relegated to a wallet and a stodgy briefcase (snore!) or worse yet, a Jansport (gasp!)? I think this Chanel bag as a messenger is FAB on a tall guy with confidence (confidence being key). If I saw a man with this gorgeous bag strolling TriBeCa, I'd do a double take -- and instantly love/hate his style and taste. Good on you, James!
While I don't really care too much about gender boundaries (I've been accused by some older conservative males of 'cross-dressing' in the past. I don't see it myself, so whatever.) on it's own the bag does like too 'fem' to me.
Perhaps if it was paired with some really good styling a man could carry it off. I have a hard time imagining what that would be though.
Well,I like this bag,and it probably work for modern men,metrosexuals and this kind of thing..you really need to have a strong personality to carry a bag like that..I preffer,for man,the Balenciaga ones,like the Day Bag,that are more discreat.. :-D
Kisses from Brazil!
since i wear Herbag (hermes), i think this one is OK for men ;)
About the bag: I don't think it's anything special or attractive at all. But I'd really love to see men wearing whatever they feel good in.
Actually, I would love to see this rocked-up with black skinny jeans, a t-shirt and a black blazer with the arms pushed up. Maybe Raybans, a leather cuff and necklace too?
Until reading this post, I was never aware of such tension regarding gender dressing.
Was it wrong for me, a 16 year old girl, to be trying on mens loafers in Gucci last weekend?
Or to wear an Armani mens messenger bag?
Is my Dior Homme cologne wrong?
Because, despite all that, I look perfectly me and pretty.
I didn't think a frivolous fashion blog could make me feel so sad.
I'd rock that. My only thing is I'm not feelin the chains.
Anyone should wear what they want. I would rock this(If I could afford it that is),as a business bag,pocket book, gymbag, all in one! Why should only the ladies have all the fun. It's our time to shine also, Gentleman. Nothing like a stylish bag to update or put the look together, rather than being designer clad from head to toe(which will make anyone-male or female look like a fashion victim).