Recently in Man Bags Category

Dear Bag Snob,

Hello, hope you guys can help me out here. I'm a fan of the now-extinct YSL Mombasa. Is there a good, reliable site to source for a genuine second-hand?

Cheers,
Yanqin

Dear Yanqin,

Ahhhh, the Mombasa! My first YSL, I got it in Cognac when it first came out. Loved it to death - literally, the bag ended up in tatters from overuse!! We work with Yoogi's Closet, they are a very reputable retailer of authentic second-hand bags. You can even sell your old bags to them to pay for the new ones! I checked for the Mombasa and not surprisingly, they are sold out (for $595). Recently, there has been a revival of interest in the hobo as well as the messenger. This was one of the last bags Tom Ford designed before he left so it is as iconic as they come. The thing is, this bag never left, it is not extinct at all! YSL always carried is and has been since inception, they just keep it in the back in basic colors - black, brown and cognac. Now that there is this huge resurgence of interest, they will probably start putting it back up on the shelves. Mombasa Messenger is $895 at YSL, comes in black or brown. Call Will at YSL Beverly Hills for the Mombasa Leather Hobo, $895 for the small and $1100 for the large.

I've been getting a lot of man bag requests. To be honest, I've kind of given up because man bags are for the most part really boring and the ones that are actually cool and exciting are apparently too feminine. But for Father's Day, I went through them all and came up with some less boring ones that are super functional and others that are quite amazing that are even marketed as man bags. I mean, that is pretty much the most fun aspect of man bag shopping, being baffled by the inappropriateness some of these are for men.

My favorite of all the ones I've seen is this Varvatos Calfskin Tote for $1595. It has an urban edge and is rugged enough for even the manliest of manly men. I don't know about carrying this every day but for weekend, travel and even for work, this is one uber cool bag.

The conventional option is this Prada Saffiano Tessuto Tote, $1495, for everyday office use. It isn't as boring as a briefcase and has all the niceties of a Prada so for the straight edge dad, this is still quite stylish.

Happy Chinese New Year everyone!!! I know it's the Year of the Ox but in fashion, it's definitely the Year of the Python! I have never seen more variety of (costly) python bags in one season; it's as if the recession isn't really happening. From YSL, Tod's, Ferragmo, Bally, Oscar, Michael Kors to Kotur and many many others-- it's all about the scales baby!  Man snobs will be excited to join in on the trend with Mark Nason's python messenger ($1,800). Even ready to wear and shoes are getting into the action.  Prices range greatly depending on the brand but we've got the best of the scaly bunch (jump for more!).  Tell me, what do you think of python?  Left: Ferragamo chain python bag $2066 Right: Derek Lam Jules python messenger bag $2590

Sorry for the late post all, I am exhausted lately. Trying to balance career and home life is getting the best of me and I've decided to cut back for the next few months and will not be hosting any more events in order to focus on enjoying the holidays and new year with my family (big thanks to all who came to Neiman Marcus yesterday!). But don't worry, the blogging will continue as usual! Now on to today's arm candy-- the highly anticipated Proenza Schouler bags (named PS1) are live at Barneys New York! The duo behind the uber cool line of ready to wear rarely disappoint and I know their following of urbanistas will be all over these gender bending bags as well. I am usually not a fan of utilitarian styled bags but these feel right to me. The straps are obviously going to be left open as I hate having to open and close any straps on my bags-- I need instant and easy access-- but that will just give it further effortless appeal. The python pouchettes are perfect for both jeans or fancy gown, I actually like to downplay a black tie dress with an edgy bag-- it just keeps things more interesting. As for the messenger bags, our man snobs will be able to carry them as well! It's all about unisex versatility right now, a couple on a limited bag budget can buy one of these PS1 bags and share it. The leather is soft and slouchy and that python is divine, go to Barneys to see for youself! Prices range from $895 - $4,250. 
Check out the entire PS1 collection here.

OK, I am totally serious this time and I know you will all agree, this bag is totally suitable for a man. Not only is it super manly but it is perfectly utilitarian, which apparently is the only thing men care about if they are in the market for a bag. I love Loro Piana, of course their cashmere but their bags, as well. Tina and I have several between us. It is such good quality, the leather is comparable to the level of superiority their cashmere is known for and all the styles are designed for function. I cannot get myself to buy my man a plain black leather square to use as a bag, I just won't spend money on something that lacking in character. But the ones I think are stylish and chic, he will not be caught dead in. That's why this bag is so great - it is really the best of both worlds. It has the signature tab detail over the essential and handy big outer zipper compartment. The interior has all the pockets and slots for gadgets and do0dads. See, he doesn't have to use a backpack or nylon messenger! Christimas is sneaking up quickly so keep this is mind for the men in your life. $4710 and only comes in this brown. Call Jeanie at the South Coast Plaza boutique at 714-432-1301 or email her to order.

The most exciting bag off the Hermes Fall runway is the Jypsière bag. A perfect balance of the timeless design of the birkin combined with an ultra modern messenger style, I have a feeling it will make a major splash with sporty fashionistas worldwide (I know Kelly is going to flip for it!). It is fashioned after a hunting satchel in which Jean Paul Gaultier describes as "a functional, nonchalant bag slung across the shoulder, combined with the iconic details of the Hermes bags"* As with the birkin and kelly, the straps are best left open so you can lift the flap easily. The strap is adjustable and removeable though this is not something you would want to clutch. It will be available in multiple colors but I love the Graphite and Olive clemence versions best. Both colors are rich and deep, perfect for Fall! The sueded crocodile is also a texture that I am dying to experience, it is so lush! Jypsière in leather 34cm is $6,800 at Hermes boutiques. Call Craig at 214-528-0197 to order. There is also a 37cm for our manbag snobs!

*JPG Quote Source Bazaar

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.

There have been some complaints that our man bag selections have not been appropriate for the average man who is not extraordinarily fashion inclined. So, for Father's Day, I am really going to help you gals out with ideas that are easier to handle for your beer drinking / Ultimate Fighting Champion watching honey, in all different price points.

Ted Baker Shaggy Canvas Overnight Duffle

No man will be telling me that this is too metro-sexual for his masculine taste. This canvas overnighter is the perfect gift for any man who is on the go, or maybe who just wants to look pulled together when going to the gym (I mean why go the gym if you don't care about appearances, right?). And don't worry about breaking the bank in order to lavish your man with great taste, for £65 (around US$140) you can still make it to dinner and order the nice scotch for him =) At Ted Baker online, or for US folks (they don't ship to the US???) try their shops. LA on Robertson Blvd, 310 550 7855; New York on Grand St. in Soho, 212 343 8989.

Now that we moved back to LA my predictable, low key, tech nerd husband has become surprisingly hip. He actually wanted to go shopping the other day and bought a pair of funky shoes. He's still about 5 lifetimes away from looking like this guy on the runway but I think he is ready to upgrade his travel gear from a backpack to this rock 'n roll hand painted duffle from Bottega Veneta. I know most man bags we feature are a bit metro-sexual but I think this is quite manly even though it is in white. The Creta print is so cool and masculine and I really think it will make any man look more appealing. Plus, he needs something to go with my Zufi Alexander weekender when we go on a romantic getaway. Don't want people thinking I am sleeping with my gardener. $2780 at Bottega Veneta in Beverly Hills (310-858-6533).

First of all, yes, this is in fact a bag for men. It's actually really nice, the hardware and the brown python are all good things but I really wondered, what man would actually use this? And what would men do with such a giant tote? I did some journalism work and asked some fashionable men I know what they would carry in there if they had this bag and this is what they had to say: my laptop; my gym clothes; all my hopes of ever sleeping with a woman again, since, if I were to carry this bag around, I probably won't be doing that ever again; my balls, as this thing would emasculate any man including Brad Pitt and Denzel Washington. So there you have it, this bag is functional and beautiful, if not the most manly =) I did get a suggestion that this bag would be way manlier if they wrestled and kill the python with their own bare hands first and brought the skin to Gucci for production. $4,990, available by calling 1-800-456-7663.