I’ve been carrying around a zippered Y-3 wallet under my arm for a week, and suddenly, life is easier. I grab everything I need, all at once on my way out the door, which is too much to fit into a pocket-sized wallet.
So I’m particularly delighted with the newest unexpected twist from this season’s menswear runways – the introduction of clutches to men’s wardrobes.
If you think about it, it’s really not far-fetched. Men carry briefcases and portfolios, which are just as hard to carry as a clutch. So why not switch out an attaché case for a sleek Marni envelope? Plus, these days, we’re carrying cell phones, wallets, Blackberries, keys and a bajillion other things. A giant messenger bag isn’t always a convenient, or appropriate, accessory for a night out.
Dries Van Noten’s zippered patent leather option is pretty basic without adding too many buckles or other distractions we’re sure most guys wouldn’t approve of. We love the blood red Ferragamo, left – it’s big but not annoying.
We bet Marc will be next in line with some playful clutches, since he’s obviously a fan of them himself.
The only problem? Keeping your girlfriend’s hands off them.
–KYLE HAYES
Tags: bags, Clutches, Dries Van Noten, Fendi, Marc by Marc Jacobs, Marc Jacobs, Marni, Men, Salvatore Ferragamo, Spring 2009, Wedges, Y-3
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eh, not really a fan…i like to keep my hands free, so i like a messenger bag or a small tote, that i can put over my arm if necessary, for work or daytime…
for a “night out”…it’s all about bringing as little as possible…if it doesn’t fit unobtrusively in my pants or jackets pockets, i don’t need it.
a man-clutch is just asking to get left behind at a restaurant, or dropped on a subway track, or some other horrific end…
i like it alot.
I’m a big fan of man-clutch also but haven’t found the perfect one yet…
i love it.. i always carry my wallet and cell phone in my hands anyways, it just feels more efficient.. idk.
but bring on the clutches.
I love me a good Man Sack.
I would never let my man carry that thing, its the gayest thing you could possible suggest a man to carry
love it. very chic
Haha! I don’t think any man who carries a clutch will have to worry about keeping his girlfriend’s hands off of it.
guest at 1:01: i laughed out loud at the computer at work. thanks.
not hot
next new accessory for men: specially made tape to tuck your sack back so you can become a full fledged woman.
i mean what the HELL is going on? do designers want men to actually BE women? do they want to be able to make one line of products that both men and women will wear?
Kyle-
I’ve been wanting to say this for awhile. I love fashionista, but your posts specifically seem to comment on trends that aren’t new. Fashionable (ok, mostly european) men have been carrying bags, clutches, etc for years. I feel as though your posts are self-serving, so you feel like you are setting the trends yourself. If a clutch is a new unexpected twist then so are cropped pants and belted waists. There is always a precedent for fashion trends, so it would sound more insightful if you acknowledged them.
LOVE it. There is an overpriced but georg. YSL Muse portfolio for men that could be really cool as an oversized envelope clutch.
I just love it when commenters say they knew about this trend ages ago. So where were the man clutches on last season’s runways? Or the one prior? When, exactly?
Go ManSacs!
2:52 I must agree. Europeans have always had sleek envelope style briefcases, that now are called “clutches”.
If you walk down the streets of paris or rome, you’ll def see a chic business man holding an envelope attache. Hell, even college students. It’s nothing new.
Personally, I like the sound of the former. More manly, and way more catchy.
I f’ing love the idea of a man bag, clutch, or tote. I’m so excited about this upcoming menswear season, its so much fun picking apart the collections. To guest @ 1:13 why does everything fashionable for a man have to be GAY…think outside the box come on its 2008. If this were 1776 we would all have powdered wigs on LMAO!!!!!
Kyle your so cool!
xo
I wouldn’t use the word ‘gay’ for this, but odd? Yes. I don’t want to move into 2008 with this male femininity becoming popular! Grittiness, the five o’clock shadow, and the boyish sense of humor is what I love about men. Pink clothing, cinched waists, and wedges? That’s stuff men should love about the way women dress, not be their fall shopping list.
no to clutches.
guest at 2:13 & malibu (7:13), i personally completely agree.
don’t get me wrong, i love fashion. really, i just love style in general, and that does mean acknowledging, respecting and sometimes incorporating others’ ideas into my own wardrobe. the fact that i follow a site called “fashionista” is inspires both awe and disbelief in most people that i know (living in the midwest does me no favors). but i like manly men. i don’t really care about my guy having a cinched waist, wedges and a clutch, especially when i’m wearing the same damn thing. i’m sorry, but i just do not like it. call me closed-minded, call me old-fashioned, but i’d rather not have a guy spend more time on his outfits than i do. is that so wrong?
now i’m waiting for man-makeup to come out.
I’ve been carrying my boyfriends commes des garcones passport wallet for months ,which is long enough to carry my ipod, blackberry and credit cards so I am so excited to see that designers are jumping on this!
Sorry, this is a non-starter.
Men dont carry purses. Its really that simple.
if its too much to put in a wallet put it in your marc by marc bag
HEY, I’ve been carrying a clutch for years, don’t tell me this won’t catch on, as I can see it already is.
will someone please tell me how making things easier to carry is gay or feminine?