subject: Totes: The It Bag For Men [print this page] A lot of men share the same philosophy when it comes to bags: if it fits everything you need for the office, it's good. Unlike ties (which demand some level of daily variety, little distinction is made between a businesslike briefcase and a laid back backpack. Tote bags, arguably the season's hottest arrival in men's accessories, bridges that divide between form and function, between sharp style and street wear.
Sizing Up
Were you to compare the tote bags in the men's and women's departments of the store, you'd come up with an instant obstacle. How do you pull off a tote bag - a style usually seen on the ladies - without sending out unintentionally fey signals? The answer is simple: use size.
How big is big? Don't consider any style smaller than an upright letter size sheet. It's a good standard for two reasons. First, most of the items you're likely to bring will be that size or smaller. Second, any bag that has that kind of visual spread - no matter how slim it might be - will be hard to mistake as a dainty little handbag. Making the bag seem big and functional (even when it's not) is a big part of making the tote work.
There's also the question of strap length to consider. A too long drop will have the base of the bag scraping along the ground; a too short one makes you look like you share bags with your sister. The best baseline is to have at least four inches' clearance from ground level when the strap is stretched out and your arm is relaxed.
While you're looking at bag handles, don't forget to look for some heft in the style you choose. You may not want to end up with narrow or even shoestring bag handles and straps because they're more commonly used for the ladies' designs.
A Simple Matter
One crucial element in the ideal men's tote bag is simplicity. The concept of a 'good' design for male-targeted products involves uncluttered shapes and sleek contours, and fashion doesn't do it any differently.
Pockets, a couple of appliques or maybe even a small print graphics are about as far as you can go where bag decor is concerned - and even then only one at a time. The bag ought to be seen and taken as a whole and singly functional unit, not as pretty arm candy. That's why a monochromatic palette is ideal, especially in black, brown, red or navy.
Here's a good rule of thumb when choosing a tote (or most any other bag): if you don't want to wear a shoe in that color and fabric, you don't want a bag in that color and fabric. A dark brown leather tote, for example, is a very fashionable candidate for luggage; a purple sackcloth one, meanwhile, isn't. Shoes and bags both fall under the 'accessory' label, hence the similarity in their criteria.
Finding Function
Last but not least, you should never lose sight of functionality when you choose a tote. The main selling point of a tote bag for men is that it's both stylish and functional. It can lug around everything that a backpack can, but looks much better with your power tie.
A structured bag - one with a frame, but it need not be rigid - with a base shaper (you know, that hard thing at the bottom) and feet would be a good choice for a first-time tote carrier. It's less likely to be mistaken as a handbag and would be given higher regard if you were to bring it to work. Besides, it looks a lot more dignified, especially if you have an assortment of irregularly shaped items in it.
Zippers are often overlooked in bags, but they can do much to improve the look of any style. It's imperative that your bag's main compartment feature a zipper, especially if you don't want the whole office knowing exactly what those irregularly shaped items are.
