So my wife got me a handbag for Christmas….

[Grok]

General types. Not my particular interest, but I must acknowledge the variety, which may be important for self expression.

[Grok]

Another link that didn't work. The web site listed about 30 different types.

[TheMissingPiece0809]

Hi Mouse,
I'm Victor1964s wife.
I'm 42 and still end up fumbling trying to find my phone or car keys in my bag.
With my big bag everything disappears into this black hole and fumbling in inevitable. My smaller ones just about hold all the things I need with me, but end up fumbling trying to get the zip closed.
I battle I don't think can ever be won
As for handbag or man bag? It's just a bag right?

[Mouse]

Hi Mouse,
I'm Victor1964s wife.
I'm 42 and still end up fumbling trying to find my phone or car keys in my bag.

I'm 4 months into bag ownership! I have rather cheated, since I specified a bag with plenty of pockets. So, I have assigned a pocket each to keys and phone as these are typically needed quickly. The members here pointed out that bag colour goes with shoe colour and rather than the blue bag I had, one should have gone with a black or brown. I have now bought a similar black bag with the idea of moving keys and phone to similar pockets so I have a chance of finding them in a timely manner from either bag.....it's a plan?

As for handbag or man bag? It's just a bag right?

You are so right. I never liked the "man bag" label and I am quite happy to call a bag a bag. I also don't care if it gets referred to as a handbag, since it is a bag in my hand.

[Modoc]

Handbag, manbag, murse, purse, leggings, meggings, boob, moobs, and so on and so on and so on. When women wear pants, are they ever called wants (pronounced like pants)? Were ties for women ever called wies? Names and titles are just some of the many odd things we humans get hung up on. I am inclined to agree with Billy the Bard. "A rose by any other name would smell as sweet".
The word purse was used to describe a bag that a person carried long before and gender connotations were ascribed to it.

[crfriend]

The word purse was used to describe a bag that a person carried long before and gender connotations were ascribed to it.

There we go. Imagine that!

Hilariously my late ex actually crocheted me a bag from household twine many years ago and which I still occasionally carry. I'm not "bag averse" in the slightest -- and busted the folks who busted me about my custom job no end when they stated up at it.

[Mouse]

So I am out on a shopping trip with my daughter, me with my black bag, daughter in jeans. Daughter has her glasses case with her, since part of the trip is to the optician. Daughter looks at me as we get to the shopping centre, “Can I put my stuff in your bag?” We both thought this was a huge laugh!! Dads are useful for some things….especially if they carry a bag.

[Mouse]

So, as a number of sensible guys have pointed out, Black and Brown are the two bag colours you should start with, not just pick your favourite colour.
I have now ordered a brown bag to bring my collection up to three. I will post more when it turns up.

[jamie001]

Mouse is correct. Black and brown are the best because they do with everything. I only own women’s handbags and am never seen in public without one. IMHO, mens handbags are are joke because they are too utilitarian and look more like camera bags that a proper purse. The problem with colorful purses is that you need to coordinate that color with your outfil, or you will need to answer to the fahion police.

And most important, never call your purse a Man-Bag! Ugggggggggghhhhh! I hate that term. We don’t need these types of terms for items that are typically feminine. When a woman uses a man’s backpack, she doesn’t ball it it “woman-pack”. It is still a backpack.

[Grok]

why can’t Mouse rock a handbag? Having got a handbag the first thing you realise is how many compartments are in said bag. So keys, wallet and phone loaded into bag and off we go to the shops. First problem, keys to the car, normal operation, slide hand into pocket, feel for car fob, press button remove hand. This operation happens smoothly as you walk up to the car. With a bag you have to stop, open big top flap, work out which section has keys. Find keys, press fob. Close bag. Not smooth,
Get to supermarket checkout, another search for the wallet in the depths of the bag……You get the idea that Mouse is not a smooth handbag operator yet.

Sounds similar to learning skirtmanship as a grown man. Not something we were taught or got used to as boys.

And not becoming familiar/used to handbags as boys.

[Mouse]

Sounds similar to learning skirtmanship as a grown man. Not something we were taught or got used to as boys.

And not becoming familiar/used to handbags as boys.

Not to blow my own trumpet, but I have got much better at being a handbag operator. First off, each of the three main items, have their own assigned space. The keys reside in the back zipped pocket, the phone lives in a zipped pocket on the other side of the bag and the wallet inside. I now know how to access each item and can now do so in a smooth operation, most of the time. I have also solved the problem of different handbags having different features, spaces and pockets, by buying the same handbag in three colours. As I have said before, I am not planning to have a vast hand bag collection, I just want a handbag I can take with me that doesn't look out of place.

[Uncle Al]

When it comes to 'hand bags', I use the KISS method.
My shoes and belts are always black, thus my 'hand bag' is black.
My most favorite bag is not made anymore I've worn out two
of them in 30 years. The leather finally disintegrated causing
me to search for a replacement. The "Original" bag had great
storage capabilities and 'slots' for cards and licenses.

My "New" bag is a smaller version of a Messenger bag.


Since it doesn't have 'slots' for cards and licenses, I had to get a 'wallet' to organize my 'stuff'.



It takes some getting used too, having two things do the work of one,
but I'm happy, and IT WORKS

Uncle Al

[Grok]

Black is neutral. It can go with most any color.

[Mouse]

Black is neutral. It can go with most any color.

Very true, but brown shoes?

[jamie001]

When it comes to 'hand bags', I use the KISS method.
My shoes and belts are always black, thus my 'hand bag' is black.

My "New" bag is a smaller version of a Messenger bag.

Since it doesn't have 'slots' for cards and licenses, I had to get a 'wallet' to organize my 'stuff'.

It takes some getting used too, having two things do the work of one,
but I'm happy, and IT WORKS

Very nice purse and accompanying wallet. Excellent style and functionality.

Jamie