skirtcafe.org

I carry a messenger bag, but it looks like a purse. Its great! And I am in Canada. You do not see them here at all.

As all can read, men are very practical and inventive, as are women. What do women have? Any bag. A N Y B A G.
Why then do some men make such a fuss about a bag having to be "manly" or a "man's " bag?

I understand that generally men don't want to look as if they are ... uhum what? ?????? And that sums it up.

What?

Men is too general. Every man can use whatever bag he wants. It is HIS look.
When are we, and that still includes even me too, going to forget the indoctrination of our youth, and start thinking as individuals, as men who have learnt from the past and can see clearly into the future.

I would rather read, "I rather like this or that bag"

Rather than, "the men's bag must have a manly look" bla bla etc etc.
There is still by my way of thinking too much empathis on everything being "manly". For fear of showing yourself to be anything else? How could that be unless you grow breasts, have surgery performed and make your face up very convincingly so as to deliberately look to the world as if you are in fact a woman.

When toting heavy loads about, big sturdy bags, with wide belts are practical, for other lighter chores, the smaller bags are fine. We ( men) now have the choice to create a look that suits us. Not what somebody else would WANT us to have.
So for you it may be this and for me it may be that.

I am very happy to see some quite different and openminded suggestions for bags, and solutions for what bags to use, and don't forget, a bag used with a suit is very possibly not the same as for daily commuting. Men are learning fast, and even men can learn from the examples before us, from the women around us.

As with the choice of skirts, it cannot be forgotten to empathise the importance of all the rest of your "dress" which includes accessories. That is not anything femme either. There are nice refined bags, and there are tote bags, possibly ex military. The chosen look for that day or moment also is critical for determining what to wear. All that rather than sinking in a quogmire of "it must be manly" which is in itself difficult to define and only caters for that look which for each person is a different one.

If we all can think as men, without having to state "manly", and accept that every body has different prefferences, then that will be all that much more enjoable.

I am very happy to read "this is my choice" and I like that, that is not something I would wear/use. As opposed to what might be stated: "that is not manly" or "all that talk about accesserys is too femme".

This is all a state of mind that takes some getting used too, after having a lifetime of compulsary denial as a man, of most things that were anything but manly. I believe that wearing clothing and having a complete get up, outfit, can be not only practical, but should be fun too whenever possible.

Although there are numerous bags on the market, most are probably fashioned with women in mind, leaving a smaller choice of neutral bags for those who seek that, such as for men. Now let us hope that manufacturers will take heed and produce in this case more bags which are not excessively adorned by decorations, as with some womens bags. so that both men and women can have suitable practical and stylish bags to chose from, but those bags not suggesting that the user wants to attract much attention through his bag. ( note I didn't say femme bags) so that there will be more diverstity in bags, styleful, practical, perhaps colourful, which both men and women can use, and still be classy in their own right.

Just yesterday, I was out on an outing in a denim skirt, but I opted for using a fanny pack instead of a handbag. In retrospect, that was something of a mistake as using the pack was awkward when it came to fishing stuff like my keys and wallet from it. I suspect that I was somewhat self-conscious about going out with a handbag, which sounds somewhat stupid, but that's how I felt at the time. But I won't repeat that mistake again, the next time I go out, I will use a handbag, and to hell with any self-consciousness!

Fanny packs can do double duty as a handbag. I remember one was my mother's favorite purse for a while and most of the time she'd just wear it hanging from her shoulder. Hers was a simple design of nicely plain black leather and it really worked out well.

I'd also think laptop bags would make incognito purses for men these days.

Continuing my jumping around thoughts I'd like to mention that I wish my husband would put more stuff in the backpack he carries to work. Evey pair of his pants for work always develops a lightened patch from rubbing against his coin pouch in a back pocket.

Jeff,
How were you carrying the fanny pack, with the ouch in front or in back? If I'm going to be doing something where I don't expect to be reaching into the pouch much, I wear the pouch in back. For example if I'm carrying a windbreaker or sweater that I may need later, or not.

However, if I'm using the pouch as a purse, then I wear the pouch in front. I know a number of women who do this

When I wear my fanny pack it is in front especially when seat belted in a car.
When walking the dogs or just simply out and about it is snugged up in the small
of the back. It can be worn off hip but makes me feel sort of lopsided.
What makes it so versatile is just by rotating it about the waist you can make
it more comfortable to wear and put items that you need right at your disposal
or out of the way.
I wear the fanny pack as a modern day sporran for the sport (short) kilts.
It compliments the kilt without the fan fare of a dress sporran with tassels.
With a quick snap of the buckle the fanny bag can be converted into an shoulder
bag. A lot of folks mock the fanny bag/pack but it serves it purpose and in most
cases is less expensive than other types of purses, clutches, and what have you.
rm

sapphire wrote:Jeff,
How were you carrying the fanny pack, with the ouch in front or in back? If I'm going to be doing something where I don't expect to be reaching into the pouch much, I wear the pouch in back. For example if I'm carrying a windbreaker or sweater that I may need later, or not.

However, if I'm using the pouch as a purse, then I wear the pouch in front. I know a number of women who do this

This is going to sound dopey, but I wore the fanny pack with the strap slung over my shoulder like, well----a handbag! Like I said, dopey, especially since I have a purse that I could've used but didn't. This is just me, but I thought that wearing the pack as it was intended looked out of place while I had the skirt on, I primped in front of a mirror trying to decide what look suited me best, and wearing the pack in the tradional place, or in back or the side didn't do a thing for me. Yeah, I'm sure that sounds dopey too, but that was how I felt at the time. Silly me!

This one looks like a perfect "purse" for a guy or a business oriented woman. Don't know if it's well constructed, it costs $29.00 US which makes me wonder. However, might be worth the risk.

-john



http://www.buxtonbag.com/?cid=545466

Speaking of the Buxton bag, I just bought one from, of all places----a drug store. I wasn't even thinking about the darn thing, I had gone to Rite Aid to buy a Sunday paper and, while passing a shelf full of stuff that, according to commercials, you can't buy in stores, there it was, the Buxton bag. Needless to say, I snatched it up almost immediately and bought it. For it's size, the bag is quite neat and looks like it can be filled with all sorts of stuff one might need while out and about, and it does look to be quite durable. Oh, yeah, only paid $19.99 for it, after taxes of course. Not bad at all.

JeffB1959

Please----Tell us how the new bag works for you!

Will it hold 'all it's supposed to?' Is it awkward? (sp)
Is it easy to use? Is it comfortable as you are wearing it?

Uncle Al
Duncanville, TX

WARNING: B---dy Bruxton website plays a loud and obnoxious audio commercial on your computer! Don't do as I inadvertently did and click the link while sitting in a quiet room, with the laptop un-muted.

I HATE AND DESPISE websites that play music, sounds, or movies without first asking permission. It is an entirely sure way for a vendor to ensure that he will not receive my custom.

Chris...still fuming.

Uncle Al wrote:JeffB1959

Please----Tell us how the new bag works for you!

Will it hold 'all it's supposed to?' Is it awkward? (sp)
Is it easy to use? Is it comfortable as you are wearing it?

Uncle Al
Duncanville, TX

Sorry to have been tardy in responding to your request, but life got in the way of doing any outings so I can test drive the Buxton bag, but I finally managed to go out today. Here's a pic of me with the bag:



Wine colored turtleneck (it's cool here), denim skirt, sheer, suntan pantyhose and two inch heeled women's loafers (I NEVER wear men's shoes with my skirts). While I didn't have much in my bag (wallet, car keys, house keys, cell phone), the bag was quite comfortable to wear and was able to easily reach into it when I went to a bookstore to buy a couple of magazines, then to Arby's to lunch and looks like it could carry a lot. And it looks nice too! Here's a close-up:



All in all, the Buxton bag was a worthwhile purchase.

Someone from 'Hollywood' would say: "You look fantastic"!
Overall -1- very sharp outfit dude! Excellent co-ordination of style and color.
And the bag is very impressive goes well with everything. I would prefer to
have the bag hanging a bit lower but that is me. Only con-fault I can find is
if driving a vehicle and using a seat belt (highly recommended) the bag would
have to placed maybe directly in front or removed all together. A lot
of bulk to have in the way of the use of the belt. Great photos also!
rm

r.m.anderson wrote:Someone from 'Hollywood' would say: "You look fantastic"!
Overall -1- very sharp outfit dude! Excellent co-ordination of style and color.
And the bag is very impressive goes well with everything. I would prefer to
have the bag hanging a bit lower but that is me. Only con-fault I can find is
if driving a vehicle and using a seat belt (highly recommended) the bag would
have to placed maybe directly in front or removed all together. A lot
of bulk to have in the way of the use of the belt. Great photos also!
rm

Thanks for the kind words. I appreciate that. As for the bag, I did adjust the strap lower once I was on the road, and that did make a difference in terms of accessebility to my wallet and keys. And the bag sits under the driver's seat while I'm in the car. Can't have anything getting in the way of the seat belt after all. Bottom line, the Buxton Bag is both great looking and highly functional. I'll be enjoying this bag for a long time to come.

JeffB1959 wrote:Just yesterday, I was out on an outing in a denim skirt, but I opted for using a fanny pack instead of a handbag. In retrospect, that was something of a mistake as using the pack was awkward when it came to fishing stuff like my keys and wallet from it. I suspect that I was somewhat self-conscious about going out with a handbag, which sounds somewhat stupid, but that's how I felt at the time. But I won't repeat that mistake again, the next time I go out, I will use a handbag, and to hell with any self-consciousness!

JeffB, what a handsome man, quite sharp looking. You have a very pleasant clean look to you. The bag is just the right thing to have, hangs comfortably at your side, looks very relaxed. I agree fully, the loafers compleet the refined look.
Of course if you wanted a less refined look, what some would possibly call a manly look.... just remove the pantyhose and wear normal men's shoes. Easy. But I think your look is very complimenting.

Sometimes you have to actually "do" before you can step up to the next level.
I can remember when I first started, I wanted to buy two very nice shoulder bags, both the same, but in different sizes. I was hesitant, and wasn't quite so far as to actually use them then, even though I wanted them, I thought they may be a step too womanly. A short time later, I had skirts without pockets and didn't want to tote an old army sachel around with me, so I bought a leather shoulder bag, as the first bags were of course sold out.

It is new for most, and getting over the change from well known manly in pants to being a man wearing skirts, with sometimes differing clothing aspects such as feeling it more practical to use a handbag ( which is not femme but unisex) can be challenging for some. Even IF you wanted to dress femme, and be seen as such, then "to hell with any self-consciousness!" is the right attitude. You are very self conscious,( more self assured,) but in your favour, and not in the reguard as to what others would think.

Once more men are seen wearing skirts, and the Idea is more defined in our minds, the personal image would-be skirt wearers have of skirt wearers gets more form, then it should be easier to duplicate those images, making the first steps that much easier. We do tend to carry negative associations from the past with us until we can correct those by learning that they are infact incorrect. I would expect that men who often see men with their handbags ( I would think of office workers) would much easier wear one with a skirt themselves than men from a more rural surrounding where that is practically not done. But that has to do with the image we have and the value of it to us.

Forming the correct image of men in skirts in all its nuances, is also part of what this forum is about. Discussing all aspects of being skirted.