• Men's Style

Top 5 Autumn/Winter 2015 Bag Styles

We might have disparagingly branded them ‘murses’ only a few years ago, but bags for men are big business these days. No longer feared as flamboyant appendages, we’re buying them up in our droves – with one in every five luxury handbags sold now a ‘man bag’. Surprised? You shouldn’t be. Where else were you planning to throw your phone, wallet, cardholder, laptop, business cards, keys and gloves? A bag is one of those rare dual-purpose accessories, not only fulfilling its primary function (holding your crap), but adding another element to your overall look at the same time. Not sure which is right for you? We’ve done the dog work and rounded up this season’s key styles. Bag it up. As it were.

The Fabric Holdall

No one’s going to dispute the fact that a brown or black leather holdall is a classic style which every man should own, but textile options are worth considering too. And while wool or canvas might not be the first materials that spring to mind for an autumn/winter bag, as long as you opt for coated versions, or give them regular spritzes of protector spray, they’ll shield your essentials from the elements. Wool, although usually reserved for knits and outerwear, makes richly textured bags that can instantly add depth to your outfit. Try a tweed or herringbone option to add some heritage-inspired character to your cold-weather tailoring, or grab a plain black or charcoal grey design if your style leans more sports luxe. Coated canvas, meanwhile, makes for bags that are not only lightweight and durable, but perfect for the casual looks you’ll be falling back on this season – from grunge-inspired to workshop-ready. Scandi labels Fjallraven and Rains produce some excellent canvas styles that are built to deal with inclement weather, while here on home soil Ted Baker and Marks & Spencer offer a variety of high quality wool options.

Key Pieces

• River Island Grey Jersey Holdall Bag
• New Look Grey Twill Holdall
• Forbes & Lewis Somerset Grey Canvas Holdall Bag
• Ted Baker Madnas Holdall
• Mulberry Medium Clipper Holdall Bag
• J. Crew Wallace & Barnes Duffel Bag
• J.crew Abingdon Waxed Cotton-canvas Holdall
• Ted Baker Budapes Small Holdall
• Barbour Wax Holdall
• M&s Collection New Pure New Wool Checked Holdall
• Mulberry Camo Canvas Clipper Bag
• Rains Travel Bag

The Leather Backpack

Once the preserve of schoolchildren and gap year hikers, the backpack has swiftly established itself as the contemporary bag style to get your hands on, with everyone from city bankers to chart-toppers like Kanye and Chris Brown seen sporting shoulder straps. In fact, backpack sales have grown every year since 2008 according to market intelligence firm Euromonitor. And with demand comes ever more stylish supply; designers from Alexander Wang to Z Zegna are this season continuing to take the silhouette upscale. By swapping traditional synthetics like nylon for premium leather, and budget buckles for gleaming, tough-as-nails hardware, brands like Reiss, Miansai, Herschel and Porter-Yoshida & Co are providing us with backpacks that work as well for the boardroom as they do for a weekend abroad. Far smarter than their predecessors, leather backpacks will round out everything from minimal tailored ensembles to your steeziest streetwear looks. Pick one up in classic black, midnight blue or dark chocolate brown, and bid farewell to carpal tunnel syndrome.

Key Pieces

• Reiss Linton Leather Document Holder Black
• Tom Ford Leather Document Bag
• Celine Vintage Logo Detail Document Holder
• Ted Baker Weezal Striped Leather Document Bag
• River Island Black Zipped Document Holder
• Thom Browne Large Document Holder
• Lotuff Lock And Key Bridle Leather Document Case
• Tom Ford Leather Document Holder
• Comme Des Garcons Classic Leather Document Holder
• M&s Collection Large Leather Document Holder
• Saint Laurent Textured-leather Pouch
• Maison Margiela Two-tone Leather Pouch

Final Word

Time was, you were considered a grade-A tool if you were caught carrying a bag. Now, however – since we’ve managed to put our weird bag-gender binaries aside – you’re missing a trick if you haven’t several in rotation. Whe

Cillian O'Connor

Cillian O’Connor is a freelance writer, editor and consultant, best known for his ability to sort the wheat from the chaff in the world’s of men’s style, grooming, lifestyle and design. Once named the No. 1 Blogger by Vogue, Cillian also contributes to The Sunday Times, The Business of Fashion and Metro.