Men’s designer bags are having a moment. Whether it be on fashion media, runways or on the streets, men’s designer bags have officially become a trend. Although men’s briefcases and men’s backpacks have never fallen out of style, the last few years have seen bags branch out from being a traditionally feminine choice to something that is now made by men for men.
The reason this has happened is the rise of gender fluidity in fashion, as menswear is also transitioning away from traditionally masculine choices to items including heels, nail polish and skirts. Now the women of the world aren’t the only ones choosing from hundreds of designer bags, men have this choice too.
The result? Men are seeing more bags catered to them, and have been given a larger freedom of expression to show off their own style while also embracing the functionality of a bag.
If you’re a man who’s excited to commit to your first luxury purchase, these are the trends coming in for 2023. Keep in mind these bag trends are now gender fluid, so I’m taking from men’s trends and women’s trends to make this guide.
Work Staples
When I say work staples for men, you might immediately think of briefcases or backpacks. I don’t blame you; these are the bags we’ve seen everywhere, and every designer company offers at least a trendy leather bag like Louis Vuitton’s street-style backpack. But we can now stretch beyond a basic briefcase or backpack. Not only have brands made briefcases more fun, but they’ve incorporated carry all’s and weekender bags for men that will carry all their outfits while also looking stylish enough for the working man.
Fancier Tote Bags
Tote bags are back. No one thought they were going away, but I’m still surprised that they haven’t been at least a little phased out over time. Now, the canvas tote bags are out, and leather tote bags are in. This means the bags are more structured, and this allows for a capacity to carry more things without that overstuffed look canvas totes can have. These leather totes have been worn by celebrities, both male and female and now come quilted, monogrammed, with or without inner pockets, and in every size, you’ve ever seen. This means men will have more choices in future designer tote purchases.
Silver is Here
Silver is another colour having an absolute moment. This isn’t just a comeback of silver jewellery or shows, it’s also bags. It might be because of a general appetite for some subtle shine, but it’s also making one hell of a statement. In men’s bags, the silver is prominent either in the bag itself or in its hardware, with brands opting for silver chains, silver logos or silver sheens to their bags to allow for a metallic look. This is often seen in street-style bags, but smaller bags are also embracing this look. What silver does is lend a minimal bag a more upscale and timeless look, making it a great investment piece for the future, because silver is one of those things that comes with 90’s/2000’s trend cycles.
Top Handles Are In
Top handle bags are those which have a structured look with a minimal, chic design. These bags have been staples of Hermes and Louis Vuitton for years now, but have now been adopted by other brands, enough to make it a 2023 trend.
Some brands have allowed the bag to stay classic in style, while other brands have made a more sculptural look, which can be seen as more unisex. This bag came into trend in 2022, but I can see it sticking around well into the next year. For men, it’s like a briefcase but with fewer workday vibes, a great option if you work in a more casual space, or if you’re travelling and you want a bag that doesn’t say ‘travelling for work’.
Multiple Bags
Many designers this season have adopted the idea that one bag is just not enough. So on the runway, I saw designers kitting models in not one, but two bags. Often these were two of the same bags, such as two cross-body bags. Or a smaller bag paired with a larger tote. In more varied iterations, the bags were hanging around each other. This might sound strange as a concept, but it really is practical.
If you’re not the type to enjoy carrying around one big bag. You can split this into one smaller bag, and a tote bag for example. If you want to take it even further, a micro bag and a larger bag is an ideas taken straight from the runway.
