Should Men use a Messenger Bag or Briefcase for Work?

The gentleman going to work in a pinstripe suit, bowler hat and stiff briefcase was once considered very fashionable, but not anymore! A revolution in workgear has taken place in the 21st century, with business casual being the buzz words. Even accountants and lawyers don’t need to wear a suit and tie all the time. A stiff briefcase in my opinion is not appropriate as a workbag.

I sometimes think that men don’t put enough effort is put into finding a fashionable workbag. After all, we are judged on our overall appearance and an ill conceived bag will let down an otherwise great outfit and create the wrong impression. The messenger bag is ideal for the modern man as it is really practical and comfortable to wear. Carrying a bag over the shoulder has a more contemporary look than carrying a bag by its handles. A structured leather and nylon messenger bag in black is great for a sophisticated look, whilst a softer messenger in neutral tones can work for the real trendy types.

I am not totally against briefcases though, just the old fashioned ‘rectangle with brass combination locks’ type. If you are going for a briefcase, the soft leather or nylon look is the way to go (and make sure it has an optional shoulder strap). Please try and avoid using the free bag that came with your laptop, they are devoid of any uniqueness and style. Most designer brands have a range of laptop bags that will enhance your clothing. Knomo intentionally set out to make laptop bags that stood out from the crowd, using exciting colours like gloss black and blue/brown. All their bags have a moulded protection system called PIMP!!

The Bowtie: A Fashion Faux Pas or Geek Chic?

Whilst flicking through the men’s fashion magazines recently I noticed several times that leading designer brands were showcasing the bowtie. Whilst the obvious way to style a bowtie is straight laced Harvard preppy, I was intrigued to see the Paul Smith advert with a geek chic vibe about it (was it the bow tie and check shirt combination?). It got me thinking as to whether the bowtie really does have a place in men’s fashion, or is it an outdated accessory?

One thing is for sure, wearing a bowtie (black tie not withstanding) makes you stand out from the crowd as very few people ever wear one. It has such strong associations with a certain type of character (the straight laced bookworm), that many people shy away from it. Having said that, Harrison Ford pulled off a bowtie very well in Indian Jones!

As has been proven time and time again though, fashion keeps reinventing looks that were seemingly outdated or thought uncool. I am mainly referring to the Geek chic fashion phenomenon. It is the very idea of rediscovering the old and forgotten, but making it current. Nostalgia is hip (Star Wars, the 80s, Sodastream). If a bowtie is to look fashionable in today’s society, have fun and combine it with a whacky check shirt. I feel that if you take the bowtie too seriously, you can end up looking very uncool.

Are Boxer Shorts Back?

Boxer shorts have taken a backseat (pardon the pun) over the past few years, as trunks and boxer briefs have become by far the most popular underwear of choice for men. I remember back in the 1980s though that boxer shorts were the bestselling underwear, in part due to the Levis advert (the Launderette) featuring Nick Kamen.

I have noticed recently though that the top designer brands such as Calvin Klein and Emporio Armani are offering a wider range of boxer shorts. Calvin Klein has a traditional fit and slim fit boxer. Are men swapping their trunks for boxer shorts again, or is this a case of the fashion houses stimulating demand. I still think that trunks are the way to go, but maybe I’ll give boxer shorts a go again. They definitely are more forgiving of an expanding waistline.

Wearing a Suit for a Smart Casual Look

I enjoy wearing a suit, the sharp lines and tailored fabric gives me an air of confidence and masculinity. With business casual being the most popular mode of dress for the office, there is less occasion to wear one though which is a shame. Traditionally a suit is worn with a suit and tie, and obviously has a very formal look. There are possibilities though to dress a suit for a smart casual look, which is a really great look.

There are loads of occasions where we want to look smart but not stuffy, fashionable but not scruffy. A friend’s party, dinner at a top restaurant, night out at the theatre or club. I get bored of wearing the typical uniform of shirt and trousers, possibly with a blazer. My favourite way of wearing a suit casually is to combine it with a crew neck knitwear top (definitely without a shirt collar poking out), ditching the shirt and tie. You get the benefit of a tailored suit without the uncomfortable and restrictive tie.

Don’t try and match the colour of your knitwear with the suit, instead choose a colour or tone that contrasts. For a sophisticated look stick to charcoals and greys. For a more lively occasion have fun with bold colours or patterns. This is a look that top designer brands such as Giorgio Armani are showing off at the moment. The polo neck is also a good idea for Autumn and Winter.

Can Pyjamas for Men Look Sexy?

Now we are heading into the Autumn and Winter seasons, we are all starting to wear our pyjamas again at night time. The pyjama suit for men has not traditionally been an item of clothing associated with style and cool. In fact it has often been the butt of many a joke, worn with novelty patterns such as fluffy clouds and trains. I would suspect though that many men would appreciate a fashionable nightwear option.

For some men, they will not be bothered about wearing fashionable pyjamas because they will take the view that ‘who cares what you look like whilst you are asleep’. For the fashionable modern man, I am of the opinion he would want to look good at night-time for his wife or girlfriend (plus it is great for lounging around the house). Firstly, the pyjama suit with matching trouser and suit jacket is not a great look. It kind of looks like an untidy work suit with its collared jacket, and does not set the right tone for bedtime. I much prefer a pair of designer pyjama trousers matched with a t-shirt (or no t-shirt at all if weather permits).

The designer brands such as Calvin Klein and Emporio Armani have a great range of mens pyjamas that focus on really flattering and sexy cuts. Striped or check pyjama trousers work really well with a plain t-shirt. Make sure your t-shirt picks up a colour from your pyjama trousers. This is a really sexy look and will be appreciated by your female companion.

Tweed: A major Tend for Autumn Winter 2009

A very significant trend for menswear this Autumn Winter (2009) is the use of the tweed fabric in garments from blazers to suits to overcoats and trousers. It has been picked up by designers such as Missoni, Nicole Farhi, Ralph Lauren and Margaret Howell in the classic herringbone and checks. My preconception of tweed is of old fashioned garments favoured by college professors. Whilst tweed has a long history in men’s fashion, the industry’s ability to reinvent and juxtapose against the modern makes this trend exciting and new.

Tweed has a rugged wool texture that is very hard wearing (perfect for the crsip weather of Autumn and Winter), and in my opinion has a similar quality to jeans. Whilst jeans have an undeniably American influence, tweed has a classic Britishness about it (which we should be proud of). The designer brands are showing tweed in various different looks. Perhaps the most obvious is the preppy or dignified country look, pairing a tweed jacket with chinos (typical of the Ralph Lauren look). A more modern approach is the mixing of tweed with a selection of contemporary garments with unusual knitwear patterns and textures (such as velvet). For me, this is the best way of incorporating tweed for a practical and everyday look. It is the exciting mixture of new and old that sets this trend alight. I would be happy to wear a pair of jeans, modern knit top and tweed jacket. Would you be prepared to wear tweed this season?

The Everyday Man Bag: Essential Accessory or Metro Sexual Phenomenon?

Up to fifteen years ago everyday bags for men mainly consisted of stiff and structured briefcases for work. Most men wore suits to work, and this best suited the look. For casual use the only option was a backpack which does not offer a fashionable look. As we have entered the 21st century, men’s designer bags have exploded in popularity with new choices such as the messenger bag and tote. In this blog I will analyse whether these new style designer bags are accessible for all men, or just the ‘Metro Sexual’ man.

Society is constantly changing and fashion is very quick at reflecting this. With the bag, it has traditionally been considered a fashion item for women but a purely functional one for men. The classic briefcase was intended to look smart with a tailored suit, and suitable to fit some papers and very little else. As we have moved into the 21st century there have been some interesting social, technological and cultural changes. A change in the workplace has been the switch from suit and tie to ‘business-casual’ attire, which has allowed more self expression for the man. In addition, the traditional roles accepted by men and women have been challenged and broken down. With the common use of a laptop computer and other accessories such as an ipod, men simply have more to carry than just a few papers.

Modern society has therefore created a demand for a fashionable and more casual bag for men. Men’s bags have become more relaxed (made from softer materials), more spacious, more comfortable to wear and much more individual and fashionable. Because these ideas have been associated with the handbag, some may consider the man bag a bit too feminine. The truth is though that the man bag has become a hugely popular item, adopted by all types of men. Designers have made every effort to design fashionable bags that retain a masculine identity (e.g. more chunky) so as not to put the general population off. There are some very trendy specialist bag brands for the urban consumer such as Knomo Bags.

The messenger bag has allowed men to use the shoulder bag, without looking feminine. Initially used by courier messengers, they have entered the mainstream due to its comfort, practicality and versatility in design. Most importantly it has a more urban cool to it than a briefcase, suiting today’s casual work environment. Messenger bags are less structured and softer than a briefcase, offering much more flexibility in what can be carried. There are many different designs and fabrics used on messenger bags. They can be more structured, ideal for a professional look, or soft for casual wear. Leather messenger bags look smart, whilst canvas or nylon is more relaxed.

Most men now accept the messenger bag as a male fashion accessory. There are bags however that push the boundaries of masculinity, most noticeably the tote bag. Its appearance can be likened to a designer shopping bag with carry handles and a zip fastener. A horizontal design gives the appearance of a soft briefcase, and is therefore quite acceptable. A vertical shape give a more feminine look and is best suited to the confident metro-sexual man. Most tote bags have the option of using a shoulder strap, which gives an appearance similar to a messenger bag.

It seems briefcases are out, and relaxed everyday bags for men are in fashion. I don’t think this is a passing fashion craze, as this change has been driven by the needs of the modern man. As more men start using shoulder bags and totes, the more it becomes accepted as a masculine fashion accessory. As with all fashion, there is a wide variety of bags that range from the classical to the more risky. Don’t let these metro-sexual bags put you off a man bag altogether, as they are a hugely useful and trendy item.