Classic & Quirky: Men's Fall 2010 Bags

At the men's Fall 2010 shows in Milan and Paris, it's safe to say that handbags were not the biggest concern of the designers. It's true, man-bags do exist in Europe but those strange little layered pocketbooks didn't show up on the runways; rather, the designers focused on a larger travel bag or briefcase for the fall.

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Bottega Veneta's large croc briefcases provided the perfect backdrop to the casually cuffed jeans, ravishing double-breasted blazers, and cocky fedoras. The rigidity counteracted the texture in the outfits, whereas Hermès used the softness of their suede briefcases to balance the sharpness of their outfits, which would look quite at home worn by the famously chic Gossip Girl bad boy Chuck Bass. The suits were cut slimly, and the high level of craftsmanship was evident in both the rolling of the leather briefcase handles and the impeccable coat seams.

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As for travel cases, Gucci was rather conventional, with a large square shape that resembled the Hermes HAC; a little too similar, I'd say. But the logo on the tote, far from an outlandish splashing of "G"s, was a subtle checkered shape that recalled prints from the early days of the Italian luxury house. Over in Paris, Louis Vuitton maximized their leather talents with a bevy of interestingly shaped cases to be worn on the shoulder. The bags lacked the quintessential LV logos, which was understated in the best, most refreshing sort of way, allowing the cut, shape, and leather of the cases revel in attention rather than relying on those two letters.

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And then there was Prada. I'm sure you've seen a beautifully dressed man at some point who, pulling his hands out of his pockets, reveals them to be clad in the wildest print gloves imaginable. Mrs. Prada was certainly designing this collection for that very man, and showcased brilliant basics alongside utilitarian bags rendered slightly madcap with their psychedelic-in-a-computer-generated-sort-of-way patterns. Most fashionistas have one or more crazy bags stashed in their closets; fashionistos, please take note, and mix up your classics with a touch of spontaneous color and texture.

The Return of the Drawstring Bucket Bag

The drawstring bag is historically considered to be one of the first handbags, and now it seems to be making a comeback in yet another incarnation. The trend has been attributed to the now infamous Alexander Wang Bucket Bag, the unique shape inspiring endless creations from the likes of Marc by Marc Jacobs and Dior.

But the drawstring bag had humble beginnings, used by merchants as coin pouches to be strategically attached to the belt. In the fifteenth century, women began to favor these little bags, which were now ornate, embellished with beading and embroidery. And though little drawstring evening bags do exist today to some extent, it's the previous money pouch that's had many incarnations, from Marc by Marc Jacobs, Alexander Wang, and Cleobella.

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The Alexander Wang Diego Bucket bag arguably began the whole trend, bringing to mind a desert landscape with its sandy color and combination of smooth suede, lightly pebbled eater accents, and tough silver bolted hardware. True to style, the Diego features the signature Wang studded bottom, first popularized in the Coco Bucket bag.

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The Marc by Marc Jacobs New Q Pixie Drawstring Bag is rawer, closer to it's ancestor than the Alexander Wang, but the bag is also much more casual and fun, rather than the edgy sophistication of the studded Wang version. This one incorporates pleats and big plastic baubles to juxtapose the distressed leather against the shine of the plastic and the clean metal label placed squarely at the front. The fabric handle, wide and casual, makes sure that the shoulder will be as comfortable as the wearer is stylish.

Credit: The Purse Forum

And let's not forget what the original money pouch would look like. With the Bourse, Goyard brings back tradition as it always does by looking to the past and incorporating it in designs. With its signature Goyard hand-painted design and bright leather, this pouch is sure to be as at home in a bag as it could be on a belt. After all, it's quite logical that the roots of your drawstring bucket bag be a medieval money pouch- ours are just larger and considerably more chic.