Are Tote Bags for Men Timeless, or Just a Trend?

As with clothing, bags are becoming increasingly casual, and as a result, we’re seeing a rise in popularity for the tote bag. So, in today’s installment of our Timeless or Trend series, we’ll be taking a look at the tote bag and asking the question, “Is this an item for the ages or merely a passing fancy?”

The tote back is perhaps one of the simplest forms of carrying tool. It has a simple body, which is closed on three sides. It is open at the top and has handles on opposite sides that makes it easy for you to carry in hand or over the shoulder. What’s more, the etymology of the word “tote” can actually be traced back to about 1670, and it means “to carry.”

So, while it’s already starting to sound like this form of bag has an interesting history to it, and there’s no denying that, in the modern-day world, it’s only recently been seen as a bag that’s carried by men, which makes it a perfect candidate for the series.

History of Tote Bags

During medieval times, it was common for both women and men to carry soft bags. They typically wore these over the shoulder so that the opening was accessible at hip level. Sometimes with a flapped opening, sometimes without. Kind of like a cross between a messenger bag and a tote bag. 

For the majority of people, these bags would have been made of sturdy and inexpensive cloth, but there were others who could afford to carry more expensive leather bags. And, as is always the case, the very wealthy could afford to use bags that were adorned with intricate designs and embroidery, such as precious metals or stones.

This general design has remained largely unchanged for many years, and we can see how the military haversack evolved from this but kept a lot of the designed elements.

These types of bags would be refined further into two directions. One with a flapped closure and long, cross-body strap that would equate to a messenger bag, and the other will be simplified into what we know today as simply the “tote bag.”

In 1944, US outdoor goods company, L.L. Bean, marketed their Ice Carrier bag, a large open top bag constructed from sturdy builder’s canvas with a distinctive flat bottom and sides to enable transport of a greater volume of items.

The design existed as a way for users to carry heavy or difficult items from point A to B. So, although it stated “ice” on the label, L.L. Bean also suggested wood, garden vegetables, and other groceries as other contenders to be carried in their bags.

It’s at this point that we can undoubtedly see the tote bag in the form that we are used to seeing it in today. It’s also worth pointing out at this point that the tote bag was purely a utilitarian item and hadn’t made its way yet into the realms of fashion.

Shortly after the introduction of the Ice Carrier, the company introduced a smaller version, this time with the everyday shopper in mind. This design, which is also featured from builder’s canvas, features shorter handles and is particularly close to some of the designs that we see today from a modern tote bag.

Twenty years after the introduction of the Ice Carrier, L.L. Bean reinvented the bag as a way for people to easily pack things up for a day trip. This is where we see the introduction of the Boat & Tote bag and the first time L.L. Bean incorporates considered styling elements, such as contrasting color straps in unisex red, blue, or green.

Meanwhile, in the 60s, fashion designer Bonnie Cashin created her Cashin Carry Tote, this time out of leather instead of canvas, before designing for leather goods brand Coach, who still produced luxury leather tote bags inspired by Cashin’s work.

The 1980s was a big decade for the tote bag. Its utilitarian roots were still going strong with the introduction of the iconic blue IKEA fracked bag and cheaper cloth bags being used as a way of advertising, with the Strand Bookstore in New York City being one of the first to do so.

Luxury Tote Bags

On the flip side of things, the tote bag was also soaring in the luxury sector, most notably, the Birkin, a bag named after British actress Jane Birkin after she was dissatisfied with being able to find a bag that was big enough to fit all of her things without being a suitcase, all while staying securely closed.

This bag was designed and made by Hermes, And despite having a slow start at first – probably something to do with the eye-watering Hermes prices – the attraction to the Birken group and became a status symbol bag for the 90s and beyond.

What’s interesting today is how the availability of tote bags is quite heavily split between luxury and function. It’s clearly a case that a tote bag can be inexpensive, simple, and utilitarian like the original Boat & Tote that L.L. Bean still makes and sells today. And it’s available from $25 to $40, depending on the size.

Other equally inexpensive options are the branded tote bags that retailers, like the Strand Bookstore in New York City use as an increasing effort to step away from single-use, plastic bags, often only being a couple of dollars at the cash register, up to $10 or even $15 for a more premium version. And I’m sure we’ve all experienced the 99-cent IKEA bag.

All of these bags have function at the heart of their design with no extracurricular additions. But, the tote bag can also be a very expensive item, whether it’s due to the inclusion of quality materials or the dedication of craftsmanship, such as you would see in a leather tote bag by luxury luggage designer Bennett Winch, or because the tote bag has been made by a high-end designer or label, like Balenciaga.

So, we know that there are effectively two options when it comes to tote bags. 1: less money, focus on function. 2: quality and style, all with an increase in price, of course.

Should Men Carry Tote Bags?

Although both men and women have historically always carried bags and continue to do so today, since, about the 60s, we see the tote bag as a more female-forward item, there are several reasons why this might be the case.

It looks like a purse. Call it a handbag, a purse, whatever you want. There’s no denying that, for many years in recent history, a man’s bag and a woman’s bag just look different.

Handbags and purses aren’t typically constrained by the dark tones and colors that men’s bags are. Indeed, there’s a whole spectrum of color applied to bags for women. All bags for men are typically black or brown.

This may well be an extension of the fact that most men in modern history will carry a hard-sided briefcase or attaché case. Because these bags were the first portable hard drive, their use was confined to business and, therefore, formal situations, where bright and colorful bags and accessories would have been seen as casual.

This also means that men’s bags are without adornment of any kind as this would also be deemed as less formal than a plain dark bag or case. Whereas handbags and purses are available in a myriad of different designs, they support tons of different features and embellishments.

Think of it as a formal event with a Black Tie or even a White Tie dress code. A man is expected to wear a dark suit, which is largely devoid of any distracting details, and a woman can wear a dress or gown of color with interesting designs and appliques.

But, if you stop to think about it for a second, although a coat and tails or tuxedo might seem a little bit plain, there is one thing that it has in spades – pockets.

As the two-piece suit or variation of has become the norm for menswear for many, many decades, women’s clothing has been somewhat lacking when it comes to pockets, which not only means that carrying a bag has become quite essential for many women, it also means that many men haven’t had to carry a bag with them due to the multitude of pockets found throughout a suit.

It’s as we’ve moved into the 21st century that the need to carry a bag has become more prevalent for men as we carry more and more items that might not fit into a pocket or are, otherwise, too valuable to risk falling out of a pocket. There’s also the consideration that, as clothing has become more casual in the 21st century, fewer people are wearing suits regularly, therefore losing some of the pocket space they may have had.

So, with the reduced number of men wearing suits every day, men need an alternative to the super formal bags and cases that they used to carry because those skinny jeans and Air Jordans just don’t quite drive with an attaché case. But, a backpack or messenger bag slung over your shoulder may make you feel like you haven’t quite graduated from school yet, which is where the tote bag comes into play. 

When done right, a tote bag can be an incredibly versatile bag, working well for both casual and dressier outfits, therefore giving you the option to invest in just one bag, rather than having several for different occasions.

Quality Tote Bags Materials

So, how can you achieve this? First up, you need to think about the material that the bag is made from. Namely, it can’t be hard-sided like the attaché case, but it also shouldn’t crumple to the floor the minute you put it on the ground.

Leather

Leather is always going to be the smartest option as well as the most hard-wearing. It also has a better ability to keep its shape. Smooth leather, such as calfskin or saddle leather, will have a formal attached to them. While suede or nubuck presents a look that is a little bit more relaxed but is easier to weatherproof and is better for casual ensembles.

Makers such as Frank Clegg and Bennett Winch are some designers who make excellent examples of stylish leather tote bags which can be incorporated into a classic wardrobe. And although the prices may seem steep at first, please remember that these bags are an investment into long-term quality.

Canvas or Waxed Cotton

One of the drawbacks of leather is its weight. This is where a sturdy canvas or a waxed cotton tote bag shines.

Whether you decide to go for an all-canvas version, like the one offered by The Armoury or a tote that has canvas and leather in its construction, such as the Piccadilly model from Ettinger, a predominantly cloth-based tote bag will be much lighter than a full-leather model and you should see a reduction in the upfront cost as well.

Bear in mind that unless waterproofing steps have been taken, cloth bags aren’t going to perform as well under adverse weather conditions as a leather model would.

Quality Tote Bag Design & Features

Design

Design is the area in which we look towards men’s bag carrying history for some inspiration. Namely, keeping things simple. Yes, it’s true that you’re going to want to keep your tote bag free of anything that might prematurely age it, such as trendy logos or details or anything that draws undue attention to the bag in a way that reduces its versatility.

For example, a tote bag with a logo or graphic design on it is a great way to do some sustainable shopping, but will, unfortunately, stick out like a sore thumb at that work meeting. Simple, unfussy design is the name of the game when it comes to selecting a tote bag that is going to give you the best of both worlds.

Features

Volume & Ease of Access

Moving on from design, the features present in a tote bag will determine how versatile it is for you. Of course, the main feature should be its ability to easily carry medium to large items, so it needs to have a generous volume without being cumbersome, ideally with a flat bottom to enable ease of storage within the bag itself. This is probably a good time to evaluate your needs as we live in a world of a lot of personal technology.

For example, some might get frustrated with constantly having to fully zip and fully unzip a specifically designed laptop bag, and it’s so annoying to have to find a way to pack a cord or a charger inside of one of those slim cases. This is where a tote bag can really become useful because you can store things away and set things up as you choose to.

Pockets

Your needs may be different from others, of course. If you find a tote bag with an interior pocket, this can be a great thing. These are usually found on lined versions of tote bags, although it is possible to find internal pockets in unlined versions as well.

An interior pocket is a great place for you to store the little things and keep them safe – keys, headphones, charging cable, and the like. Ideally, this pocket will be zippered or features some other closure method. But, even if it remains open, the ability to separate large and small things within the bag will be welcomed.

Closure

A tote bag that closes at the top will provide extra security, not just from light fingers or stumbling, sending all of your belongings to the ground, but security from the elements as well. The biggest selling point of a tote bag can also be its biggest downfall. If you can reach your bag’s content easily, so can everything else, including that unexpected downpour.

So, whether it’s a zipper, snap, or tab closure, the trade-off of a slightly reduced ease of access is going to pay off in the end.

Handles

There are pretty much two schools of thought when it comes to the handles of a tote bag. They’re either long enough to hold at your side or over a shoulder or their shoulder in length to be held just at the side like a briefcase. This one is going to be more of a matter of personal preference. However, it’s worth noting that the shorter, more briefcase-like handles will look more formal because of the similarity of how these handles will look on bags like a briefcase.

Ultimately, whichever style of handle that you choose, a thicker, rounded handle, preferably in leather, will be more comfortable in the hand and retain that classic touch.

Are Tote Bags For Men Timeless, or a Trend?

This is a bit of an odd one. As you can see, historically, both men and women have enjoyed carrying tote-like bags, even if they had more of an association with women in the 20th century.

We’ve also seen how tote bags can be designed and crafted with a male user in mind that will fit in with both contemporary and classic outfit choices as a perfectly acceptable modern-day briefcase.

So, weighing up everything that we’ve explored today, I think it’s safe to say that, well, at the moment, due to the shorter length of time they’ve been carried by the modern man, they are a trend with a strong possibility of becoming timeless. So, tote bags will be an interesting one to watch over the coming years, and maybe we’ll be looking back at this post to reevaluate our own premonitions.

Outfit Rundown

Today, I’m wearing a blue and brown, plaid, unlined sport coat with patch pockets and Mother of Pearl-inspired buttons.

I have a tanned, wool turtleneck underneath and a pair of green trousers, brown chukka boots, and Fort Belvedere socks.

Do you use a tote bag? What do you think of their trendiness (or longevity)? Share your thoughts in the comments below!