Birkins Aren't Just for Women

Reece Morgan with a Birkin. Photo courtesy: Xupes Journal

It’s not news that men’s handbags have been trending for some time now. (Read: Men’s Handbags: Shopping the Other Side) These days, it’s no longer shocking to see a man carrying a handbag, especially in major metropolitan centers like New York and Paris. (And of course, men have been toting briefcases and backpacks for generations.)

Traditional gender lines in the realms of fashion and style have bent and blurred over time—women now wear clothes and accessories that are traditionally masculine, such as brogues and biker jackets, and vice versa.

But what we still don’t see very often are men carrying “women’s” bags. Usually, men’s bags are in their own category, placed in the menswear side of the boutique. Certain styles are crafted just for men, while the majority of bags made by fashion houses are assumed to be for women. (Even the term we use here so often, “fashionista,” is gendered.) Typically, we assume that our favorite bags—Birkins, Kellys, Chanel Classic Flaps, and even Chanel Boy Bags (ha)—are for female consumers. As some male fashion lovers attest, this paradigm is beginning to change.

@thebirkinboy

One of the men leading the pack is Reece Morgan (@reecemmorgan), Head of Handbags and Accessories of Xupes, a retailer of pre-owned luxury goods. He’s been proudly wearing luxury bags for years.

“I have been wearing handbags for such a long time now that it feels like second nature to me and an integral part of my personal style,” he said in an interview with Xupes Journal. “Yes, handbags are traditionally associated with women’s fashion, however, there is an exciting shift happening within the industry; we are seeing the fluidity and androgyny that I have always longed for within the luxury sector.”

This androgyny is becoming increasingly popular, as Pharrell’s new unisex collection with Chanel shows. (Read: Chanel x Pharrell: Bags from Chanel’s Unisex Collection) The Chanel x Pharrell collection features Classic Flaps, for example, in bright colors—again, bags traditionally associated with women’s fashion.

Reece Morgan Xupes Journal men carrying hermes birkin

Photo courtesy: Xupes Journal

The cultural change, Morgan argues, isn’t just that men are wearing bags, but that they’re wearing them “more fearlessly.” Men are toting around iconic bags, such as Fendi Baguettes and Dior Saddle Bags.

“These bags are worn to be seen,” he said. “They come in a spectrum of colors and and designs to add to your outfit as a staple accessory – function is secondary. I hope that men wearing bags as an accessory will become increasingly popular and slowly become a permanent integral feature in the male wardrobe.”

Of course, Morgan isn’t alone in this regard. Men with classic luxury bags are becoming a bigger presence on Instagram. @thebirkinboy, for example, has almost 40k followers, and @birkinclub4boys celebrates men with the luxury bags (mostly Birkins, but there are a few Kellys and Evelynes spotted there too!).

@nehemiahfalber via @birkinclub4boys

Handbags as a unisex phenomenon are also garnering the attention of news outlets. GQ published an article in March titled, “There’s Never Been a Better Time for Men’s Bags.” Another, published by HIGHSNOBIETY in June, proclaimed, “Men Want to Wear Purses, They Just Don’t Know It Yet.”

“You don’t have to look femme or overdressed to sport a sizable accessory traditionally associated with women’s fashion,” HIGHSNOBIETY wrote. “In recent years, bags for men have gone from something almost taboo to one of the hottest trends, and the biggest industry players are keen to jump on board.”

In short, this trend is not going anywhere, and it’s certainly not being overlooked by the top brands. Even Hermès’ Spring-Summer 2019 campaign features a man holding an oversized HAC Birkin.