The Rise Of The Men's Power Bag
Bags for men, it seems, are big business. Blame it on the continued allure of the stealth-wealth trend to spark this newfound willingness among male celebrities—shifting their attention to a grander, more dramatic iteration of arm candies as the new ‘It’ accessory to invest in for 2025
The concept of men wearing handbags isn't ground-breaking, but within the past year, the trend has been accentuated in ways that we haven't seen in recent memory.
All of a sudden, male consumers who were buying boring weekender bags and backpacks for work and play are seen sporting fashion statement pieces, from the iconic Hermès Birkin and the Gucci Horsebit chain clutch to the popular Bottega Veneta Andiamo and the Goyard monogram messenger—proving that It-bags aren’t just reserved for women.
There was a time when even carrying a handbag, let alone a more extravagant variation could have been considered controversial for a man. Now, however, men have literally got it in the bag—a perfectly calibrated 2025 flex.
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Well, it’s simple: all genders should have the freedom to explore fashion’s creative expressions without boundaries. When it comes to bags, especially the most sought-after styles of the moment, boys du jour, including Jacob Elordi, A$AP Rocky, Travis Kelce, Karan Johar, and Pharrell Williams, etc., have been elevating their ensembles with ultra-luxe designer versions—each seemingly bigger, bolder, and brighter than the next. And, quite frankly, we can’t get enough of it.
Pharrell Williams
Slowly but surely, more men have adopted an exquisite handbag, or two, into their wardrobe—it turns out Pharrell Williams was just ahead of his time.
Certain gents might opt for a duffle bag that’s been collecting dust or some sort of hideous backpack for a casual day outing—not Williams, though, toting arguably the crown jewel of his spring 2024 Louis Vuitton debut, the blinding yellow Speedy bag finished with a chunky Cuban link in gold, for a stroll out on the streets. Appropriately dubbed the “Millionaire,” the carrier is presumably either a one-off or an especially rare model created exclusively for VIPs like, well, Pharrell.
Jacob Elordi
Favouring cult buys and other hot designer styles, Jacob Elordi surely knows a thing or two about what makes a great handbag.
He recently broke a certain corner of the internet while choosing to carry a striking tomato-coloured Bottega Veneta Andiamo carry-all that perfectly complemented his speckled cardi and white basics with a tiny (leather) dog bag charm attached to it. With a sense of style that is quickly cementing him as one to watch on the celeb-style front, he wears his designer bags as any fashion enthusiast would—with everything.
A$AP Rocky
Gender norms are so passé—nothing broadcasts A$AP Rocky’s disinterest in gendered fashion more than his impressive bag collection. While the rapper already had an impressive gamut of very big bags on his own, now that he’s one-half of the world’s most fashionable couple (hello Rihanna, we didn’t forget about you), he has two closets to pull from.
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One of my favourite style moments was when he stepped out in a baby pink woven Bottega Veneta tote styled nonchalantly, with baggy jeans and a blazer. Apart from that, the ultra-chic rapper is always out and about toting an enviable bag collection, from his many large Goyards to his crown jewel Kelly.
Law Roach
Law Roach is arguably one of the most influential people in fashion, and that didn't happen by accident. The self-proclaimed image architect known for his bold fashion choices is another enthusiast of the “murse” trend.
Among his fearless style selections, which range from a maxi Bottega Veneta Lauren 1980 clutch to an exotic archival Crocodile Balenciaga city bag and his beloved Birkin’s in every shape, size, and colour imaginable, he consistently incorporates statement designer bags into all his outfits.
Travis Scott
One of the most renowned artists in the hip-hop scene, Travis Scott has quickly established himself as a capital-F fashion dude—a fact made even more evident by his most recent outing in New York City.
The Texas-born rapper accented his vintage soccer merch with an enormous Cargo Hac Birkin bag, which itself is cause for further inquiry, as it’s both extremely massive in size and palpably rare to the point of being virtually non-existent to the general public. Travis Scott, the man that he is, easily secured the bag.
Karan Johar
It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s a giant Hermès bag? It’s also totally hard to get. Establishing himself as a fashion power player, Karan Johar took his love for the Birkin a notch higher by flaunting a jumbo version of the luxury bag that could perhaps be seen from space.
The case in point is—without a question—the ginormous Birkin bag he's clutching onto. Trust me when I say it could fit all your devices and daily essentials, your vacation wardrobe, your pet dog, and perhaps your emotional baggage too. Why buy a normal Hermès when you can have a supersized one?
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Travis Kelce
Paving the inroads for NFL players in the luxury fashion world, Travis Kelce is now helping take the handbag game to the next level.
In the spirit of Kelce’s Kansas City Chiefs, the star athlete plucked his ’70s Super Bowl suit accented with an XXL Amiri leather MA Weekender bag completed with a real bloom rose dipped in 24-karat gold—straight off the runway. Way to make sure all eyes are on him (and his bag, of course).