Is The Man Bag The Ultimate Green Flag?

We've spotted Jacob Elordi with his enviable rotation of Bottega bags, Harry Styles with an ultra-exclusive pony hair, leopard-print maxi flap bag from Chanel's Métiers d'Art show and, most recently, Norwegian soccer player Erling Haaland descending from a plane with Dolce & Gabbana's Sicily bag, straight off the runway, slung over his shoulder. I, personally, have come to this conclusion: a man with a purse might be the ultimate green flag. Not only because, if you're lucky, you can pull from their bag collection, but also it communicates a sense of security with themselves and a rejection of gender norms. Plus, it's practical: men have to carry things around, too, after all.

As much as Gen Z might want to believe it, the man bag trend didn't start with Jacob Elordi—it has actually been a trend for centuries. Men carried small purses in the 17th century when their clothing lacked pockets. In the '80s, films like Indiana Jones introduced men to satchels and, due to the nature of the film, presented them in a way that didn't sacrifice one's masculinity. The trend then began to slow down a bit as a result of being the bud of jokes in sitcoms from the '90s to the 2010s.

Then, at both Fall/Winter 2026 and Spring/Summer 2027 Men's Fashion Week, luxury designers put men carrying bags center stage. Louis Vuitton, Dior Men, Prada, and Celine all presented a wide variety of bag styles for men and, while already backed my celebrity co-signs, affirmed that the man bag trend is alive and well—and it's not at all surprising in a time where fashion has fully embraced gender fluidity, both in terms of menswear and womenswear.