What kind of purse do you carry?

[500grains]

In China, alpha males carry designer purses

'It's crucial for business,' says a 41-year-old investor with a brown leather clutch. 'It shows I have good taste.'

Men represent 45% of the $1.2-billion market for all luxury handbags in China, according to the president of Coach Retail International. That figure is just 7% in the U.S. (Sim Chi Yin, For The Times)

Tiger Zhang browsed the sweaters at the Hugo Boss boutique at the upscale Oriental Plaza mall looking for fashionable additions to his wardrobe.

The 41-year-old investor was dressed in the unofficial uniform of Chinese businessmen: dark blazer, crisp white shirt, designer slacks, silky tan socks, hand-tooled loafers — and an expensive purse. Lest anyone think the $500 Dunhill clutch with dual bronze zippers belonged to his wife, he proudly explained how his business cards, cash and two cellphones fit neatly into its buttery leather interior.

"It's crucial for business," said Zhang, who chose the chocolate-colored bag because he thought it was stylish without being flashy. "It shows I have good taste."

That's debatable, considering Zhang wore his hair in a cotton candy pouf. What's clear is that the designer handbag, long a fashion staple for stylish women worldwide, has become a status symbol for upwardly mobile men in China.

.....

http://articles.latimes.com/2011/feb...purse-20110207

[500grains]

Here is my purse:

[mr_smiles]

His "purse" looks like a fancy smancy messenger bag. If it was in coyote brown it would probably be considered tacticool

Personally I think a backpack works fine, I guess if I spent $3k on a suit I might be willing to spend $1k on a fancy ass briefcase. But seeing how I don't own a suit and go to meeting in jeans and a shirt (kick ass love it) I'll pass.

[SteyrAUG]

Cargo pants.

[montanadave]

Built to last:

http://www.saddlebackleather.com/cat...fcase-Chestnut

[Business_Casual]

While I don't carry a purse, I do not understand the fascination with attending business meetings in "jeans and a t-shirt."

B_C

[500grains]

While I don't carry a purse, I do not understand the fascination with attending business meetings in "jeans and a t-shirt."

B_C

At one time I had to wear a suit all the time to prove I was serious about my job. Now that I have proven my abilities, it is not necessary to wear a suit any more.

[The_War_Wagon]

What kind of purse do you carry?

5.11 vest. I wear a LOT of black in my line of work - it coordinates well.

[ucrt]

.

My wife calls my Maxpedition Jeroboam a "purse".

I carry it to the car or to my office and use it as a "base" of operations. I keep my wallet, 1st Air Kit, small tools, knives, lights, snacks, medicine, maps, cell phone charger, remotes, and other knick-knacks.
I don't go anywhere without it but I don't carry it around with me. If I need something out of it to go in the mall or a meeting, I just grab what I need out of the bag and go.



.

[ChicagoTex]

Social stigma aside there's a lot of practicality to carrying a purse, namely that's it's an extremely easy on/off-wise way to carry a bunch of stuff (when I change pants it takes 5-10 minutes to switch everything out, when my girlfriend changes pants it takes her about 10 seconds).

The big downside to purses, in my opinion, is the same things that makes it convenient for the purse's owner make it convenient for theives to snatch.

That said what I think this is really about is having one more accessory with which one can announce wealth. In that case, I personally feel a hat would be the better way to go...