Give my man purse a break

A month ago, Paul Omondi, my senior wrote a scathing piece here about man bags. The mockery in the piece may well have been directed at me, given I am the only one in the newsroom who walks around with an enviable brown leather man purse.

From the outset, I will tell him that ever since I acquired one, it has changed the way I look at life.

It is one of those discoveries like when women discovered that they can put on pants — liberating, empowering, humanising and very convenient.

Even men have stuff to carry around.

To me, the backpack Paul so much favours is rather boyish, more appropriate for students than a working man.

You cannot carry a backpack while in a suit or any formal outfit, as he rightfully pointed out, without looking like someone from the village or a man living in the last decade.

Yet, a good man purse goes with anything, granted it matches in colour and is nifty enough.

NO OFFENCE TO MEN

“No offence to all men out there who love their long-strap, should-slung bags. It is just that I cannot help but sometimes wonder what the cat will drag out of those bags — Lip balm? Lotion? Billfold? Sunglasses? Or if those are too feminine, a Swiss Army knife perhaps? Or may be a torch?” Paul wondered.

Look, it does not matter what you carry therein.

Individuals carry different things they may need in the course of the day. From medication, condoms, CV, cigarettes, name it.

Personally, in my man purse, there is a book I am presently reading, a magazine (mostly The Economist or its less political sister Intelligent Life), the day’s newspaper from the office, headphones, a Tablet every once in a while, a mobile phone charger (we all know that smart phones do not have smart batteries) and a cardigan for those days the weather looks undecided.

Now, you can all agree I cannot stuff all these things in my pocket and walk around without looking like a stuffed, fashion-unconscious accountant. All those are things I need at some point in the day.

When I am stuck in traffic and my phone is dying, I can fish out my magazine or newspaper and read than listen to the wretchedly annoying FM stations.

Also, I am past the age of displaying to the world what I am reading, given that Kenyans take offense at those who read and are proud of it.

Why not have it inside a bag? Better still in a man bag. I agree with Paul on one aspect though.

Men must not carry wet wipes and such things that women carry due to their biological and physiological needs. That for sure will turn the man bags into murses. Coloured and cheap bags off course do not count.

But anyone walking with a briefcase needs to be arrested and caged in mental hospital or any such facility for the grave crime of fashion.

And I find messenger bags rather too busy, ideal for a bikers or sporty lads.

And yes, let women have the tote, Paul.

If you are working class and want freedom, you will discover it in a good, black or brown, leather man purse.

You have outgrown the backpack, unless you are the loony who goes camping.

There is no fashionable or wise way of carrying a briefcase without looking anachronistic.

So throw your charger, earphones, magazine, sunglasses in to a man purse and walk to a coffee house, find a HotSpot and live your life. No one should judge you.

I tend to agree with the women urging men to loosen up a bit.

Fewer things can be as liberating as a man purse.

Hand bags made life possible for women.

Man bags or man purses should make life possible for men.