Posted on 05/02/2017 7:16:58 AM PDT by Kaslin
They won't relent until every red-blooded American male is toting one.
I speak of the fashion industry's newest attempt to persuade men to carry pursues.
In a new Chanel advertisement, a fashionable fellow named Pharrell shows, or tries to, that it's hip for a man to carry a purse.
The fellow's full name is Pharrell Williams. He's a singer, record producer and fashion mogul who, according to Essence, is a "leader in disregarding societal norms when it comes to style."
In the advertisement, Pharrell walks into a warehouse with a heavily ornamented purse strapped around his shoulder. He rides industrial carts with wheels and dares to walk on a dangerously narrow steel beam.
How manly!
In the spot, the 44-year-old fellow is wearing stylish tennis shoes, the way kids do, black-and-yellow striped socks, the way teenage girls do, and a dainty, high-design shirt, the way women do.
At first glance, his choice of clothing might suggest he is a casual, free-spirited fellow. But there is nothing casual about the duds he sports or the purse he carries. The purse is named "Gabrielle" and its price tag is a ridiculous $3,600. It's part of a larger strategy for fashion executives to push "gender-fluid" clothing on an unassuming public.
Chanel executives are surely betting big that the ultra-hip Pharrell - Chanel's first male handbag model in its 108-year history - can get millions of confused males to spend zillions on man purses.
If you're a male who thinks you need a purse to carry your high-fashion junk - hair goop, jewelry and whatever other feminine items you shouldn't be carrying - you've got to come to your senses.
Look, it was bad enough when male-focused magazines began running the same sort of headlines as female-focused magazines: "How to Trim that Belly to Improve Your Self-Esteem and Win Her Affection."
It was bad enough when men began getting so self-absorbed with their looks that they began doting on their skin, figure and clothing the way women do.
But purses for men? Oh, where to begin.
Let's start with a biological fact: On balance, most women are very different from most men.
According to Psych Central, a study led by Marco Del Giudice, Ph.D., of the University of Turin, made a shocking discovery: There are significant differences between the sexes.
The study used "new and more accurate methods to measure and analyze personality differences" in men and women to assess 15 personality scales, such as warmth, sensitivity, perfectionism and so on. By assessing multiple traits, rather than individual traits as prior male-female studies had done, the researchers identified several differences between men and women.
Why are we different? Michael Gurian, author of "What Could He Be Thinking?: How a Man's Mind Really Works," says survival is the reason.
He explains that evolution thousands of years ago geared the male mind toward open spaces (the ability to track animals), whereas evolution geared the female mind to enable multitasking (the ability to manage numerous details that were needed to keep the family alive).
And though we no longer need many of the instincts and impulses that are built into our DNA, the unpleasant fact is that they're still there. The unpleasant truth is that our biological makeup is the reason men and women are so different.
Here's another truth: Men and women are at their best when they celebrate, rather than obscure, their unique qualities - in actions, manner and dress.
So if you're a trendy male who is dumb enough to spend $3,600 on a lousy purse - if you want to be the willing dupe of the fashion executives pushing the gender-fluid trend - here's something you'd better keep in mind.
Women carry purses. Men don't.
Nice, I wish I had some musical talent.
One of the benefits of dressing appropriately for work is that my sport coats and suit coats all have two inside breast pockets which are perfect for a wallet and smartphone.
I was riding my ElectraGlide one day and came upon a Harley Sportster at an intersection. The rider of said Sportster was sporting a MAN PURSE slung over his shoulder! Not a backpack, not a sachel - but a freakin’ MAN PURSE!
I almost wrecked my bike laughing so hard...
Is that what "Pharrell" is talking about?
Tactical cargo pants.
Fashion? What is that? If it is good enough for the swat team it is good enough for me.
Not sure what people are saying with the whole “what if you need to carry something that don’t fit in your pockets?”
What kinda stupid question is that? Get MORE and BIGGER pockets.
A murse.
It’s one of the great things about being a man. You don’t NEED to carry a purse! Women NEED to carry a purse. I know some actual women and they tell me they don’t want to carry a purse. They have to!!
A large camera bag would be able to carry all those items you mentioned, including your camera.
It’s not a purse, it’s a European Shoulder Bag!
Actually, Pharrell Williams is quite straight, in some ways. He married his long time girlfriend, produced a child, then produced triplets.
However, his biography is peculiar to say the least.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pharrell_Williams
Early on in his career, he helped produce the 1992 hit “Rump Shaker”, for the group Wreckx-N-Effect’s, widely regarded today as one of the *worst* R&B/Hip-Hop Singles ever made.
But since that time, he has become relatively “family friendly”, is all over the entertainment industry map, and has created several very big hit singles, collaborating with a very diverse group, from Madonna to Beyoncé’s version of “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend”, to Daft Punk and others. He has even written songs for animated movies like Despicable Me.
He also is very proud to be a science fiction nerd.
Artist type. If he wants to wear a purse, good for him.
We used to call the map cases we slung over our shoulder in the army fag bags too. Hell I have been carrying a tote bag for the past 20 years, always on the left side. Never considered it anything but convenient.
Very nice knife. I carry a ZT350 tiger stripe.
...you're probably holding your boyfriend's sack in the other.
Pointed snake for me. The darn thing is 4.1mm thick! Thats after years with Dunlop .88’s. Whoda thunkit?
Wtf? A tasteful man bag is out of the question but a briefcase, which is virtually no different,is apparently ok? Who decides where the line is drawn? This douche bag can keep his opinions to himself about what is manly or not.
I remember an episode of “All In The Family” where Rob Reiner’s character was carrying a “man purse.” (Yeah, I know, but this post isn’t about Rob Reiner.) The point is, that was over 40 years ago, so attempts to popularize this “fashion accessory” are nothing new. Every few years, they try to bring it back again.
Real men need to start shaming those metro sexuals back to hell where they came from.
The only bags they should have goes on motorcycles.
I ride the train to work most mornings, and see hundreds of people. I’m always surprised that I’m one of the only ones without a bag. Once I got a smartphone, and realized that I no longer needed an address book, day planner and note pad, I took advantage of the opportunity to walk free! Wallet, keys, and phone are all I need with me most of the time.
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