How To Pick The Perfect Manbag

Bottega Veneta Spring 2016

It's one of menswear's great mysteries: where did the manbag comes from? With hindsight it seems that one minute men wouldn't be seen dead carrying anything less macho than a hard-sided briefcase and the next they're all strolling around with a soft leather tote thrown jauntily over one shoulder.

The first example we can dig up was a calves' leather handbag-style option produced by Prada in 1998, but its first moment in the mass media was an unhappy affair. Broadcast in 1999, the Friends episode "The One With Joey's Bag" introduces Joey's manbag, which is mercilessly mocked by Chandler and Ross, even causing him to lose a job when he is mistaken for a salesman.

But despite this setback, the new millennium experience the total victory of this now-essential piece of kit. And we would put money on the fact that David Schwimmer and Matthew Perry have some fine examples of their own now.

How to pick the perfect manbag

Avoid overly elaborate decoration and extraneous bells, buckles, whistles etc. Despite what some people may think, it's not a handbag, so functions should always come first.

Think practically about weight and dimensions

If you go for something that is more gym bag than man clutch, you will find yourself half-crippling people in the street. Also, check the weight. If the leather is heavy when it is full of your belongings you are asking for a rotator cuff injury. However, if you want to carry around an iPad, for example, beware that its corners can overstretch and damage leather.

Make sure it suits your character (and for that read: defects)

If you are less than organised and rarely clear out the rubbish in its depths, a deep tote is probably not ideal as you will spend the equivalent of years of your life scrabbling around trying to find your keys, phone and travel card. Look for a piece with the relevant pockets and compartments.

You don't have to think big

If you are used to travelling light, a leather portfolio or document holder may well be all you need - and tucked under an arm they certainly look the business. One word of warning: lacking as they do a handle or strap these aren't for those who can suffer from absent-mindedness.

How to keep your leather bag looking new

To keep leather looking new you should first spray it with a product such as Scotchgard to protect it - by do test it on a small, out-of-sight area first to be on the safe side. Then regularly use a cleaner to prevent dirt building up - ask the store where you buy your bag what they recommend. To make cleaning easier it is a good idea to give it a quick wipe with a dry, soft cloth after you have used it to get rid of surface dust. Every once in a while condition the surface with neatsfoot oil (made from cattle bones, I am afraid to say). This will soften and protect the leather and greatly prolong its life - again, do a little test and leave it to dry first in case it causes discolouration. Use pure oil as otherwise it may contain mineral oils that can actually damage the hide.