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Earlier this week, Harry Styles tried to go incognito in Paris. Despite wearing a black hoodie, a baseball cap, and a wool coat, it didn’t take long for the paparazzi to find him. And when they did, it was the singer’s choice of bag that had everyone talking. Styles was spotted with The Row’s luxe leather Margaux bag in tow, which retails for $4,390. It’s fast becoming a celebrity It bag, having also been worn by stars such as Kendall Jenner and Jennifer Lawrence.
With its sleek silhouette and stealthy attitude (there’s not a logo in sight!), Styles’s bag is very much a unisex design. The piece is further proof that the Vogue cover star keeps his fingers on the fashion pulse, and he’s not the only one who gets it. Famous men—from athletes to rappers—are all in the power bag era, choosing extremely chic totes and duffles that range from big Bottegas to even bigger Birkins.
During this month’s Super Bowl, several NFL stars made their entrance into the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas sporting huge (and hugely expensive) bags. Travis Kelce walked in wearing a custom Amiri look, complete with the label’s large starry top-handle bag; His teammate, Jerick “Jet” McKinnon, carried a large Bottega tote; San Francisco 49ers player Christian McCaffrey, meanwhile, went viral for his oversize Birkin bag, complete with zippers and pockets—a style that can cost upwards of $68,000 on resale sites. In other words: These weren’t your average sports duffels.
Men get a bad rap for wearing extremely pragmatic bags (please, no more beaten-up briefcase or ratty backpacks) but as more men in Hollywood and beyond experiment with their style, it seems their approach to accessories is leveling up, too. One of my favorite style moments as of late was when A$AP Rocky stepped out in a baby pink woven Bottega Veneta tote—a bag that’s decidedly feminine, yet on a man, just seems that much cooler. He styled it nonchalantly, with baggy jeans and a blazer.
What does this newfound willingness to rock a men’s power bag—bags that are bold and get you noticed—say about the current times? For one, it obviously means that self-expression in fashion is freeing up; we’re no longer calling men’s bags stupid things like “murses.” But it also reflects a bigger fashion shift in which men are now willing to invest in more expensive and refined pieces. Perhaps we can point to the stealth wealth trend, which has put emphasis on quality over quantity. (Though, there’s nothing subtle about stars like Travis Scott and his huge collection of XXL Birkins.)
Whatever it is, it’s nice that we’re finally starting to see gents shed the basic business-y briefcases or backpacks they’ve had since college, and have more fun. Thank goodness! And men, you don’t have to go out and splurge on an expensive designer bag, either—it’s more about channeling the spirit and feeling you're after. Look for styles that feel smart and elevated, whether a top-handle or a cross-body. A power bag is the best investment piece for looking like a total boss. Why dress like an employee when you can look like the CEO?
