Carrying Contraption: Man Bag Blog

2008-02-28T00:40:00.001-05:00

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I am retiring this blog. I don't know for how long. It was fun while it lasted. Unfortunately, science doesn't teach itself, and it's time I get serious with my work.

With regards,

CC

The Other Side.

2008-02-27T00:42:00.002-05:00

What do I do when I'm not on fashion blogs/forums or looking for the latest steal on eBay?

Faculty of 1000 Biology
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
Nature
Cell
Science
Public Library of Science

Likes: cell biology, virology, biochemistry, molecular physiology, pathology

Dislikes: developmental biology, computational biology (mostly because I hate math and can't understand all those silly symbols and formulas)

Samsonite Black Label 'Along' Weekender.

2008-02-26T09:19:00.002-05:00

Source: Samsonite

Everything from the woven leather handles to the detachable shirt bag (bottom zippered compartment) is perfection on this Samsonite Black Label Resort collection travel bag. The perpendicular and parallel patterning compartmentalizes each section and makes this bag easy to "absorb" visually. There's a hidden water bottle holder and a detachable shoulder strap (not shown) as well as interior pockets for all your travel needs.

I might actually visit their store next time I visit San Francisco.

Samsonite Black Label 'Along' weekender available at Samsonite for $1100.

John Varvatos Black Leather Briefcase.

2008-02-25T22:26:00.002-05:00

Source: BlueBee

Hmmm...I just feel like they could have done something a little more with the slots, perhaps not as extravagantly as this croc-trimmed carryall but with at least some sort of distinguishing mark. Much like Britney's stint in rehab and Live 8, the good idea was not taken far enough to result in anything.

John Varvatos black leather briefcase available at BlueBee for $895.

Bally Orange Leather Carryall.

2008-02-24T10:30:00.003-05:00

Source: Bally

Like green, orange is not used too often on leather pieces. (Louis Vuitton's Castillian Red and Mandarin Epi leather come to mind, as well as the Prada orange saffiano leather.) Spring and summer are all about colors, but red can be overpowering, and yellow is sometimes too bright and cheery; it stands to reason that the combination of the two would yield a pleasant balance of warmth and heat. The hardware, of course, should be gold-toned, as is the case on this Bally carryall.

Available at Bally boutiques.

Secondary Domain Name.

2008-02-23T20:28:00.002-05:00

If typing www.carryingcontraption.com proves to be too much of a hassle, fear not, for typing www.manbagblog.com will get you to the same place.

I just saved you 9 keystrokes.

Canali Leather Hardsided Briefcase.

2008-02-23T12:11:00.002-05:00

Source: eBay [Seller ID: rustycity]

If you're looking for a quality hardsided briefcase, try your luck at this eBay auction. The condition is new with the tag still attached, and there's no reserve price.

Any tax lawyers out there?

Canali leather hardsided briefcase available at eBay. [Current bid $101]

David Beckham's Jas MB Carryall.

2008-02-23T10:51:00.003-05:00

Source: Just Jared

A commenter mentioned yesterday that Jas MB is one of his London favorites. Here's an old photo I found of David Beckham carrying a Jas MB bag. He kind of looks like he could be a Sinn Féin assassin.

Ally Capellino Wesley Bag.

2008-02-23T01:16:00.003-05:00

Source: Ally Capellino

I don't remember the last time I saw a myrtle leather bag. (It might appear greyish on some screens.) Green isn't one of my favorite colors, but accessories have a tendency to expand my palette preference. Previously the only green I liked was lime green ostrich leather, so this bag might change that.

Ally Capellino 'Wesley' messenger bag available at Ally Capellino for £294.

White Pride vs. Black Pride, Latino Pride, Asian Pride, or Indigenous Pride.

2008-02-22T23:46:00.003-05:00

We've come a long way.

I don't know about the rest of the world, but racism is still flourishing in the U.S. One common sentiment I hear/read is, "If Black/Latino/Asian/etc people can have pride, why can't White people?"

Pride for racial minorities in America means enduring prejudice, living through racially-motivated violence, and overcoming social roadblocks. On the other hand, those touting White Pride generally espouse White supremacy, which is completely different from having pride in your ethnic heritage whether it be Irish, Norwegian, Russian, or British.

Get the difference? Pride = Good. Supremacy = Bad.

That's not to say only Caucasians are capable of racism; hate and ignorance are colorblind. Unfortunately, tolerance is active, and hate is passive - it's so much easier to hate than to cultivate understanding.

Therefore, as a small step toward human harmony, I will do my darndest to not utter racial jokes. They may seem harmless but so did thalidomide.

(Don't mistake me for a vegan hippie. I'm quite conservative on most issues.)

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This is a non-fashion-related post intended to diversify the content of the site.

Balenciaga Leather Sneakers.

2008-02-22T16:45:00.003-05:00

Source: Balenciaga

Remember the Pierre Hardy Colorama sneakers that enthralled me with all their bright colors?

Well, I like the above Balenciaga more. The black outlines and the deeper shades of red, green, and blue give it a pop art look, as opposed to a hodgepodge of random colors reminiscent of the 80's that apparently no one wants back.

Were I a sneaker aficionado/collector, I wouldn't think two seconds before giving the boutique a call. (Or maybe Jeffrey carries it.)

Gucci Leather Backpack.

2008-02-22T09:04:00.003-05:00

Source: Bergdorf Goodman

This bag is weird and not in the "Wow, what avant-garde design" way...more in the "It resembles a pile of feces" sort of way.

Gucci leather backpack available at Bergdorf Goodman for $2365.

Got An Illness? Research It!

2008-02-21T13:29:00.003-05:00

Doctors are humans, too, and despite their years of medical training and expertise, they can't know everything. CNN's 'Empowered Patient' has an article on how to search online for medical conditions and treatments.

From the article:

1. Use search engines that screen out the garbage for you
2. Find smart bloggers with your disease
3. Invest 30 minutes in the pubmed.gov tutorial
4. Click on information about annual meetings
5. When in doubt about a Web site, click on "about us"

I would also add Google Scholar to that list. It's more user-friendly than PubMed when it comes to digging up primary literature. Also, if you use Wikipedia, make sure you verify the information with the cited source.

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This is a non-fashion-related post intended to diversify the content of the site.

Dior Homme Perforated Canvas Messenger Bag.

2008-02-21T09:22:00.002-05:00

Source: Saks

Flavored with a vintage touch but not so much that it looks like a $3 Goodwill find, Dior Homme gives us a little gem of a messenger bag that's not covered in logo (or made of metallic leather). The red/blue leather tab, though having no function on its own, wears like a decorative ribbon, and the canvas gives it a lightweight feel appropriate for an everyday casual bag.

Dior Homme perforated canvas messenger bag available at Saks for $1015.

Fendi Drawstring Hem T Shirt.

2008-02-21T01:43:00.003-05:00

Source: Eluxury

For fat people like me who have a BMI of 21.1 (ugh, it's in the "Normal" range), these loose-fitting t-shirts are a blessing.

I tried going on a diet, but as I quickly found out, one cannot survive on vitamin pills and bell peppers alone. That's why I added a can of Ensure to my daily regimen.

Fendi drawstring t shirt available at Eluxury for $215.

Interesting.

2008-02-20T16:43:00.004-05:00

I received this comment the other day.

Discovered your blog over the weekend. Cool concept, but for clarification: Isn't your target audience guys, or does it include women, too? Can't help wondering, because you wouldn't catch me anywhere near this bag [Valextra white tote] (or quite a few others on the site). I'm totally into bags, but some of the ones featured here are just *way* too effeminate for a guy, IMO.... No judgements, here -- just wondering if I've somehow missed the point of this blog.... Thanks.

"Isn't your target audience guys, or does it include women, too?"
- Yes, the target audience is male.

"Can't help wondering, because you wouldn't catch me anywhere near this bag (or quite a few others on the site)."
- I'm glad you're the archetypal personification of the Y chromosome.

"I'm totally into bags"
- I'd like to see what types of bags this individual is into.

"but some of the ones featured here are just *way* too effeminate for a guy, IMO"
- I have to maintain a broad perspective.

"No judgements, here"
- You just said some of the bags are *way* too effeminate for a guy.

"just wondering if I've somehow missed the point of this blog"
- It's a selective editorial on bags.

Z Zegna Button Bags.

2008-02-20T10:29:00.002-05:00

Source: Zegna

What in the name of Cyndi Lauper is going on? Putting buttons on bags is like intentionally feeding a tablespoonful of phenylalanine to a phenylketonuriac. They're both unthinkable offenses, except one leads to permanent neurological damage and the other just makes everyone around you throw up.

In all seriousness, those Z Zegna bags are hideous.

Costume National Leather Weekender.

2008-02-19T23:04:00.003-05:00

Source: Zappos

The leather kind of reminds me of my Balenciaga weekender that now belongs to someone in Texas. (For a good two months, I feared a fraudulent eBay/Paypal chargeback.) Had I bought this fabulous Costume National bag instead, I probably would've kept it for more than three months. The bag is streamlined for a structured look while maintaining its own persona and functionality. Unfortunately it doesn't come with a detachable shoulder strap.

Costume National weekender available at Zappos for $1653.95.

Asprey Charity Sale.

2008-02-19T12:00:00.002-05:00

Sitemeter tells me I have readers from London.

Valextra White Leather Tote.

2008-02-19T11:06:00.002-05:00

Source: eBay [Seller ID: tbestes]

I'm still sick. My sore throat hasn't gone away, and I'm in this persistent state of semi-fever. My hope is that the increased body temperature led to greater burning of calories.

I leave you with this Valextra tote bag, perfect for the coming spring. Apparently it's going to be all about colors, so why not change it up a bit with something simpler and quieter?

Valextra leather tote available at eBay. [Current bid $305]

On a side note, the seller needs to learn the importance of proper lighting.

Spotted: Doctor Bag.

2008-02-17T17:50:00.002-05:00

[Click for larger photo]

Source: altamira nyc

I used to think doctor bags were stodgy, but as the above photo clearly shows, it all depends on the outfit and not on the bag itself.

Forzieri has several different models of doctor bags if you're interested.

Everyone Loves A Sale.

2008-02-17T11:34:00.002-05:00

Don't miss out on the sale that ends tomorrow! Most of the items are women's purses and jewelry, but there is a limited number of men's bags and leather accessories, some of which I listed below.

Paul Smith wallets
Bottega Veneta flat messenger bag
Bottega Veneta flap messenger bag
Bottega Veneta carryall
Dunhill clutch

If you don't see anything you like, you can always bargain shop the women's section for your wife, girlfriend, mother, aunt, etc.

Go to Jomashop.com for more items.

(I'm getting zero commission from this.)

Black And Brown Duffle Bag.

2008-02-16T14:12:00.002-05:00

[Click for larger photo]

Source: altamira nyc

Now that's a beautiful duffle bag! I'm not entirely sure if it's short ponyhair, satin, or something else, but it is strikingly alluring. The handle hardware is perpendicular to the zipper, so the handles themselves won't lay against the body of the bag -- I'm not sure if that's a good or bad thing. Regardless, I want the bag more than Rumer Willis wants the paparazzi to follow her.

Say No To Exterior Cell Phone Pockets.

2008-02-16T13:05:00.002-05:00

Source: LeatherPaks

Exterior cell phone pockets are unsightly and about as useful as the iPod-compatible Zegna Sport jacket. Moreover, this particular pocket is a one-size-fits-one; your iPhone or Blackberry 8880 will have to find somewhere else to be cozy. (But then again, anyone who owns an iPhone or a Blackberry would, in theory, already have the sense to never carry a bag with such an eyesore.)

Cell phone pockets belong inside the bag and should be large enough to accommodate phones of various dimensions. One can argue that an exterior pocket is more convenient, bypassing the need to unzip the main compartment. 'Tis true, but that doesn't make it any less ugly.

Bow Wow And His Louis Vuitton Man Bag.

2008-02-16T12:39:00.003-05:00

[Click for larger photo]

Source: Unknown at the moment

There he is.