Men's handbag: Why this is THE accessory trend for Spring-Summer 2027

One number to start with. Google searches for "men's handbag" have surged by 637% in a single year. This isn't a mere ripple; it's a seismic shift. And it played out where no one expected it: on the pitches of the 2026 World Cup, followed by the men's Spring-Summer 2027 runways.

"The bag is the final territory men are claiming for themselves. And they're doing it without asking for permission."

The bag is no longer just a feminine accessory that a man borrows for the weekend. It has become a fully fledged piece of the masculine wardrobe, right alongside a fine pair of shoes or a luxury watch. What remains is to understand what is truly at play—namely, who is wearing what, and above all, finding what you can wear yourself without dropping 4,000 euros on a luxury piece.

Where this wave comes from

It all started with an event not typically associated with fashion: football. During the 2026 World Cup, players arrived in the stands and mixed zones carrying leather goods that generated more buzz than some of the matches.

Les Bleus brought out the French artillery: Hermès pieces, a flap bag by Chanel x Pharrell for Marcus Thuram, a Louis Vuitton x Murakami Keepall for Désiré Doué. Erling Haaland turned his airport arrivals into a personal Hermès showcase. And the Democratic Republic of the Congo's national team, returning to the World Cup after 52 years, stepped off the plane in leopard print suits with matching bags created by Congolese designer Alvin Junior Mak. Even 18-year-old Lamine Yamal was photographed carrying a tweed Chanel tote entirely outside of any promotional campaign.

This detail matters far more than it might seem. The men's bag has entered one of the most hyper-masculine spaces in pop culture without sparking a single debate. That level of acceptance is worth a thousand advertising campaigns.

The runways followed (or led)

On the catwalks, the Spring-Summer 2027 men's season confirmed the movement. According to an analysis by The Data Fashion Brief across the season's eleven biggest houses, the handbag was present in 15% of all looks. The concentration is striking: 96% of silhouettes at Thom Browne, 81% at Louis Vuitton, 36% at Simone Rocha, 33% at Celine.

At Givenchy and Valentino, the bag transitioned from a mere complement to a central piece of the menswear collection. Louis Vuitton tapped Jackson Wang as the face of its Speedy campaign, bag open, in actual use rather than perched on a pedestal. Berluti, Giorgio Armani, Philipp Plein, and Dior all fielded men's models this season.

And this isn't just about the runways. Jacob Elordi became a Bottega Veneta ambassador after being spotted daily carrying several of the brand's bags. A$AP Rocky has worn Chanel to almost every public appearance since late 2025. Pedro Pascal followed as a Chanel ambassador in the spring of 2026. None of these men were styled by a corporate marketing committee, and that is precisely what makes the trend credible.

The bag, and beyond

The bag is simply the visible tip of a much larger movement. The SS 2027 season pushes the masculine wardrobe toward softer silhouettes. Straight-leg trousers dominate (36% of looks, +326% in searches), while wide-leg trousers are on the rise (+218%). More surprisingly, men's pleated skirts and transparent mesh tops are moving out of the Thom Browne niche and into solid search queries.

No one is forcing you to adopt the skirt. But the underlying message is clear: codes are shifting, and the accessory is the easiest entry point. A well-chosen bag is the lowest-risk way to feel current without completely overhauling your wardrobe.

Spring-Summer 2027 Men's Fashion: Share of each trend

Credits: Chart by The Data Fashion Brief

The handbag, the fastest-growing piece this season

What you can actually wear

Let's get practical. Louis Vuitton and Hermès are dream-worthy, but a Keepall costs the price of a scooter. The good news is that the trend has trickled down to accessible brands, and the real point isn't the designer label, but rather the right model for your daily lifestyle. Here is a quick overview by bag type, ranging from the most casual to the most formal.

The satchel / pouch. The ultimate entry point. A crossbody format that easily swallows a notebook, a charger, and your daily essentials—offering an effortless look without appearing like a dreary office briefcase. This is the model to choose if you've never carried a bag and want to test the waters without breaking the bank. BOSS's Ray_SM, the HUGO Ethon crossbody, or Lacoste's Men's Classic are safe everyday bets.

The messenger bag / crossbody. A step up in volume from the pouch: spacious enough for a tablet, a notepad, or a camera. It's the classic "reporter" format that transitions seamlessly from weekend errands to the office. The Calvin Klein Jeans Canvas Mix Reporter or the Tommy Jeans Outdoor Reporter are prime examples. Choose canvas for a relaxed feel, or leather to elevate your look.

The bumbag / sling bag. The youngest, most streetwear-inspired format. Worn across the chest as a crossbody, it has long shed its 90s tourist stigma. Compact and practical, it requires zero styling courage. The Tommy Jeans Essential Daily Bumbag or the Emporio Armani EA7 Carryover Sling Bag start around €40, making this the lowest financial barrier to entry for the trend.

The tote / shopping bag. Closest to what we saw on Lamine Yamal during the World Cup. Large and supple, carried by hand or over the shoulder, it swallows a laptop, a water bottle, and everything else your pockets reject. This is the format that normalizes the men's bag because it resembles a classic tote we've all known forever. Go for canvas for everyday wear, or leather for a sharper aesthetic.

The structured backpack. For those who find the other options too exposed. A clean-cut backpack in technical canvas or leather replaces the shapeless schoolbag, bridging the gap between functional and polished. The K-Way Monte Limar and the Calvin Klein Jeans Flap Backpack handle daily commutes with ease; to step it up a notch, the convertible Lancel Charlie can also be carried by hand.

The briefcase / portfolio, for the office. A mature and assertive option. The 14-inch zipped Lancel Charlie or the BOSS Ray_S doc case replace entry-level computer bags with something built to last.

Small leather goods, for completion. This is often where people start without even realizing it. A leather wallet (Polo Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein) or a well-tailored toiletry bag for travel (K-Way, EA7): low-risk, highly useful pieces that help you build the leather-accessory reflex before graduating to a full-sized bag.

To browse all of these men's models in one place, complete with current pricing and discounts, the selection of men's designer bags at Spartoo covers every category (satchel, messenger bag, bumbag, tote, backpack, briefcase, small leather goods) from brands like BOSS, HUGO, Lacoste, Calvin Klein, Lancel, Emporio Armani, and Karl Lagerfeld—ranging from a €40 crossbody to premium leather pieces worth several hundred euros.

And if you want to venture outside mainstream brands for something more niche,
L'Exception's men's bag selection focuses on designer labels with a clean, often Scandinavian or technical aesthetic: Rains (rolltop and coated weekender backpacks, around €80 to €140), Topologie (modular strap pouch bags starting at €45), Klättermusen, Carhartt WIP, and C.P. Company. This is where you'll find a bag that looks like no one else's, crafted from materials built to last rather than to flash a logo.

How to wear it effortlessly

Three simple rules, and we'll leave it at that.

Color comes first. For your first bag, a neutral tone (black, cognac, khaki, grey) pairs with everything and goes out of style far less quickly than a loud print. DR Congo's leopard print looks stunning on a football pitch, but requires a bit more confidence at the office on a Monday morning.

Proportion comes second. A massive bag on a slight frame overwhelms the silhouette, while a mini-bag on a large, broad-shouldered man looks like an afterthought. Your bag should match your scale.

Finally, coherence. The bag should converse with your shoes and belt—not necessarily matching identically, but living within the same color family. This is what separates someone who is "accessorized" from someone who merely "slapped a bag over their shoulder."

So, are we diving in?

This trend is no flash in the pan. The unisex market is already massive and projected to grow from $12 billion to over $60 billion by 2033. Luxury houses are fighting to claim their turf before the market saturates. Translation for you: options are going to explode across every price point, and the men's bag will soon be as commonplace as a pair of sneakers.

The bag is part of a broader shift: the modern man accessorizing without complex. The same logic applies to men's jewelry—chains, ID bracelets, signet rings—which we break down in our guide to men's jewelry: one strong piece at a time, overall coherence, and an accessory that reflects your personal style rather than runway theatrics. Bags and jewelry follow the exact same rule. Own it, but pace yourself.

You might as well catch the train now, while you're still ahead of the curve.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can a man actually carry a handbag? Yes, and this trend is firmly established, not a passing gimmick. Searches for "men's handbag" surged 637% in a single year, and bags appeared in 15% of all looks during the Spring-Summer 2027 men's fashion shows. Satchels, messenger bags, bumbags, or totes: masculine formats exist for every single purpose.

Which bag should a beginner start with? A crossbody satchel or a bumbag are the easiest entry points. Their compact format, worn across the body with a relaxed vibe, lets you test the trend without breaking the bank, usually priced between €40 and €110.

Which men's bag is best for work? A briefcase or reporter-style messenger bag in leather or coated canvas replaces the cheap laptop bag. For a more flexible everyday routine, a tote or structured backpack bridges the gap between functional and polished.

How do you wear a men's bag without overdoing it? Three key rules: stick to a neutral color for your first bag (black, cognac, khaki), choose a scale that matches your build (neither overwhelming nor tiny), and maintain coherence with your shoes and belt. The bag should converse with the rest of your outfit, not be added by accident.

Where can I buy a trendy men's bag without paying luxury prices? Retailers like Spartoo (BOSS, Lacoste, Calvin Klein, Lancel) and L'Exception (Rains, Topologie, Klättermusen) offer models ranging from €40 to a few hundred euros, spanning everything from accessible crossbodies to designer leather.