You've seen them on the street, in a restaurant, at work, sometimes they even come through your own front door. Reactions range from a giggle, an upward roll of the eyes, an awkward stare, but always a quick glance at the item and then the owner himself.
We're talking about a man carrying a purse or, in gender-friendly terms, a murse.
Now, 15, even 10 years ago, men carrying murses were generally limited to two categories; those with no fashion sense but needing a large container (which in China looks much like a pleather toiletry bag) to hold their state-of-the-art two kilo brick-type cell phone and multiple wads of cash, or, conversely, men with highly trained fashion sense who needed the murse as the final touch to complete their outfit. The man-on-the-street however, had no use for the murse and, with an air of disdain, strode self-assuredly in the opposite direction, the faint jingle-jangle of his coins echoing in his wake.
But on a recent trip to, no less, the fashion capital of the world - Paris, I saw men of all types - students, men in their 20s and 30s, office workers and tradesmen - carrying murses.
Granted, these murses came in a variety of styles; many looked like a slightly larger version of those belly bags tourists wear around their waists, basic and plain with shoulder straps. There were backpack-messenger bag hybrids, hippie-era fringe totes, luxury calf leather and bags you could quite conceivably find in your grandma's closet; all hanging from the rugged shoulder of a working-class stiff. And to the crowd it was a non-event, no oogling or whispers. Nobody thought twice when the guy at the front of the line reached into his murse to pay for his newspaper, it was as normal as the day was long.
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