Murses, metrosexuals and the self-obsessed modern man

Forbes says the "man purse" — or "murse" — is no longer just a trend, but a luxury must-have. Featured heavily during Paris Men's Fashion Week, designers presented murse styles from tiny satchels to purses larger than the one my mother used. My mother's purse contained Band-Aids, knitting yarn, granola bars, a plumber's wrench and lint balls dating back to the first of her six children. According to fashion historians, the man purse dates back to the Stone Age, when men carried flint, berries and whatever else a modern Neanderthal might need. By the 17th century, when pockets became standard in men's clothing, the man purse disappeared. Men stored what they needed in their pockets, while women continued without sewn-in pockets, storing their items in tie-on pouches. From the 1950s through 2022, my dad, like most men of his era, carried his keys in his right front pocket. He kept loose change in his left pocket — which he jingled with his hand when shooting the bull with other men. He kept his thick, worn wallet in his right rear pocket. It included only the basics: license and insurance, money and a yellowed photo of my mother from 1953. The fashionistas began trying to get men to spend big money on designer purses in the 70s and 80s, with little luck. In the 90s, Gucci and Prada started pushing them hard on runways, but murse sales were mostly limited to "metrosexuals" — a term coined by British writer Mark Simpson to describe single, young, urban males obsessed with grooming, high fashion and, most of all, themselves.The murse was still mostly a punchline. In 1998, Jerry was mocked on "Seinfeld" for carrying a "European carry all," while in 1999 Joey from "Friends" got roasted by Chandler for carrying a leather shoulder bag. In 2004, three regular guys — Brian, Thai and Peter — were tired of being ribbed for carrying their gadgets in "lady purses." The final straw came one night when Brian was mockingly called a "pursey" at a party. The fellow who insulted Brian's purse was lucky Brian didn't smack him with it. Determined to reclaim any shred of masculinity, the trio designed a bag specifically for men and dubbed it the MAN-n-BAG. The product quickly caught the media's attention, giving the man purse its first serious foothold in American culture. Fast forward 22 years to 2026. Forbes says the man purse has become essential gear for men, a $12 billion industry that's here to stay.Critics say the murse is further evidence that the lines between men and women are being intentionally blurred — that the rugged back-pocket wallet guy of old is being turned into a feminized, accessorized shell of his former self. Proponents of the man purse say it simply gives modern fellows a practical way to carry around their sunglasses, notebooks, smartphones, hair goop and whatever other items they tote around. Both sides make valid points. Still, I think young men would be better off embracing the traits of my low-fashion father, whose focus was on his family, rather than buying into an industry determined to make them obsess over themselves. Truth be told, I carry all my items — including my laptop — in an Italian-leather bag. It's a computer bag, not a murse! – Copyright 2026 Tom Purcell, distributed exclusively by Cagle Cartoons newspaper syndicate. See Tom Purcell's syndicated column, humor books and funny videos featuring his dog, Thurber, at TomPurcell.com. Email him at Tom@TomPurcell.com.