Although few will admit it, there is a new kid on the streets of fashion this fall. It crept up on the fashion scene this summer and is here to stay this fall. So, buckle your fashion safety belts and keep abreast of the latest trend, the new generation of bags.
As Kathryn Basta, A&S '02, stated in a recent interview, in order to fully conceptualize this phenomenon, people need to pay due attention to its catalyst, the handbag frenzy that began this past spring.
"It really began in spring. Women all over were finding a new sense of self through bag diversification," said Basta.
As shown by a simple walk around Boston College, bags are everywhere. They come in a sizable array of colors and contours to fit any appetite.
"I prefer a darker, medium-size bag," said Basta.
Women aren't the only ones enjoying this new era of bags. Men are expressing themselves as well.
Friends character Joey may have been the pioneer of a new look for urban-dwelling men today. In a popular episode Joey introduced his new "male bag," better known as a "murse."
The murse is basically a purse for men. It's a handy way for men to carry all they need to class, work or even a night out on the town, explained Basta, a strong proponent of the murse.
In defining a murse, Basta suggests that the purpose of the bag is not paramount.
Instead, one needs to realize that a murse is in the eyes of the beholder, based more on size and look than utility.
The murse brings with it an ethical dilemma faced by many local merchants.
At the BC Bookstore, for example, students are generally forbidden from carrying bags into the store. Instead, they are asked to leave the bag outside the entryway.
But one notices that some smaller bags or female purses are allowed to enter. With a "male bag" or "murse," a male customer usually finds himself out of luck and forced to leave valuables outside while shopping.
Mary Hood, an expert in the bag fashion arena, recently shared some of her thoughts.
"The murse may be in, but many of the more serious shoppers of today are using the 'shopping cart bag,'" said Hood.
This bag, modeled somewhat on travel luggage, boasts an easy-gliding feel due to its wheels.
"These are really going to be the thing, especially as we head deeper into the winter season. People simply want to have a handle on their belongings. I love mine!" she said.
Hood said that people today are after one thing and one thing alone: They desire the fullest expression of themselves possible, coupled with the convenience of a new purse, murse or shopping cart bag.
She recommends purchasing darker colors because they allow "versatility."
In her concluding statement she added that "no one has to feel left out," as most bags are under $65.
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