This year, the handbag has undergone a transformation in the male wardrobe. Defying clichés, several public figures have triggered a trend around an accessory long considered feminine. In 2026, the handbag may well come as a surprise on the arm of the everyday man.
Even today, all it takes is to type “men’s handbag” into a search engine to gauge the lag surrounding this accessory. The results tend to evoke crime stories rather than fashion advice, as if men were more readily associated with stealing handbags than carrying them. And yet, over the past year, a shift has begun.
The handbag is attracting a growing male clientele, driven by influential Hollywood figures, closely followed by elite athletes. Thanks to them, it is no longer merely functional: it has become a true cultural marker. Men are now embracing revolutionary pieces, real it-bags enough to make any fashionista green with envy.
Jacob Elordi and A$AP Rocky: Icons of a Generation
While trends now spread at lightning speed on social media, they often gain true legitimacy when adopted by public figures. Actors, musicians and rappers play a key role in shaping new codes, especially when it comes to redefining masculinity.
A$AP Rocky, often regarded as one of the most influential rappers in fashion, has long embraced the handbag. Alongside him, Jacob Elordi has emerged as a rising figure whose sartorial choices are scrutinized as closely as his on-screen roles. Two distinct worlds, yet the same ease in adopting bags from fashion houses historically associated with the female wardrobe from Bottega Veneta to Chanel.
Their attraction to oversized formats, shoppers and totes echoes the idea of an everyday carry-all. The pink woven leather Bottega Veneta tote worn by A$AP Rocky is a perfect illustration: a bold, instantly recognizable piece. Yet, as striking as these XXL volumes may be, they only challenge representations of masculinity on the surface.
The real break happens elsewhere, particularly with the shoulder carry. A gesture more traditionally associated with the female wardrobe. Jacob Elordi has clearly grasped this: he alternates, without hierarchy, between a canary-yellow Louis Vuitton Keepall and a mini denim Chanel bag, deliberately blurring gender boundaries. Long before them, Pharrell Williams had already paved the way, making the handbag a central element of his image.
The Sports Wardrobe: When the Handbag Scores Points
Inspired by American basketball players and their highly publicized locker-room arrivals, footballers have turned their entrances with national teams or clubs into full-blown viral moments.
In France, arrivals at Clairefontaine have become a new fashion runway. Jules Koundé has made a series of standout appearances there, sporting heeled ankle boots and a Louis Vuitton bag on his arm. Meanwhile, Eduardo Camavinga recently caused a stir by opting for Hermès’ Haut à Courroies, a trapeze-shaped model. As the value of Birkin bags, long coveted by a wealthy female clientele continues to soar, this reappropriation by the Real Madrid midfielder sends a strong signal: men, too, are now taking a keen interest in Hermès.
How to Get the Trend Adopted (and How to Wear It)
“Can I put it in your bag?”
For a long time, this single sentence was enough to define many men’s relationship with handbags. Wallet, keys, phone, everything ends up in a girlfriend’s or wife’s bag, promoted to handbag-by-default. A deeply ingrained reflex, rooted less in practicality than in a lingering reluctance to personally embrace an accessory still perceived as feminine.
For those who remain hesitant, the cross-body bag offers a reassuring entry point. In smooth leather for a discreet approach, or woven and colorful for a more confident statement, it allows men to embrace the trend without a radical break.
Those ready to take things further without sacrificing comfort can turn to the tote or travel bag, whose generous volumes feel familiar and reassuring. Finally, for the more daring, the shoulder-worn bag stands as the ultimate step. Baguette styles from Fendi, the Campana by Bottega Veneta, or the Cristina by Marc Jacobs embody this shift toward a fully embraced accessory, freed from gendered expectations.
More than a passing trend, men’s handbag is part of a deeper movement: that of a wardrobe in the process of liberating itself.
