Louis Vuitton 2009 Men's Bag Collection

By Richard Trapunski

I have a lot of stuff and not enough pockets. On my way to work, I typically carry my notebook (yeah, I'm a writer after all), a book, my wallet, camera, tape recorder, cell phone, pen, change, and iPod. Taken in sum, it basically doubles my weight (I need to work out). I know that stuffing all this stuff into my pockets is both ridiculous and impractical, but I've never resigned myself to carrying a man-purse. It just wouldn't go with my carefully uncultivated torn jeans and t-shirt look.

Perhaps this admission disqualifies me from comment, but Louis Vuitton revealed its Fall/Winter 2009 Men's Bag Collection, and hoo boy is it ever expensive. Studio Director Paul Helbers claims that the collection was inspired by "the traveling wardrobe of an African king," and it makes sense, because who else but royalty is going to spend $5000 on a leather handbag that looks like a soccer ball?

Okay, maybe I'm not being completely fair. The collection is made with the fine leather and craftsmanship that Louis Vuitton is renowned for (I'm sure you can't tell the difference between that and a knockoff), and a lot of detail has obviously been put into these bags. The collection reinterprets the Louis Vuitton Monogram, and features the multi-symbol pattern on each bag.

The collection is also pretty vast, encompassing more than just man-purse (sorry, "Bandoulière"). Pieces of the collection include Mondagam Hexagone, Monogram Revelation, Monogram Escapade, and Monogram Massacar, in styles that range from handbag to shoulderbag to legbag to anklebag. There's also a briefcase, document-carrier, and steamer bag. Name a type of bag, and Louis Vuitton has slapped its monogram on it and priced it somewhere between $700 and $5000.

I know it's cliché, but is fashion recession-proof or does it just not give a shit? For now, I'll stick to my pockets. – R.T.