Battle for the Purse Domain

I have known a few men over the years who carry purses. It always jars me a bit to see this (knowing these folks I am sure that was their intended effect). One male former colleague who carried a purse always reminded me that I was “just not European enough to understand.” I always took as a complement.
However, this morning I read in the Tennessean that purses for men, also known as carryalls, are catching on. Could I be that far behind the times, again? I know I’m a Luddite when it comes to technology, but is it possible that I am a fashion curmudgeon? To reassure myself, I do a couple of quick Google searches. The results were 3,930 hits for “mens carryalls”, and 344,000 for mens purses. One hit from Inc.com suggests that they are “perfect for visiting a client, sending e-mails from Starbucks, or hanging out at the gym.” I guess it has been a while since I’ve been to the gym, after all!
But, women are not giving up their purses without a fight. Red Herring tells us that women’s purses are morphing with computer bags to create a new generation of women’s accessories.
“Targus, which boasts a 21-year history of making computer accessories, is convinced women are tired of the black notebook cases dominating store shelves. The company did surveys and focus groups to find out what women want, ‘all the way down to the zipper pull and the lining of the cases,’ said Ms. Wirth. The company plans to sell them online and in stores like Office Depot.”
Change. As an entrepreneur I love it. It creates new opportunities around every corner. But, as a middle-aged guy it sure can be hard to keep up with it all….