As far as mens bags are concerned, the grouse is always the same. If you’re in the market for stylish pieces that are also affordable, the variety (unlike options for women) are limited and lacklustre. And unless you’re one of those who can constantly afford to spend over a thousand bucks a month on a bag, chances are you’re pretty much in the same boat as the first lot of men I just mentioned.

So what do you do? You hope and pray, of course, hoping that some brand will see the plight we’re in and come to our rescue. And with Coach’s upcoming F/W11 collection, there is actually some light at the end of the tunnel. One of the bags that I fell in love with during the recent press presentation is the Coach Bleecker Legacy Canvas Weekender, a rugged workhorse that’s guaranteed to please.

Priced at just USD398 apiece (around SGD500 or so after conversion), the weekender sports a thick canvas body that’s generously trimmed with leather, from the base (which comes with metallic feet, by the way) to the sides and the top, along with a pair of handles.

It is lightweight and roomy, with multitudes of slot pockets (I counted 4) on the inside, as well as a deep zip pocket. And that’s not all. Hidden at the top right hand corner of the bag, there’s another slot that is sized perfectly for the mobile phone, which just means easier access for you whenever the phone rings.

As far as negatives go, I only have one. The dangling charms are distracting, and if I had a choice I would simply remove them. Which I did with mine, by the way. The end result? Cleaner and less cluttered, and you are left with a bag that’s great as a carry-on or a gym duffle, and almost anything else in-between.

Available in colours like Black, Grey, Olive and Wheat (click here to see them all in their full glory), they will be launched online on 29 June 2011, and in Singapore a couple of months later.

Images: Coach

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