The infamous bum bag / fanny pack / waist bag is back and has claimed it’s spot as a streetwear essential. No matter what you choose to call them, they can’t be ignored for certain. Not right now.

And while a bunch of my friends laughed/cringed when I told them a couple of months ago that I was contemplating on picking one up for myself, in it’s (what appears to be) 100th attempt to make a come-back, it actually has succeeded.

The shoulder bag (allow me to call it that because that is how I wear it) has been around since the early 80s. Seen on a lot of Europeans back in the day, it eventually turned into a tourist staple. A dad tourist staple, to be precise. Heck, The Rock has a now-infamous picture in which he has this turtleneck sweater on, with his shiny black leather waist bag. Just google Dwayne Johnson bum bag, you will see what am talking about. It was the butt (or do I say bum) of most jokes. Still is.

What brought about the prominence of shoulder bags now, after all these years of being shadowed in ridicule? The usual streetwear suspects like A$AP Rocky and the likes of Kendall Jenner did push them to the forefront with all their street style images. But it’s not just them. Fashion houses like Valentino and, more recently, Louis Vuitton threw in fanny packs into the mix and it was seen all around the Fashion Week runways and off it. It has become a sort of a staple on the streetwear scene with people wearing it across their shoulders and some wearing it the traditional way, on their hip. Add to it luggage makers like Porter and Herschel who continue to manufacture them and streetwear brands like Supreme and Patta who made them part of their seasonal drops. So it isn’t just a specific genre’s opinion on the handiness of a shoulder bag. The entire fraternity agrees.

From a practical standpoint, I love them. Since I wear a lot of athleisure and streetwear brands with proper cuts, I hate the silhouette being ruined by stuffed pockets. With my shoulder bag, I have my car keys, cigarettes, phone, power bank, wallet, sunglasses and a couple of other things stashed away and very close to me at all times. I would hate to carry a backpack into a club, but a shoulder bag fits in nice and easy. It is just the right size, not too big nor too small.

There are plenty of options in the market from brands like Herschel and Porter, you don’t really need hyped brands. But embrace this practical piece of fashion, you will fall in love with how effective it is.

Let me know your thoughts, would you rock a shoulder bag?

 

Shot by Vishal Dey for Bowties and Bones

Outfit Details

Tees – All by Supreme
Joggers – XBYO by adidas Originals
Sneakers – Ultraboost by adidas
Watch – Both by G Shock
Sunglasses – RayBan Wayfarer