To stay up-to-date on trends in menswear, I’ll occasionally flip through the fashion spreads in my husband’s magazines. (It’s helpful knowledge to have when he and I go shopping.) Sometimes I’ll spend a few extra minutes glancing at the articles; they’re often written in a slightly edgy and sarcastic tone that I enjoy.
In a recent issue of GQ, a soon-to-be dad asked The Style Guy, Glenn O’Brien, for stylish yet functional diaper bag recommendations, and he suggested a classic trout bag by the UK bagmaker Brady. Originally designed in 1928 as a fishing bag, the Ariel trout bag is made of waterproof canvas and leather and can be fitted with an optional rubber lining for toting dirty diapers — or for a quick trip the lake, I suppose.
The trout bag is timeless. It’s also iconic. Costume designer Jacqueline West went to Brady when she was dressing Ben Affleck for “Argo,” and Brady created a special edition Westmorland day bag based on their 70s design for Affleck to carry in the film. I actually prefer that version — slightly rugged and vintage inspired — to the more tailored Ariel.
However, neither bag is cheap, and I don’t know too many dads who’d be willing to spend a couple hundred dollars on a bag they’d only occasionally carry. A mom’s diaper bag usually doubles as her purse, so it makes sense to spend a little more money on an accessory that’s always her shoulder. Dads, on the other hand, usually only carry their diaper bags when they’re on solo parenting duty — and how often is that, really?
Personally, I like the sleek and unobtrusive messenger bag style of Skip Hop’s Dash diaper bag in black. It’s what JB carried when Levi was a baby (well, the grey one
Need a last-minute Father’s Day gift? Why not surprise the daddy in your life with a diaper bag of his very own?
P.S. – A unisex diaper bag that moms and dads can share, plus how to pack a diaper bag.
I was just considering the Skip Hop Dash bag for the soon-to-be dad! Good to know that J likes his.
He does! Especially because it’s big enough for just the essentials and looks just like a messenger bag. And since it’s smaller than my diaper bag, we’ll also use it when we’re spending the day out and can clip it to the stroller handles. (Whatever doesn’t fit in the bag can be stashed in the stroller basket.
Mary bought me an awesome bag from Diaper Dude (http://www.diaperdude.com/) they have some very manly bags too.
Very cool — thanks for sharing!