Men’s Clutch Bags Move From Red Carpets To Football Pitches As A New Status Accessory

Small clutch bags carried by men have become increasingly visible over the past several months, moving from red-carpet appearances into mainstream menswear. Harry Styles and Bad Bunny helped popularise the look in recent years, while footballers such as Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland brought it further into the spotlight by carrying designer clutches and bags around the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada. Luxury houses including Dior, Ralph Lauren and Dolce & Gabbana have since incorporated men’s clutches into recent runway collections. 

Celebrity Influence

Men carrying small clutches at public appearances is not a new phenomenon. Harry Styles, Bad Bunny, Jacob Elordi and Patrick Schwarzenegger have carried clutches and compact bags at red-carpet events and in paparazzi photographs for several years, according to Yahoo Lifestyle. These bags typically hold only essentials such as a phone, keys and sunglasses.

Other menswear figures have also helped popularise designer bags, including Jacob Elordi, who regularly carries Bottega Veneta pieces, and Timothée Chalamet, who has worn smaller Hermès and Chanel styles, according to CNN Style. While these celebrities did not originate the concept of men carrying bags, historically documented since the 17th century according to Coveteur, their visibility has contributed significantly to its recent resurgence.

Footballers And Luxury Bags 

The fashion trend gained further momentum during the 2026 World Cup, as several high-profile footballers carried luxury bags and clutches. Norway striker Erling Haaland frequently carried Hermès bags, including the Birkin, while France forward Kylian Mbappé favoured Dior, reflecting his role as a brand ambassador, according to Marie Claire. Lionel Messi has also built a bag collection spanning Dior, Hermès and Louis Vuitton.

The trend gained a stronger connection to the clutch format during the 2026 World Cup. In May, Mbappé arrived at the French national team’s training base carrying Dior’s A5 Triangle clutch, which cost approximately €1,300 (around 4,700 shekels), according to Ynetnews. During the World Cup, his France teammate Manu Koné carried a yellow Goyard clutch priced at $5,900 (approximately 17,000 shekels).

Key Highlights

Detail	Information
Trend	Men’s clutch bags replacing larger luxury bags
Started By	Celebrities like Harry Styles, Bad Bunny, Jacob Elordi
Boosted By	Footballers like Kylian Mbappé, Manu Koné, Lionel Messi
Example Price	Dior A5 Triangle clutch — about 1,300 euros
Another Example	Goyard clutch worn by Manu Koné — $5,900
Brands Involved	Dior, Hermès, Louis Vuitton, Goyard, Dolce & Gabbana, Ralph Lauren
Key Theme	Clutches functioning as style and status accessories over daily utility

Runway And Brand Adoption

Luxury houses have responded to the visibility of this trend with recent runway presentations. Dolce & Gabbana paired suits and resort wear with clutches, including styles decorated with jeweled charms and others in crocodile-effect leather. Ralph Lauren presented tailored suits alongside leather clutches in a range of sizes, using the accessory to introduce a more relaxed element into formal looks.

Reporting also notes a related trend of men repurposing toiletry bags as day bags, with the distinction between the two categories increasingly blurred in practice.

Why This Matters for Fashion D2C

This shift indicates that established assumptions about “practical” or category-appropriate menswear accessories are loosening. Crossbody bags and belt bags have traditionally been positioned as the safer entry point for men’s bag categories; clutches are now competing for that space. Brands developing men’s accessory lines may want to track this shift in consumer acceptance.

There is also a pricing pattern worth noting. Within luxury houses, clutches typically sit at a lower price point than larger handbags from the same brand, offering a comparatively accessible entry into a “luxury” positioning. D2C accessory brands could apply a similar structure — smaller, design-forward items priced to make a brand’s aesthetic accessible without requiring a flagship-price purchase.

Style Over Functionality

Clutches present clear functional limitations compared to crossbody or belt bags. They occupy one hand, requiring users to set the bag down for tasks such as using a phone, and do not distribute weight the way structured bags do.

This trade-off appears to be part of the accessory’s current appeal rather than an obstacle to it. Reporting on the trend frames clutches, whether from established luxury houses or resale/counterfeit markets, as functioning primarily as status and style signifiers rather than practical daily-carry items. The format’s growing adoption suggests that, within this segment of menswear, visual and brand signalling is currently being prioritised over functional convenience.

Source:

https://www.ynetnews.com/culture/lifestyle/article/r1py11hkyfg