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David Beckham and Cristiano Ronaldo have them. Will Young danced around his. Even former Met Commissioner Sir Ian Blair has been seen out strolling with one.
But despite their increasing visibility, the man-bag is still regarded with deep suspicion by many men.
Now a charity for prostate cancer victims is hoping to propel the accessory into the masculine mainstream with an online auction of up to 40 man-bags designed by celebrities. Stars ranging from the line-ups of Coldplay and Spandau Ballet to comedian Ricky Gervais, model Twiggy and Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand have personalised the canvas flaps of bags from manbagcompany.com.
Their designs will be sold by auction on eBay on 24 June with all proceeds going to The Prostate Cancer Charity. Company founder Bain Ellisdon, whose stepfather died of the disease, hopes the auction will help overturn stereotypes about man-bags.
"People still think of those awful little French clutch bags with a loop around the wrist that many European men used to carry, but the man-bag has moved on so much since then," she said.
Some were designed by victims of the disease, which kills one man every hour in Britain.
Sufferer David Prowse, the actor who played Darth Vader in the Star Wars movies, created a striking image of the Sith Lord from layers of dark appliqued fabric, and signed it in character. DJ Neil "Dr" Fox, whose father died of prostate cancer in 2001 aged 76, persuaded his children to help apply glitter and sequins to make a picture of a man surrounded by hearts and watched over by the sun.
Gervais, a supporter of the charity, used bright pink crayons and marker pens to create a cartoon Flanimal inspired by his series of children's books about fictitious creatures.
Members of Spandau Ballet simply signed their bag - in the Groucho Club on the day the band announced they were reforming, potentially increasing the bag's value to collectors.
Reader views (10)
My Dad had a man bag and he was 83!
- Jan, London, 29/05/2009 22:59
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If they are practical 'carriers', all well and good. If they are made to look 'girlie', then that's what they are. Simple. People are responsible for their own image - if they want to set themselves up for ridicule by the more aggressively 'anti' group - or even the less aggressive ones reacting to having their noses rubbed in blatant challenges to the senses, it's down to them and them alone.
Couldn't care less, personally.
- Rogan, Irving, 29/05/2009 17:56
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I wasn't sure of my sexuality, then I bought a man bag!!!
- Michael George, Stoke On Trent, 29/05/2009 14:50
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Mine is disguised by either a laptop or a camera inside, not! I wish laptop and camera bags had more cool designs though.
- Sandy, Ealing, UK, 29/05/2009 14:45
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Steve - phone, wallet, hat, gloves (it's cold up here), bottle opener (you never know when you'll need one), compass, pen, notepad. And anything I buy whilst out. Save the planet, man.
- Nobby Clark, Perth, Scotland, 29/05/2009 14:11
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Suits you sir!
- Frank, Home Counties, England., 29/05/2009 13:28
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Must be the size of your chip then and not the bag!
Keep smiling 
- Anon, London, 29/05/2009 13:19
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Anon,
I've just purchased my very own extra large 'man bag' on the market but it's still too small to accommodate my chip.
Told you they were pointless.
- Steve, London, 29/05/2009 12:49
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You should get one Steve and then you can put that chip from your shoulder in it and un-burden yourself. Its a shame you have so much anger in your life.
- Anon, London, 29/05/2009 11:26
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I'm sick to death of the amount of so called blokes that carry these things around and flaunt them like the tarts that they are.
I'd love to know what 'men' put in them.Make up or a pedicure kit?
- Steve, London, 29/05/2009 09:21
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