Name: BBC Learning English 6 Minutes| Learn to talk about men's fashion in 6 minutes!
Uploaded: 2018-04-03T05:37:16.000Z
Duration: 6 min 16 s
Description: Thousands of YouTube videos with English-Chinese subtitles! Now you can learn to understand native speakers, expand your vocabulary, and improve your pronunciation...

6 Minute English from BBC Learning English

the programme where we explore an interesting topic

and bring you some useful items of vocabulary.

Rob: Yes, manbags - they are the height of fashion of the moment, the stylish accessory

An accessory is an additional item added to something to make it more useful or attractive.

I mean, I wouldn't be seen dead carrying a manbag!

Really! So what do you carry your lose change,

your credit cards, tickets and mobile phone in?

I just stuff everything in my pockets, Rob -

it's better than being a laughing stock, carrying a handbag around!

By laughing stock you mean everyone thinking of

you as silly - but you wouldn't be because

it's a manbag, Neil - not a woman's handbag.

Maybe I can convince you to change your mind

But now let's not forget to ask you today's question...

It is, so it might be tricky for you to answer!

According to market research company Mintel,

how many men bought a manbag in the UK last year?

Well obviously not many, so I'm going to say 5%.

Rob: Alright. OK, you've made that very clear!

We'll find out the answer at the end of the programme anyway.

For hundreds of years women have carried their possessions around in handbags,

so why can't a man do the same with a manbag?

Neil: Maybe it's the name. Why can't it just be a bag?

Rob: It's a trend, Neil - a stylish fashion item designed to look good on men.

Many big names have flocked to adopt the trend.

Pharrell Williams, David Beckham and Kanye West,

are just some of those who've been spotted rocking a manbag.

Rocking is an informal way of saying 'wearing'.

Neil: But what's wrong with a sturdy briefcase -

sturdy means strong and not easily damaged.

Are you saying manbags are just fashionable?

to carry stuff around but what we carry these days

even our lunch - so why not have a trendy looking bag

carrying one is not seem as a very British by some people.

as stylish as our some of our European neighbours, are we?

Well, speak for yourself! But Nick Carvell, GQ Contributing Fashion Editor, has a reason for this.

Here he is speaking on BBC Radio 4's You and Yours programme...

In Britain we are still very tied up with that idea of masculinity

that is almost so fragile that it can be dented by carrying a bag.

We think a lot about that in this country

in a way that I don't think a lot of European men do.

these are the characteristics traditionally thought to be typical of men.

Neil: Yes, we can also call it manliness -

things like not crying during a sad film.

but it could still be dented - or affected -

don't give it a lot of thought, according to Nick Carvell.

But with people like Louis Vuitton, Fendi, Gucci and Dolce and Gabbana designing these bags,

they're bound to have a hefty price tag -

that's an informal way of saying a high price.

that's a feeling of embarrassment that stops you from doing something.

on trend you could also splash out on a 'murse'

- a man's tote bag. Have I convinced you?

No, not really, Rob. I have a feeling that a manbag

Well for some people, manbags are the thing -

but, as I asked earlier, according to market research company Mintel,

how many men actually bought a manbag in the UK last year?

And I said a) 5%. Come on, I must have been right!

Well as I say, Rob, a good practical backpack is for me.

But now shall we unpack some of the vocabulary we've discussed today.

which is an additional item added to something