Over the course of the last year I have noticed an extraordinary amount of guys carrying leather (or canvas) pouches. At first I didn’t know how I felt about this new mens accessory. It came across a bit like a dude trying to carry a purse. That being said, in the back of my mind I have always thought that when pulled off right they looked kind of cool and over time the idea has really grown on me. Aside from the fact that pouches can look great, one of the main reasons they captured my attention was their practicality. A pouch is the perfect solution for those times when a person has too much to carry in their hand, but not enough to justify the use of a bag pack or tote. Fill a pouch up everyday essentials like iPhone, headphones, notepad, iPad, laptop, work documents, keys, etc. and a person is ready to go in style.

The key to pulling off the leather pouch is striking the right balance with the color, texture and print. There is a fine line between going overboard and keeping it simple and cool.  For me the perfect leather pouch would be something in a neutral or darker tone like black, brown, hunter green or dark grey.  In terms of printed pouches I would stick to a more masculine motif like camo or the Givenchy Rottweiler (see below). A little texture always adds something to an otherwise flat accessory (Snakeskin surfaces are my favorite).  Another important detail that is usually an after thought is the zipper. A zipper that is too gold can look a bit feminine, stick with something in the brass family or a worn-down gold or silver to get just the right effect.

If a person is wondering where to begin looking for a pouch here are a few good options:

1) Japanese label Phenomenon has just released a camo and houndstooth version available at Hypebeast’s new online shop.

2) Spareparts always has tons of leather pouches in almost every imaginable color.

- Zach :)