This satchel-like bag can also double as a gym carrier Photos by THE ASSOCIATED PRESS The over-the-shoulder look may be less intimidating for men not quite ready to sport the full-out man purse. These more traditional black totes, above and below, go with almost any outfit and have ample space for all your necessities.

Recent runway shows in Milan educated the fashion elite on what would be hot in menswear in the upcoming seasons. One item in particular was incorporated into almost every major show: Man bags.

These aren't little clutches to be carried under your arm -- although those may not be far off. They were bigger bags with simple style and structure: Think of them as a modern briefcase.

"It's not a huge fashion statement for men to carry bags, the way it used to be," said Matthew Singer, creative director for Jack Spade. "In this country there used to be stigma for a man to carry a bag other than a backpack or a briefcase, but if you look at Japan or Italy, men have been carrying bags for a while."

But the level of acceptance still depends on where you live, Singer said. He pointed to major cities like New York where the purses evolved from bags with a specific purpose that men took to work or the gym. Soon, men wanted nicely designed bags they could take everywhere.

Singer described Jack Spade's style as "clean and modern," offering a simple design without a lot of adornments. He said the trendiest men-bags for the fall have patterned fabrics including herringbone and tweeds.

So ditch the backpack and get on the man-purse band-wagon.