Men represent 45% of the $1.2-billion market for all luxury handbags in China, according to the president of Coach Retail International. That figure is just 7% in the U.S.

The LA Times reports on how China's often gruff, male-dominated business culture developed a taste for purses.

Wang Zhongzhu, a 42-year-old insurance executive, wouldn't dream of networking without his $1,000 leather Dunhill slung over his shoulder. He said the creamy brown mini-messenger bag sends a message that he appreciates -- and can afford -- fine accessories.

"It's a way of representing where you stand," Wang said. "It makes people think you could potentially work for a big company."

Designed for men, many of these guy purses often known as shou bao in Mandarin would be right at home in the women's handbag section of an upscale department store. Popular styles include the oversize wallet with wraparound zippers like Zhang's and the embossed leather Coach handbag with the slinky shoulder strap and handles. Colors trend toward solid brown, black and gray. But some fashion-forward gents don't mind showing a little flash: Burberry plaid, Gucci's interlocking GG pattern or Louis Vuitton's distinct LV monogram.

Luxury leather goods makers can't believe their luck: Both sexes in the world's most populous country adore purses.

In China, alpha males carry designer purses

In one of David Pogues latest columns he writes about something that I have been thinking about lately:

I've always been just a little baffled at the whole concept of app-phone cases. I mean, people go out of their way to buy these thin, gorgeous iPhones and Android phones, and then wrap them in 3/4 inches of ugly black rubber!

A month ago I wrote:

Why do we continuously carry our iPhones in cases that make them look like cheap plastic or rubber toys? A device with a design this good shouldn't be carried in a cheap rubber bumper but should be protected by something that accentuates its design. Or at least allows you to easily use naked.

I recommended at the time the The Little Black Book iPhone Case as a possible alternative if you use your phone more for apps than calls like I do. Sleeves are aplenty as well and hybrids like Hardgraft's fold wallet for iPhone are a favourite of mine.

But there is this underlying fear:

I know, I know: all I need to do is drop and break my phone once, and my attitude will change completely. But for now, I still carry my phone around naked all the time, and there's not a scratch on it. (To be clear: only the phone is naked all the time.)

I haven't found an answer yet and while I wait for a case from Hardgraft I can't see my phone for the ugly black rubber and plastic case that surrounds it.

Does anyone use the iPhone sans case?

When it comes to compact bags for men, it's best to go with the original compact bags for men: the map bag and the musette.

The map bag has a military heritage. In the olden days before GPS, maps were made out of these huge pieces of paper (crazy, right?), and map bags gave people quick and easy access to them--simple as that. These days, map bags give you quick and easy access to Super Monkey Ball on your iPad.

You can find common canvas ones at Army surplus stores, but I like the more structured leather variety sometimes referred to as map cases or document cases. These are super-minimal, and usually don't have room for anything but maps, a notebook and pens.

From the Wallstreet Journal of all places: Put Your iPad in a Map Bag or a Musette, Manlier Man Bags

Titty Bag & Ditty Bag via Reference Library.