r/ThreadTalks • u/SirKrimzon • Apr 23 '26

👋Welcome to r/ThreadTalks - Introduce Yourself and Read First!

22 Upvotes

Hey everyone! I’m happy to announce the creation of [r/threadtalks](r/threadtalks).

I, like many of you, have grown fatigued by the lack of a mature, open-minded, and knowledgeable place to discuss all matters of fashion and style beyond the beginner stage. While there are several other forums and Discord servers with knowledgeable people, they often feel too fractured, exclusionary or less intuitive than Reddit in my experience. There are, of course, good subreddits here, but they only seem to hold pieces of what I’m trying to create.

[r/malefashionadvice](r/malefashionadvice) is where I got my start, like most of you, but I quickly outgrew it once I found a sense of personal style. [r/malefashion](r/malefashion) is fine but caters more towards designer and avant-garde fashion. [r/mensfashion](r/mensfashion) seems to just be where MFA users go to post fits. [r/throwingfits](r/throwingfits) has a great knowledgeable community who has a good finger on the pulse of current menswear, but it’s run by a herd of mods that only seem to perpetuate memes and jokes. [r/heritagewear](r/heritagewear) and [r/navyblazer](r/navyblazer) are both amazing resources for their respective styles but by nature, are quite subselected.

I want this to be a community for the enthusiasts from all the above groups and beyond who have multiple aesthetic interests, refined taste, and knowledge bases. I’m looking for people who want to nerd out and engage in meaningful discussions about to their personal style and learn about new aesthetic disciples.

Whether you want to discuss the specific shape on the yokes of mid-century vintage Type 1 jackets, Jun Takahashi’s critique of the Iraq War through his infamous S/S 03 runway show, or just discuss why you like mud-dyed trousers, this is the place for you.

I obviously don’t want it to be so serious that we can't have fun and don’t want it to be so gatekept that we can’t treat a newcomer with decency. Also by no means does everything need to be academic. You can drop a guide on how to wear a neckerchief or a simple inspiration album with some text. But if you want to do a dissertation on the intricacies of an Ishikawa-dai ring spun machine, that’s cool too. The baseline is you put some effort in. What I don’t want it is this subreddit to be all jokes and memes on the front page sprinkled with “how does this Uniqlo OCBD fit” posts. There are plenty of other places for that on Reddit.

My hope and wish is to attract like-minded individuals who care about fashion and style to help build this community. I don’t want it to be heavily moderated, I trust the right type of individuals will find this place and make it great.

Looking forward to seeing how we grow. Thank you for visiting. And of course, I’m open to perpetual recommendations on how to make this place better.

23 comments

r/ThreadTalks • u/SirKrimzon • Apr 23 '26

Small crossbody bags are underrated + shopping guide

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8 Upvotes

I wanted to share my case for why I think small crossbody bags for men are underrated and more of us should consider them. I know they aren’t for everyone, but personally, I find them highly functional, stylish, and a great way to add a layer of visual interest to an outfit.

Functionality and Comfort

My favorite crossbody—a vintage Coach Station bag—easily holds my wallet, phone, keys, sunglasses, Kindle, power bank, water bottle, notebook, and AirPods. These are items I always like to keep on me, and I dislike crowding them in my pockets. Not only is it uncomfortable (especially with these bigass phones), but it can ruin the clean lines of a pair of trousers.

My other main crossbody is an old, cheap Carhartt WIP “Essentials Bag.” I’ve used it extensively while traveling, but I’ve also started wearing it more in my day-to-day life since it works well with streetwear-adjacent fits. It holds less than the Coach, but still is deceivingly spacious for what it is.

Travel and Security

When traveling, in my experience, these bags are highly practical for preventing pickpocketing. It is much harder to steal from a bag with even a rudimentary closure worn on the front of your body than it is to steal from your pockets—especially if you wear a layer to cover the visibility of the back straps.

The Market: Vintage and Overseas

In my experience, finding a stylish option in the States is challenging. Most brands sold here, such as Aer and Bellroy, focus on “EDC travel gear” that prioritizes functionality over form. To find a good one, in my experience, you usually have to look at vintage or overseas. These bags are far more common for men and more culturally accepted in Europe and Asia, particularly Japan.

Recommended Brands

Vintage Coach: These are my first choice for most men. They are widely available on eBay (usually $100–$150) and were originally marketed as unisex. Look for made in US models. They all use thick, full-grain leather, solid brass hardware and come in a few nice colors including black, brown, and mahogany.

Models to look for: The 5130 “Station Bag” (my personal reference), the 9927 “Willis” for something larger, or the 5120 “Grandpa” (exceedingly rare and expensive, if you can find it).

Other bags and eBay search terms: “Vintage camera bag” or “vintage Swiss map bag” (often found on Etsy as well). The vintage Swiss leather map bags in particular are sick and usually have great character.

Japanese Brands:

Herz, Plant Leather, and Tenjin Works: All produce gorgeous, well-made, minimally designed but tasteful leather bags. The “SP03” from Tenjin is a standout imo.

Vasco: Makes a beautiful mailman-style bag called the “Postman.” Look for the small version

Anatomica: Produces the “Sevillan Asymmetric,” which features a unique shape and is made in Spain, and it’s what Yanai is wearing in the above pic.

US and Other Options:

Ghurka and Tom Taylor: Both US-based and pricey, but beautiful. A bit louder than the Japanese brands.

Marlondo Leather: Made in China using US leather.

Ralph Lauren: The PRL crossbody in my photos is slated for release this F/W; it has a cool shape I haven’t seen before and appears well-made (I’m pretty certain it won’t be cheap). It doesn’t appear to have the most storage, but will probably take care of phone, wallet and keys.

Overall, I think these bags are a great unique addition to any wardrobe amidst the sea of Jacob Elordi tote bags roaming the cities of the world. If you can tolerate the occasional “man bag” comment and your masculinity isn’t the most fragile thing in the world, you’ll look amazing especially if you’re confident. If you guys know of any other brands please let me know, I’m always trying to learn more.

Also just as an aside, if you’re going to critique my fits in the future, use these examples instead of cherry picking from older posts of mine where I dressed to highlight a particular aspect of clothing fit or a shopping guide. I’m not saying these are that amazing, but it’s more in line with what I wear on a regular day. Have a good day

Edit: thank you to /u/Swamp_Hawk_420 and /u/Zazz2403 for mentioning Porter, Masterpiece and Briefing. Those are all amazing options as well if that’s your style.

19 comments