Smash hit

Tinchy Stryder, 22, rap artist

What’s your view on men and bags? Some of them can look cool. But they’ve got to be man enough, too. I’m not someone who always carries a bag, but it’s convenient when you’re touring and travelling all the time. I wouldn’t take one if I was going out for the evening though.

What’s your bag history? When I was really young I had a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle bag. Then when I was a bit older, it was all Nike sports rucksacks. We used to call them string bags – people even wore them with nothing in them, except maybe their keys.

Tell us about your current bag. I bought it a few weeks ago. I was at the airport waiting to go to New York and went into Gucci. I decided I needed it in my life, even though it was, like, more than £500.

What do you keep in it? My lyric book, laptop, iPod – and cards for playing blackjack.

What do you like about it? It’s got the Gucci red and green and I’ve always liked Gucci. As you get older, you get a bit smarter and not so loud. Different things catch my eye now.

Tinchy Stryder’s album, Catch 22, is out on July 27

Valentine Warner, 37, chef and food writer

What’s your take on men and bags? Men have always needed bags to carry the tools of their trade. But those continental clutch bags seem to me to be for men who wear loafers without socks – not for me.

What’s your bag history? I used to have a rucksack, but you always end up scrabbling around in the bottom looking for things. And when I was a student I had the inevitable record bag. None was very satisfactory, until I found the one I use now, which is brilliant.

Tell us about it. It’s called a Truffle Hunter, made by Bill Amberg. I’ve had it about four years and I use it for everything. It gets emptied and reloaded regularly, depending on whether I’m in London, in the country or filming somewhere. It’s soft and supple, with lots of compartments. It’s like a woodsman’s bag.

What do you like about it? It’s made by a man who understands what men want: it’s practical, understated and not too poncey. And, importantly, it’s made to last. I’m equally happy with it in the city, even if I’m wearing a suit.