Practical wallets with personality
October 8th, 2008Wallets should be stylish accessories just like specs and watches. It’s great when they reflect our fashion persona because we whip them out many times a day. They are also an extremely functional accessory that carries things of great value to us. All the more reason to make our wallets a wonderfully visual and sensible choice.
This is what I look for in a wallet:
- A bright colour. This is the first and most important requirement. I have never owned a wallet in a neutral shade. I need to identify my wallet in my handbag in an instant so that I don’t have heart failure. At the moment I’m sporting a tomato red, textured patent wallet that I absolutely love. It makes me smile every time I pull it out.
- A lightweight style. I do not like to carry heavy things in my handbag, so a plain style with little hardware is a must.
- Functional compartments. I need sufficient card compartments for my credit cards, driver’s license and other identity cards. I also need a large coin compartment that’s easily accessible. Unlike many people, I like to carry change and I do use it.
- A small size. I usually like a compact shape (3×4 inches) because I do not carry a cheque book and my wallet must fit into a clutch. However, a dear friend recently gifted me with a larger wallet shape that I would never have previously considered (3.5 x7 inches). But it’s only a quarter of an inch thick, and being so sleek keeps the wallet “small” and efficient. It’s still lightweight and fits into my clutches.
Wallets needn’t be branded, leather or expensive. They can be cheap as chips and just as fab. A client of mine sports a great white cracked patent wallet that she bought at Forever 21. It fetches a compliment each time she takes it out. But if you’d prefer to buy an expensive wallet that will see you through for 5-10 years than that’s great too.
I see loads of sad, boring looking wallets that are overly stuffed and completely dysfunctional with broken zips, torn corners and loose stitching. Retire those poor wallets and opt for a better wallet system. I’m willing to bet that it will make a difference to your day.
An assortment of fun and practical wallets. I am currently using the red Lodis on the top left. Thank you Lori for making me try something new. I love my red wallet.
October 8th, 2008 at 7:45 am
I just received a bright red faux croc wallet for my birthday in a similar style to yours. I love it because I can instantly see it in my purse and it looks a little glamourous. Yay!
October 8th, 2008 at 7:45 am
Angie, I just love your spirit about trying something new. “Nothing ventured, nothing gained” has been going around my head in the past few days and it is giving me a new outlook on life! (Especially considering the gloomy news that seems to be bombarding us daily). Thanks for brightening my day, whether it’s with your bright red wallet or heartwarming Nordstrom stories!
October 8th, 2008 at 7:57 am
My husband gave me a beautiful red Brighton wallet (and matching bag) years ago for my birthday. Like you, Angie, I love how easy it is to spot in a large purse full of all sorts of odds and ends! And it was my first pretty wallet, and somehow, it made me feel pretty, too. The only problem is its size; it’s much too large for a clutch. So on “clutch” days I take out my credit card and driver’s license and tuck those in a pocket in the clutch. The problem is remembering to put them back in the wallet! Oh, well!
October 8th, 2008 at 7:58 am
What an inspiring post! These wallets are beautiful. I am especially attracted to the blue ombre one in the middle of the top row. I have had a pink Guess logo wallet for over 5 years now, maybe it is indeed time for replacement
October 8th, 2008 at 8:02 am
I love my hot pink clutch wallet. It’s easy to spot in my handbag and it fits perfectly in my smaller bags. I’ve been carrying it for more than 2 years now. It’s time to retire my wallet but I can’t find a comparable wallet in both size and price.
October 8th, 2008 at 8:15 am
you are welcome and i am so happy that you smile when you use it. my heart smiles when i think of you.
October 8th, 2008 at 8:29 am
I never thought I would rave about a wallet, but I love mine. I have always had issues with wallets that include a checkbook cover, but won’t close when the checkbook is inserted. I found a beautiful plum Franco Sarto wallet at Macy’s a few months ago. It has a change compartment, slots for paper money and plenty of space for cards and id. The best part: the checkbook part not only has slots for cards and id too, but it closes when I need it to! I will definitely buy another one.
October 8th, 2008 at 9:02 am
Ah ha! I’m not alone in loving my wallet.
What a lovely thing to say, Laura. Thank you for the compliment and I’m honoured to have brightened up your day. It’s a good idea to choose joy – which is easy to do if your name is Joy. Are you listening Joy? I love your name, Joy. Keep us posted on your new ventures, Laura!
Who’s sporting a sad wallet that needs updating?
October 8th, 2008 at 9:17 am
Hmm, that would be me sporting a sad wallet that needs updating .
October 8th, 2008 at 10:05 am
Angie. . . . were you snooping around in my purse and looking at my wallet? lol !!! You totally described my black, (ho-hum) stuffed to the max, broken zippered, 5-year old wallet!!!!! You’ve inspired me to get a new one; however, I do carry my checkbook in my wallet (along with some credit cards, library cards, insurance cards, department store coupons, etc. etc. etc.) and my wallet tends to become very fat. If anyone out there has a suggestion, I would welcome it. Good post!!!
October 8th, 2008 at 10:50 am
Timely as ever, Angie! My wallet is already starting to irk me - it’s got a zipper coin compartment (a must for me), but I am forced to close and snap the other half of the wallet to access it. ANNOYING! And I think you’re right - I’ve stuck with black leather for ages, but a bright color would be so refreshing.
October 8th, 2008 at 10:52 am
I am sporting a sad, sad wallet! Plain, black worn-out leather. I am constantly losing it in my purse. Gosh, I can’t even remember how old it is now!
October 8th, 2008 at 10:59 am
I up there with the sad wallet too-but I love all of your choices and you inspired me!
October 8th, 2008 at 11:06 am
How fantastic to splurge for color on a wallet. You can completely let go and have a fun color tucked into your purse. I wish I had thought of that a few months ago. I did update to a cracked patent wallet similar to your new one Angie, but it is black, and it is too large to go in my clutch. However I do feel good when I just grab my wallet to run into the store and it is pretty rather than the over stuffed embarassing one I just got rid of.
Next time color, and small enough to throw into a clutch.
October 8th, 2008 at 11:11 am
Loving all these fun wallets. After sporting a “George Costanza” wallet(*) for years, I now have a black and white zebra one that accommodates everything I need on a daily basis (while keeping my store cards and other cards that I don’t need all the time in a different place in my purse.) It’s fun to pull it out.
(*) I’m totally dating myself here. There was a Seinfeld episode in which George carried around this ugly fat old leather wallet that didn’t even close anymore, bulging in this back pocket, because he used it to store every little scrap of paper etc.; in the end it flew open on the streets of NYC and everything fluttered away in the wind…
October 8th, 2008 at 12:06 pm
And here I’ve been wondering WHY I can’t find my [boring] black wallet in my over-crowded dark purse. Me thinks it’s time to make a trip to find another. The zebra one sounds fabulous!
October 8th, 2008 at 12:40 pm
Antje, that was a funny episode of Seinfeld! I chuckled at the memory of it.
Angie, thanks again for the brain nudge. Sometimes we need you to remind us of things to do, or just to give us that aha! moment. I don’t like bulging wallets or purses, but I do always go for the boring black ones, and it is sooo true that they are hard to find!
An animal print one does sound fun!
October 8th, 2008 at 1:05 pm
How funny…I *just* replaced my wallet that had an “unsightly” stain on the leather after realizing that I felt yucky everytime I pulled it out. I replaced it with a wonderful plum wallet and a smaller black one with white stitching (which makes it easier to find), both from Kenneth Cole Reaction on sale at Macy’s. I am using the black one now and will switch to the purple when I am tired of it.
I couldn’t agree more with how great it makes me feel everytime I pull out the new one and remember how sad my old one had made me.
October 8th, 2008 at 2:45 pm
I have a bright blue mock croc Lodis wallet that makes me happy everytime I take it out of my bag!
October 8th, 2008 at 3:09 pm
I looove the blue in the top middle!
Unfortunately, thanks to the overabundance of Canadian change (dollar and two dollar coins) the most important part in wallets for me is finding a sufficient enough coin section and one that WILL close (and add a colour that makes me happy, of course)
October 8th, 2008 at 3:23 pm
Angie–choosing a brightly colored wallet so it’s easy to find in your purse is a great idea (why didn’t I think of that?!). I’m one of those people who is forever rummaging around in her purse unable to find anything. My wallet is a plain navy blue leather one that really should be updated (it’s 6 years old). I should probably get a brightly colored cell phone case too since that seems to disappear into my purse as well.
October 8th, 2008 at 3:31 pm
What a great topic! Until a few months ago I had a a boring black wallet (that I could never find in my bag), but I finally went for color and now have two favorites that I alternate depending on which purse I’m using: red and pink crocodile. Both are Lodis mini card case wallets which are perfect for me since I only carry four cards: debit, credit, driver’s license and health insurance. They both make me smile when I take them out. I’m still looking for the perfect little silver wallet though…
October 8th, 2008 at 9:00 pm
So totally agree with you on being able to spot your wallet in your bag. I always have red wallets. My current is a HOBO one - they make great ones! I got it on Ebay for less than half the cost. Suggest everyone find their dream wallet by looking in stores (is there any other way than by touching it to choose one?) and then try to find the same thing for less online. Jessica, check them out, they just may have the silver one you’re looking for…..
October 9th, 2008 at 12:17 pm
I’m late but this is timely for me, as my wallet recently broke. I’m with you Angie on your list, except I can’t stand carrying change because my purse gets too heavy. I clean out change frequently. We take all the quarters and put them in the car for parking meters. The rest goes into a basket and when the basket is full, we take it to the bank.
However, I must say I just got my chameleon purse insert and the idea with that is that you don’t need a wallet. So I’m trying that out for now. Otherwise, DH knows “wallet” is on my xmas wish list (I should send him this blog post!)
October 9th, 2008 at 2:02 pm
Another great post. For some reason I’ve never thought of a wallet as an accessory, and this makes me see them in a whole new light. Mine is very practical, and it’s still in good condition despite my having it for several years, but it is boring and black. While I don’t have issues with finding my wallet (because I’m an organizing freak) I would love to have one that makes me smile when I pull it out. I’m not rushing out for a new wallet, but when it comes time to look for a new one, I’ll certainly print off this list and take it with me.
October 9th, 2008 at 3:00 pm
Latico has great superbright wallets in the $80 range right now
October 10th, 2008 at 4:45 am
Fabulous website! I discovered it yesterday and enjoyed going through some of the previous posts.
I’ve got a black leather wallet that is worn on the edges. I’ve been thinking for a while now to replace it, but I’m so glad I read this post before I did! I think I’m going to step away from my trusted black and look for a glamorous one!
October 10th, 2008 at 9:37 am
[…] Wallet […]
October 10th, 2008 at 9:39 am
I LOVE your red wallet so much I’m ordering it right now from Nordstrom. Now to sort through my overstuffed black one…argh. What a great picker-upper to see that red wallet in my black bag on these darker and drearier fall days. Thanks for the timely post, Angie!
October 16th, 2008 at 8:29 pm
I’ve had the same red Kate Spade “Maria” nylon wallet for almost 5 years (my first “grown-up” accessories purchase, at age 23, hahahaha), and I absolutely love it — I don’t think I’ve ever owned a neutral-colored wallet. I agree with a nice bold color being easy to see in a crowded bag!
Although…mine needs a cleaning badly, it’s looking more black than red these days.
Ohhhh my, as I’m writing this comment there’s a brand-new one on eBay right now that’s exactly the same! To heck with trying to spruce up the old one!