When does a wallet become more about an extension of your ‘style personality’ and less about a practical way to carry your cash and cards? For me, a wallet has always been more than a place to stash my cash.
A wallet isn’t just for carrying your cash and cards around anymore, wallets have evolved. These days wallets are sometimes used for carrying our phones, headphones, business cards, lippy and so much more.
Because they are on show so often they are also an extension of our personality and our style.
Choosing the perfect wallet for your needs and your budget can be a nightmare but here’s the thing, you can change your mind AND you can have several wallets. Uhuh, a collection of wallets ? Who would have thought!
Personally I have always been partial to a quality leather wallet, oh sure I dabbled with glo mesh back in 1984 and in 1986 I had a Velcro surfy wallet, who didn’t?! Did you?
These days I have several quality leather wallets (hello MIMCO) and a stack of ‘zip purses in varying sizes, colours and patterns. I don’t own one single wallet in black, they are all in colour. It’s kinda how I live my life…in technicolour.
Look there’s nothing wrong with playing it safe and having one wallet, or even having a black wallet, as long as it meets your means and is adaptable to all social outings…is yours?
I change my handbags daily and often I don’t actually walk out the door with a handbag. I choose to take a clutch or zippered purse. As long as it’s big enough to stash my phone and cards it’s happy days 🙂
There’s freedom in walking out with a small purse, a card, lippy and phone, no cumbersome handbag pulling on my neck and shoulder muscles.
There’s a few things to look for in a traditional wallet, like…
♦ the quality of the material. I always go leather because I want it to last and for an item you use every single day that rattles around in the bottom of a bag you need it to be sturdy and quality. Quality leather will also go the distance and won’t look nasty and cracked like vinyl.
♦ Let’s not forget about closures, there’s a few styles like snap, velcro, tie, magnetic, turn lock and zippered.
♦ Traditional wallets come with lots of practical added extras like Bi fold, expanding, compact, ID window, card slots, hidden compartments to stash receipts, secure coin compartment and some even come with in built phone chargers. Now that’s fancy!
♦ If you want to break out from traditional style wallets ( I like you even more) then look for wristlets, a coin purse, travel, envelope and clutch styles.
♦ Have fun with these styles, look for leather, rattan, velvet, silk and play with colour, texture and print.
♦ The fashionistas out there will tell you carrying a clutch or purse in a complimentary colour to their outfit is part of their daily dressing routine. You can create a statement or add a pop of colour to a plainer outfit.
So, would you like to see what I’m crushing on right now?
Wanna be inspired?
Ok, let’s take a look….
1.STATUS ANXIETY Audrey wallet pink
2.Native Bird oilcloth wallet
3.MIMCO live Large pouch
4.Pink Palm Tree Wallet
5.MIMCO ENAMOUR ZIP WALLET
6.URBAN ORIGINALS black Stellar
7.ELK Metallisk Wallet
8.MIMCO MONTAGE MEDIUM POUCH in blue
9.FOSSIL Sydney zip clutch
When was the last time you purchased a wallet?
What colour is your wallet?
til next time,
Jen x
Lauren says
March 16, 2016 at 7:38 amI’m on the look out for a new wallet so this is a perfectly timed post! My current wallet is a red and white elk number, the leather is so soft and gorgeous but its starting to look sad and well loved.
My wallet before that was a lime green glo-mesh mimco purse- that was a standout purse!
Jenni says
March 16, 2016 at 7:50 amSounds like you love a statement wallet Lauren. ELK wallets are so soft and buttery, have you tried a leather conditioner/cleaner like Zanolin? Grab it from the supermarket, it can bring leather back to life X
Jo says
March 16, 2016 at 8:12 amI am a wallet and bag girl always buying and changing. Mine at moment is a roxy large wallet in a browny colour but thats about to change to a bright yellow one. I change all the time xxxx
Jenni says
March 16, 2016 at 9:05 pmOo ohh yellow sounds awesome ?
Beth at AlmostPosh.com says
March 16, 2016 at 9:22 amI have a fuchsia Kate Spade zip around that I got last year and I love it except it is quite big. I just can’t downsize any further for a daily wallet but I’m on the lookout for something smaller for when I’m heading out and only need ID, bank card and cash so it’s not chilling loose in my evening bag. I don’t tend to swap out regularly because I’m bound to forget something critical, I’ve only just managed to swap handbags regularly in the last year or so!
Jenni says
March 16, 2016 at 9:06 pmBeth check out MIMCO at harbour town, sounds like their zip up pouches would be perfect. Maybe even a phone case with CC slots?
Beth at AlmostPosh.com says
March 18, 2016 at 2:21 pmOoh yes, I don’t need any encouragement to get to Mimco!! Haha!!
Caitlin | Twist of Cait says
March 16, 2016 at 11:02 amI actually use a vintage glomesh purse that is dirty, breaking and holds next to nothing. Unfortunately I love it as it was my grandmas and I can’t bring myself to use another one! I do have my eye on a Mimco one but just can’t do the swap!
Jenni says
March 16, 2016 at 9:07 pmOhhhh I love that Caitlyn xx
Karen says
March 16, 2016 at 2:57 pmI am loving my yellow Empire of Bees wallet I was lucky enough to receive for my birthday!
Jenni says
March 16, 2016 at 9:07 pmIt sounds awesome! Happy birthday indeed ?
jeanette says
March 18, 2016 at 1:01 pmMy husband gave me a purple wallet for my birthday (he knows me well!) I am not one of those fashionistas witho changes her handbag though. (I own two but only use the more ‘professional’ one for the rare PD or conference I attend, as it is more slimline and doesn’t fit all my stuff ) My handbag is turquoise(one of my happy colours) but beginning to fall apart and look rough.
Could you do a post on the perfect had bag please? I have been looking for a new one that doesn’t break the bank, and also checking out thrift shops in case ‘the one’ turns up there. I ‘ve been looking for a year, but am not a big shopper, so only sporadically. My perfect handbag would be a jewel colour, definitely no black lining, not too big, not too small, with a few zip pockets for smaller stuff, and leather. Maybe I’m asking too much from one item?
phalen says
March 30, 2016 at 6:09 pmThanks so much for featuring our native australia bird wallet on your blog – great work and beautiful blog.
FlowerNBird etsy
Jenni says
March 31, 2016 at 9:36 pmYou’re welcome x