Despite our obvious fondness for leather accessories, we don’t talk much about wallets. We never have. It’s not because we lack appreciation for a good wallet, but more that they’re hidden and utilitarian, when compared to pretty much everything else we spend our time obsessing about over here. One of my lovely coworkers’ wallets recently broke, though, and that inspired me to shop around to see where she might find a replacement. What I found was that there’s a handful of brands that really outpace the competition.
Most brands treat wallets as afterthoughts (and, honestly, they are for most customers and designers alike), but there are a few tried-and-true places to look for a workhorse wallet that will keep your stuff organized and safe for years to come. Below, check out the five brands that do the best wallet work right now.
Louis Vuitton
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Vuitton takes wallets the most seriously of perhaps any designer. The brand makes dozens of different styles in different sizes, colors and materials, and although they’re pricey (styles start at $390 for a monogram canvas coin purse; most zipped continental styles are around $1,000), they’ll last for years to come.
Bottega Veneta
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Bottega Veneta is a master of discretion and quality, so it’s not surprising that the brand makes plenty of wallets that will look sharp emerging from your handbag for the foreseeable future. As with its bags, BV specializes in neutrals in gorgeous woven leather, but the brand’s seasonal shades do make the jump to wallets as well.
Coach
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Not everyone wants to spend a grand on a wallet. (I certainly do not.) If you’d like a sturdy, functional, attractive full-size wallet for less than $250, Coach is the place to go. The brand’s offerings come in plenty of different sizes, shapes and fabrications, including some prints for the more adventurous among us.
Smythson
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In the world of designer accessories, Smythson is somewhat rare; the British company is known for its small leather goods, while its handbags are relatively new. That means Smythson puts care and thought into the design of its wallets that you find in few other places, and the brand’s selection is vast.
Comme des Garçon
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CDG is a bit of a wildcard here; the brand is far more well known for its groundbreaking clothing than its bags or accessories, and the brand’s wallets reflect a contemporary price point that its clothes definitely do not. They’re a fashion favorite, though, and if you’re looking for a fun, colorful wallet at a good price, look no further.
How could you not include Ferragamo? Their Gancini Icona wallet is a classic and holds up beautifully for years!
http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/salvatore-ferragamo-icona-leather-wallet/3449992?origin=category-personalizedsort&contextualcategoryid=0&fashionColor=&resultback=461
My mum has had this SF wallet for years. it’s gorgeous and looks fantastic still.
I love neon and am in love with that commes de garcon wallet! Hopefully some similarly bright version of it will be around when it’s time for me to upgrade my Kate Spade wallet. Unfortunately my KS shows no signs of falling apart any time soon…
Great post! I totally agree about the LV wallets. They
I second that! And an article on wallets on chain would be helpful. Thank you
Indeed we can!
I have a Comme des Garçons that is black on the outside, but bright neon pink inside. It’s great. Despite the smooth polished leather exterior (it’s almost patent-like), it’s held up well. And the bright pink interior is fun, plus it means everything pops against it, including coins, bills, and credit cards.
love my Comme des Garçons wallet too!
I wish you guys had done a feature on Anna sui’s line of anime wallets they are so amazing!
Prada saffiano wallets also hold up insanely well. I’ve had mine for years, have thrown it around everywhere, and it still looks like new.
I’ve had my prada wallet for years too, it held up pretty well.. but the only complain i have is.. after just a few months i’ve had it.. the prada logo started to fade.. it was gold and now it looks almost like silver.. 🙁
I agree 100%
I was just thinking a few minutes ago that Prada probably should have been in here too. Extremely durable, lots of colors!
Prada saffiano wallets are well made and do come in luscious colors, BUT they can be problematic for people who carry multiple currencies . A friend has a slim zip around Prada wallet in Papaya that she uses to carry dollars and European currency. It’s really pretty; unfortunately, she has to keep bills folded. If they’re in the bill slots flat, the zipper tears the edges of the bills. And I have a small zip around Prada wallet in a beautiful fuschia color. Unfortunately, my smallest coins tend to slip out of the slots and get caught in the “accordion” folds. So while I like the saffiano wallets, only the largest size works well. Also, a friend bought a quilted pale blush Prada wallet that wasn’t in saffiano leather. Within a few months, it was flaking and cracking. It was a splurge purchase, so she was quite disappointed.
I hear that Mulberry makes a good wallet as well.
I don’t like wallets so I don’t want to even pay $100 for one. My MK that I bought on sale for $43 shows no sign of wear.
Bottega Veneta makes absolute best wallets. Their croc wallets are tdf!!!!
LV’s vernis wallets are wonderful quality!
Yes they are! I’ve had mine for 4 years and it still looks brand new. 🙂
I have a Gucci zip and kate spade zip. I LOVE my Gucci but the spade design is more functional. It has an outside pocket. Inside is has two more pockets than the Gucci.
My daily “wallet” is the little 3-zip “cosmetic bag” from LeSportSac!!! Its super slim and weighs nothing. useful design: Coins in the bottom. Small bills in the middle, large bills and receipts int he big pouch. Its the best for traveling because you an separate your currencies easily. I bought it in several colors from casual to dressy:
MCM’s leather goods are really well crafted, and customizable too.
Thank you so much Amanda for this post. I love a good wallet and depending on what bag I’m carrying I like to match my wallet with bag. I’m a fan of Coach wallets myself. From your list above, I really like the Smythson and CDG, I can’t wait to check out other colors!
I hope to see you do more posts on the latest wallets! 🙂
Braun Buffel must be on the list. Great quality and counting usage years.
That LV is gorgeous! Really they’re all very nice. I love it when the inside color is different from the outside color – adds just a little bit more fun and interest.
I love Prada saffiano as well currently stalking out a Mulberry taupe colored wallet that I can’t stop thinking about!LOL
I prefer the slim wallets from Bellroy. Got a Note Sleeve Wallet in brown last week from: https://www.undscvrd.com/brands/bellroy.html
Hey I’ve checked the collection and found it really attractive, I’ve also got great collection of branded wallets online at Majorbrands.
http://www.majorbrands.in/brand/cl_2-c_3918/women/bags/wallets.html