To me, a wallet is a nearly perfect gift. They come in a million shapes and sizes, chic ones can be had at nearly any price point, and most people don’t think about buying them for themselves. Almost all of us are in a constant state of “needing a new wallet,” and even if you don’t right now, it’s an easy gift to store for use at a later date. (Or, if necessary, to regift. It happens. No judgement.)

With that in mind, wallets are an obvious choice for the latest installment of our Holiday Gift Guide 2011. From $15 to nearly a grand, we’d like to think that we have all budgets and most personal styles covered. Have a mother, daughter or sister who has everything but still needs a Christmas gift? This is where you start.

Let’s start with the Mulberry Postman Wallet – it’s in the middle of our price range and has a pocket or slot for every card, coin, receipt and stray dollar bill you could carry. Mulberry makes it in a variety of colors, but for my money, I want something bright and punchy like kelly green. Buy through Net-a-Porter for $450.

Ok, ok, not everyone likes a bill-sized wallet! If you need something more compact, a French purse is the way to go, and we like the organization and clean exterior of the Comme des Garcons Embossed French Wallet quite a it. Note: The purple wallet is also purple on the inside, I just couldn’t find a picture of it. Buy through Nordstrom for $250.

Want something in between the two traditional wallet sizes? And also want something that’s a little furry? The Alexander Wang Prisma Biker Wallet is for you. Buy through ShopBop for $325.

If you want someone (me) to love you forever, get her (me) the Alaia Laser Cutout Wallet, even if the light leather exterior is wildly impractical. (IT’S AN ALAIA.) Buy through Net-a-Porter for $800.

The Botkier Evans Continental Wallet is easily my pick of the group. Not only is it generously sized and full of all the necessary compartments, but the red rubberized leather exterior is just about the coolest leather treatment that I’ve ever seen in person. The dual-tone hardware doesn’t hurt either, plus it won’t empty your existing wallet. Buy through ShopBop for $195.

Madewell has proven itself a repository of many affordable neo-vintage treasures, and the Madewell Weathered Wallet is yet another. I could see the closure wearing out after a year or two, but by then, you’ll have gotten more than your money’s worth out of it. Buy through Madewell for $68.

The ModCloth Money Spocks Wallet is a bit of a departure for us, but I can’t help but like the blue-and-white artistic rendering of the “plans” for Stark Trek‘s USS Enterprise. I’m not even a sci-fi fan! Buy through ModClock for $14.99.

If you need your wallet to be a take-anywhere workhorse, it’s difficult to beat Louis Vuitton’s dark Damier Ebene Canvas for a material that simply cannot be ruined. The Louis Vuitton Zippy Wallet, with its all-around zipper and tough exterior, is practically a wallet fortress. Buy through Louis Vuitton for $830.

On the other hand, maybe you want something small and sleek to fit in your smaller bags and clutches. The Reed Krakoff Card Case has slots for your ID and a few credit cards, plus an opening at the top so you can tuck your drink money inside. What’s more festive than shiny gold patent leather? Buy through Net-a-Porter for $130.

We don’t spent a great deal of time discussing wallets around here. That’s not because we don’t love them – we do! – but bags do a fine job grabbing all of the spotlight, leaving wallets and other small leather goods with little attention to share among themselves. And that’s silly, because those pieces are just important to our everyday lives as bags are.

In the spirit of reminding ourselves of exactly that, let’s take a look at the three wallets, in three very different price ranges, that I’d love to be pulling out of my bag for the season ahead. No matter if your budget is tight or extravagant, your wallet can be just as chic as you are.

Save:

Marc by Marc Jacobs is always a reliable go-to for affordable leather accessories. The brand’s selection during any given season is huge and varied, and the prices all generally fall below $250 (and some of them are far below). For less than a hundred bucks, I’m really digging the Marc by Marc Jacobs House of Marc by Marc Jacobs Card Case. (Kind of a mouthful, right?) Some people like a petite wallet, and others, like me, prefer to store their cards and their cash separately. If you fall into either of those categories, it’s hard to beat $88. If you don’t, Marc makes larger wallets with a similar look. Buy through ShopBop for $88.

Spend:

It’s hard to believe that Fall 2011 marks Alexander Wang’s first foray into leather goods; his wallets and pouches are pretty lust-worthy. I’ve chose to highlight the enormous Alexander Wang Prisma Giant Clutch Wallet to appease people who like to be able to stash everything they own into a wallet (seriously, it has a slot for your cell phone), but it also comes in a more expected size for $250. Buy through Alexander Wang for $395.

Splurge:

Are there any small leather goods more splurge-worthy than Alaia’s? I think not. The man’s iPad cases may be $800 and up, but they make me want to buy an iPad so that I have a reason to maybe buy one some day. The Alaia Perforated Petal Wallet inspires the same sort of wild-eyed excitement; even though it’s way beyond my wallet budget and is so light and beautiful that it would probably be destroyed inside of my disorganized, messy bags in a hot second, I can still pine for this medium-sized, leather-lined beauty from a distance. Buy through Net-a-Porter for $800.

If you look at pictures of the Alexander Wang Fall 2011 show or read our recap of the accessories, you may have noticed something: There weren’t any handbags. Instead, Wang debuted his first collection of small leather goods on his fall catwalk. Starting this Friday at 6 a.m. New York time, that collection is going to be available to the public for one day only, exclusively through a very special partner – eBay.

EBay has shown a particular interest in fashion lately through its Fashion Vault program, which functions similarly to sites like HauteLook and Gilt Groupe – eBay partners up with a brand to offer a selection of items at a deep discount, and the sales run for a limited time only. EBay also occasionally collaborates with brands for special capsule collections to be sold through the site, like a recent mini-line of Derek Lam dresses for under $300.

This partnership strikes me as interesting, though, because these bags weren’t made specifically with eBay in mind, as far as I know. They walked the runway with the rest of the collection, and at $235-$525, they don’t seem to be priced differently than they would have been if they had been shipped to retailers for their debut. Which brings up an important question: Will these bags be sold elsewhere? I’ve had trouble finding a confirmed answer on that, and eBay is calling this sale an “exclusive,” although I’m not sure if that means an exclusive debut or an exclusive, period. What I do know is that even if these wallets are sold elsewhere, this limited-time eBay sale is the only place where you can get them for immediate delivery. So if you want one of these little bags, set your alarm clock for 6 a.m. this Friday and point your browser right here.

I didn’t think I’d ever see the day where I’d write two excited posts in one week about a wallet, of all things, but the boys at Proenza Schouler know how to get to me. Including the standout kelly green color in their first round of press photos for the Proenza Schouler PS1 Continental Wallet was enough to make me bite the first time around, but saving this delicious purple color until a few days later to squeeze another post out of me was truly a stroke of genius. What? They didn’t do this purely to manipulate my emotions? Are you sure?

Well, either way, now I want a purple one. If that doesn’t tickle your fancy, I have a picture of another brand new color, military, after the jump. Neither is on the brand’s website quite yet, but when they are, you’ll be able you buy them via ProenzaSchouler.com for $585.

Photos courtesy of Proenza Schouler.

I don’t know if I’ve ever heard or read so much buzz over a wallet; the gentlemen at Proenza Schouler sure do know how to work the fashion hype machine for maximum effect. On Friday came an exclusive tidbit via Vogue.com that Jack and Lazaro would be releasing a new wallet on the company’s website Monday, along with a single stock photo and conspicuously lacking price information to make us all salivate over the weekend. It certainly worked on me; as whispers and excitement spread across the fashion internet after the initial announcement, my impatience grew. I couldn’t wait to see all the colors or find out how much I would need to dish out to get one.

The PS1 Continental Wallet is like the older sister to Proenza’s original wallet, which was more like a billfold because of its single interior compartment. This one, though, is a full-fledged iteration with compartments for coins and cards as well as your standard cash slot. The first run will come in five colors, all of which you can see after the jump, and retail for $585 via ProenzaSchouler.com.

Photos courtesy of Proenza Schouler.

I have a chartreuse leather Proenza Schouler wallet that I use daily and find absolutely indispensable, so if you’re looking for a relatively inexpensive (under $200, seriously) gift for yourself or your lucky, lucky friends this holiday season, I really cannot recommend the Proenza Schouler Mochila Wallet strongly enough. Introduce one of these little guys into your life. You’ll thank me.

These wallets aren’t really “wallets” in the traditional sense – they don’t have credit card slots or a place to put your change. They would probably be more accurately described as billfolds, although that term has more or less gone the way of the dodo bird. They have one large interior compartment and one back pocket, both of which run the length of the wallet, which makes them perfect for paper money, receipts and a checkbook. I use mine for all three, plus as a repository for business cards that I’m given for work. I prefer to keep my credit and debit cards separate from the rest of my traditional wallet contents, so this system works beautifully for me. At only $145, I might add a red mochila version to my billfold repertoire just for fun. Also available in mind green and cream, both with black. Buy through Proenza Schouler for $145.

Can I just tell you all that this picture made me want to run over to Bottega Veneta and buy every single wallet shown?! The kaleidoscope of colors and materials makes me feel like a kid in a candy shop. Only this is a luxury leather goods candy shop, the best kind of shop in my opinion.

We leave out the PurseBlog men way too often. These Bottega Veneta Wallets are just for you guys, as the dimensions are a bit larger. Materials include intrecciato leather, ayers, stingray, ostrich, and crocodile. There are many color options (as shown above).

There is a reason why a wallet is an amazing gift for a man in your life. Every man carries some form of a wallet with them everyday. While personal preference comes into play, Bottega Veneta offers so many options that you can not go wrong. And I mean, look at the picture above! Are you drooling? I am drooling over men’s wallets on a Wednesday, and that means this is a good middle of the week treat. Buy via Bottega Veneta online.

Adriana Castro Wallet in Blue Crocodile

Lately I have found myself leaving the house with my wallet only. My wallet is a big Louis Vuitton zip wallet, which can hold my cell phone, passport, and lip gloss without bulging hugely. This is a huge perk for me, as I typically do not need many things with me when I run out of the house for an errand. Once there will be children, there will be an entirely different story, but for now many times my wallet works. But I need to dress this wallet up. A wallet that doubles over as a clutch needs to be a statement piece, just as our handbags are. I need this to be my accessory to my outfit, and for this, I have found the perfect wallet! Remember our December giveaway for 2007, which included a Chanel Classic Flap, $1000 gift card to Hayden Harnett, and that beautiful wallet? Well it was an Adriana Castro Wallet, which is my new obsession. Adriana Castro is a lover of exotic skins, which she began to appreciate as a child growing up in Columbia since her father had a crocodile farm. The young designer has been dreaming up designs since she was a child, and today they are making their way into the hearts of many. Lucky for me, Adriana lives close by and we will be meeting her this week or next week! Lucky for you, two of her fabulous wallets are for sale on Lux Couture right now.

First there is the Adriana Castro Lady Zip Wallet in Blue crocodile. This color is eye catching and perfect for a true statement piece. I am very fond of blue, as it brings out my eyes and goes perfectly with my skin tone. The inside is made with leather and has a center zip pocket and many credit card slots. Dimensions are 4.5″H x 8″W. The clincher is the price! This is not one of those $1000 wallets, furthermore it is similar in price to my Damier Canvas LV Wallet. And while I love my LV wallet, the materials of this wallet are far more luxurious. Buy this blue gem via Lux Couture for $450 (right now it says sold out, but contact Sari and see if she can order for you! She is always willing to help).

Next is the Adriana Castro Snap Wallet in Caramel crocodile which is a timeless color on an easily accessible wallet. The inside leather is also caramel and there is an envelope pocket along with credit card slots. Dimensions are 4.5″H x 8″W. This color plays it safe, but by no means is dull. Caramel glazed crocodile will stand out and garner all the attention you need. Again, the price is beyond amazing. The quality of these wallets are astounding! Buy through Lux Couture for $450.

Inside of the Adriana Castro Snap Wallet


Adriana Castro Snap Wallet in Caramel crocodile

This wallet is winking at all of us for a reason. The price tag is too good to be true, even if this is not your everyday wallet. Keep winking Marc by Marc Jacobs Pouch Pocket Wallet, because your two pouch pockets and inside sections show that you mean business. On the inside there is a zip fastening section for coins, a section for cards, and a place for notes. The outside pockets give off the wink effect with one sporting a zip fastening while the other sports a press stud fastening. The gold metallic leather is accented with gold hardware. Cheap and cute, via Net A Porter for $188.

If you buy a well-made wallet it will last for years. If you are like many people out there, you may think that a wallet over $500 is way over priced. But trust me, many of these expensive wallets are crafted meticulously, with sturdy leather and stitching, to keep the wallet holding its shape for years to come. I still am using my Christian Dior wallet that the lovely Vlad bought me, but I am thinking it is time for a new wallet, just because I need a change (not because I actually need a new wallet). Don’t let the lush leather Bottega Veneta uses fool you. Just because the leather is soft and buttery does not mean that their bags and wallets loose shape easily. Bottega Veneta has figured out the perfect implementation of weaving soft leather while keeping the shape of the product as seen on the Bottega Veneta Woven Leather Wallet. A press stud fastening tab opens to reveal the inside; containing a section for notes and cards and a coin pocket. Buy through Net A Porter for $630.

See the inside below