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.
