When it comes to mini-bags, the biggest question that comes along with them is this: what the hell fits in there?! Even though designers have begun to move past the completely pointless micro bags that don’t even fit your phone or a card case, and bigger bags (supposedly) are making a comeback, it’s impossible to ignore that mini bags aren’t going anywhere any time soon.
While the mini-bag movement kicked off well before COVID, their ubiquity hit overdrive during the pandemic. As many of us began to leave the house for only short increments of time, inevitably, the sheer volume of items we carried decreased, thus negating the need for the massive daily haulers we used to favor.
Gone Are the Days
Where once a big continental zip wallet was a go-to for many, as many businesses went cashless in an effort to decrease human contact and the spread of the virus, our need to carry a wad of cash also seemed unnecessary. Not to mention, many of us began to opt not to take a receipt or toss it immediately, and out went the need to store random bits of paper in our wallets. What we were saving them for, I’m not exactly sure, but I digress.
While many brands offer a variety of card cases, and they are often among the least expensive items in a designer brand’s line, making them an easy entryway into the world of designer accessories, I prefer something a little bit larger. The perfect accompaniment to my minis is a compact wallet with a snap that is essentially part wallet, part card case. The majority of my mini bags fit the one that I love and use daily (it’s from YSL and is one of my most-used designer items), and only rarely will I use a true card case (typically when I’m going out at night).
I find that two or three card slots simply are not enough for me, and I do like to have a place for other items such as business cards, a MetroCard, and miscellaneous loyalty cards from places around New York I frequent. Below we’re rounding up a handful of compact mini wallets that are perfect for most mini bags but large enough to carry more than just your ID and debit card.
What kind of wallet do you favor?
Love this. We do NOT talk about slgs enough here. Currently loving compact/medium bifold wallets. I have a few by different brands but give me 4-6 card slots, a bill slip, and a simple bifold snap closure- *chef’s kiss*
Continental wallet user here. I prefer function over form.
Same. I never stopped using medium to large bags, so I still use my full-size wallets.
I have never been a small bag person so I always have gravitated to larger continental style wallets. However lately what i have been doing is splitting up my contents into individual wallets that i can remove when not necessary. I keep a large continental with all my non essentials & cash, a coin pouch, & a small card case that keeps all my essentials. I will typically only carry my larger wallet if i am using a larger day bag or if i know i am going to need it
I’ve been doing a modular approach too — one pouch for cash and coin, a card holder for license and credit/debit cards, and a small card envelope for gift cards. Makes it easy to strip down for a tiny bag when needed.
This what I’ve pleading for my wife to do since she was the victim of a pickpocket five or six years ago.
She’s old fashion and insist on carrying all of her credit cards id’s cash in the largest wallet I’ve ever seen.
We have law enforcement on both sides of the family including her father and she doesn’t listen.
I’ve bought her smaller wallets, but she doesn’t use them except when she carries one of her evening bags.
I do something similar with Louis Vuitton Kirigami pouches. I find them so compact and useful. I use the smallest pouch for the cards and the medium pouch for nick nacks and a lippy. I barely use the largest pouch, unless I am travelling- it’s perfect for passports, etc. As these pouches are compact envelope style, they fit well in the mini and couple of my micro bags too.
This is exactly what I do as well.
I had my wallet stolen out of my bag while I was traveling a long time ago and a police officer recommended this. It’s still possible that a pickpocket could reach in and take my wallet and my coin purse – but it’s less likely. And if I lost one – I would at least be likely to have the other, so I wouldn’t be totally without a way to pay.
When I travel, especially internationally, I carry a backpack with my wallet at the bottom and a sweater, water bottle, snacks, etc. piled on top. Then, on subways, etc. I wear my backpack in the front. This is safer, for me, because in some subway cars people are packed in so tight I can feel their heartbeat. 😊 Also, there are signs everywhere warning of pickpockets & since I was victimized years ago, in New York, I learned a hard lesson.
Same here! Ever since i dont have a credit card anymore i no longer impulse buy. I use cash only. Digital transactions are seldom. All purchases are carefully thought of and i now know where my money goes as i now have a list of expenses. Im surprised of the money i saved annually. I got to check off 4 bags already off my wishlist. Still i prefer zipped continental wallets since the ocd in me likes crisp bills (not folded or crumpled).
Oddly enough, I do not use a designer wallet because designers don’t make a good, efficient, compact wallet. I use one I found on Amazon that has 6 card slots, 1 large bill slot and a zipper pouch for change. Plus it has RFID protection built into the wallet. I just move the wallet from bag to bag. It’s perfect for my small Gucci Diana, and even my LV mini speedy.
Simple and compact wallets work for me. I also only use one compact wallet since I prefer not carry too much:
I like my compact wallet to be as flat as possible.
Ever since the pandemic, I use compact wallets much more often.
If the compact wallet didn’t come with a strap, I’ll attach a small strap so I can sling it on my shoulder.
I prefer a small trifold wallet (basic 6 card slots and a zip compartment type of thing) or a card holder. I prefer smaller bags overall and rarely use cash anymore. And even all my loyalty cards have been digitized on my mobile so its really just my photo ID, credit cards/atm card and drivers license. I do carry my health cards though I have them digitized as well so probably could get around having them.
The Gucci Marmont keychain card case is my current love. I gave up large wallets a long time ago. I do keep a compact zip wallet in my daily work tote to hold loyalty cards and extra cards that I rarely use. I don’t buy designer bags much anymore, but I do love SLGs!
The Louis Vuitton Men’s Coin Card Holder. Perfect size holds everything.
Since the pandemic, I went from using a compact wallet to fitting my cards into a small ziplog bag and to throw it each time I go out (during the peak was just once or max twice a week for essentials) to card holders. I never owned a card holder before but that started a new addiction. Best card holder (only) for me is the Chanel classic card holder as it holds at least 6 cards and doesnt go out of shape.
But I just did my first overseas travel in 4 years and realised I actually needed a proper wallet for overseas currency / cards etc and after searching for awhile I purchased the LV clemence wallet which was slim / compact and fits bills / great amount of cards / coins and space for receipts etc. This will be my essential travel wallet. Price was reasonable and I got to claim GST as well so that helped. But on the last day of my trip, I noticed a thread coming off the side of the wallet so I will be bringing into the store to have a look. It’s too premature to have quality issues?
But coming back, since I drive here I am back to using my Chanel card holder.
I used a cardholder for a few years. Then, I wanted something a little larger and used a coin card holder. Now, I have a small zip around wallet. Anything else is too bulky, and I don’t like switching out my wallets.
Card cases, almost never use cash since the pandemic. My shop loyalty cards and any long distance travel cards are on my phone. All I need are a couple of bank cards, Oyster card, restaurant loyalty cards, drivers license and organ donor card. I swap between a number of Launer and Hermès card case depending on the bag I am carrying.
What a great post! I agree with the commenter below; we do not discuss SLGs enough here. I have a few long/continental wallets and some small bifold wallets and cardholders. For the past few months, I’ve been using a cardholder for daily use and swap out if I need to carry more stuff.
I love wallets, small leather pouches… I have many that I love to use one by one.. I can never stop using wallets…
I have these 2 Fendi ones card case and a mini wallet that has card slots both fit in my small bags but if I go smaller I only use my card case …. My larger wallet I barely use anymore
Exactly the same! I have a wallet where I store other cards but I can’t remember the last time I carried it! I have a very compact Gucci card case that I’ve been using for the last few years.
Wallet
I’m weird that I like all my SLGs to match when I look into my bag and I feel LV has the most variety. I do still have the larger zip around continental wallet for when I’m carrying a big bag or traveling, but mostly use their card holder since it holds around 8 cards if needed and some folded cash in the center open compartment.
I have a mid size zippy wallet that is in most of my bags. I carry ins cards, cc, work gas card, misc cards and cash. I switch to the smaller version zippy for small or cross body bags. I keep my debit, license in a sleeve on my phone case so many times for quick daily trips I just have my phone and leave purse in car or at home. I use a card case for biz cards and also have a digital version. I like the wallets so even though they aren’t truly necessary I don’t see myself ditching altogether.
I’ve always preferred slim wallets, even my “big” wallet was a compact Adele from LV. I haven’t used that one in a long time, I mostly use my calvi OR for the last few months I’ve been just putting my DL + one card + a 20 in a Dior canvas pouch that I think is meant for earbuds or something? Whatever it was meant for I love it and it has become my keyfob holder + wallet.
I am so grateful so many things can be kept on my phone now like loyalty cards credit cards etc because I’ve never been a wallet girl!
Have a zip around LV and Chanel small flap wallet that I rotate few times a year. I use my LV continental wallet when traveling or when overseas.
I like continental zip around wallets. I also like card holders when carrying a crossbody! Most crossbody bags aren’t design for both a wallet and cellphones.
Lv zippy coin or chanel flap card case
I tried a small wallet and cardholder from Celine and it only held 2-3 cards. Now I use a rubber band and hair tie.
I was a small wallet person until I had children. Everything had to carry more when they were babies. I have recently shifted away from my enormous travel wallet to a dogan slg wallet and like it’s size, and use of space. I still have my compact wallets and do use them when carrying a smaller bag, but not as an everyday item.
Just bought a small YSL Cassandre Matelasse; one zipper for coins, bi fold with a snap. I usually carry a larger continental size but I’m down to just my drivers license and one credit card, and maybe one or two essential cards. Perfect size for my smaller bags, but still works for everyday.
I love a zip top with no compartments. Currently using my small Chanel zip ocase. It also fit my LV key clea.
LV compact Zippy, Hermes Silkin compact, LV Murakami business card holder, LV double card holder, all individually or in various combinations.
The LV zippy coin purse has been my ride or die since I purchased 3+ years ago. Compact, durable, and carries a ton. Thinking of selling my continental wallets.
I love the zip around wallets.. My iPhone SE fits perfect along with cards
The Hermes Calvi card case holds quite a bit and I’ll sometimes bring the Bastia change purse for cash/coins depending on where I’m going or if I’m traveling.
I use my Chanel card holder that has a zip top. That way I can carry a bit of cash and a few coins with me. It has held up beautifully and hold several cards. Just wish I bought it in a bright color rather than black since in some bags it gets lost. I did tie a Chanel ribbon through the zip pull to help a bit with locating it in my bag. LOL!! I put other cards in another Chanel small card case …. the ones I do not need daily.
Last year I switched to small Hermes in’ silk and it fits in everything. It holds cards, cash & folded receipts. I love it.