From coin purses to bi-folds, leather to aluminium, there is a wallet to suit every need and every pocket
From coin purses to bi-folds, leather to aluminium, there is a wallet to suit every need and every pocket

We may be working our way towards more cash-less transactions but whether it is card or cash, you will still need somewhere to sort and stash your stuff. Hence, the need for a wallet. As fashion accessories go, the wallet is probably one of the most neglected. Stuck in pockets, hidden in bags, they often get very little airtime. But a well-made, well-chosen wallet can go a long way to help organise your spending.

Here are some tips on how to pick a good wallet for men and women with deep and not-so-deep pockets.

Consider Your Needs

What are you going to put into your wallet? Remember, your wallet is not your organiser. It is not a place to store receipts, shopping lists, name cards and other odds and ends. An over-stuffed wallet creates embarrassing bulges in pockets or blush-worthy situations where wallets refuse to zip or shut tight.

If you are the sort to put too many things into your wallet, then perhaps you need separate wallets for separate needs. Get a coin purse for your coins; and a credit card holder for your plastic. Leave the dollar bills for your wallets.

Coin purses are not the purview of women alone. Many brands now design coin purses for men so they no longer need to jiggle loose change in their pants. Louis Vuitton carries a range of masculine-looking coin purses. There is a particularly handsome Taiga leather one that is small enough not to crowd the pocket with an interesting shape that deviates from the usual square. With prices ranging between US$300 and US$600, you may not have much change left after the buy, though.

For women who like things in sets, there is Longchamp’s Légende line which has bags, wallets and also has coin purses (US$180). The python-style calf skin purse comes with different compartments so you can store coins of different values neatly.

For a splash of colour, Kate Spade’s Carmine Street coin purses offers women affordable yet fun coin purses (US$50) that come in shocking pink, pale gold and black.

Credit cards, membership cards, identity cards, driver’s licence – so with many cards in our possession, it may not be unwise to get a holder just for our cards. Prada’s credit card holders (between US$215 and US$425) for men is a respectable black while Burberry’s Tri-colour leather card cases (US$360) prove that a little colour can still work.

There is no better place to experiment with a little colour in fashion than with small accessories. So, it you are feeling a little adventurous, Miu Miu’s credit card holder in lux croco print is a brilliant pink, ideal for the wild woman in you.

Style Master

If you are more of an all-purpose sort of person, a wallet that can accommodate dollar bills, coins and cards might be what you prefer. Men’s wallets are simpler to understand. They are usually bi-fold (folded twice) or tri-fold (folded thrice). The choice between the two really depends on comfort and needs. The tri-fold affords more space for your stuff; the bi-fold is less bulky and fits into the pocket better. Less common is the breast wallet which is long because it is designed to carry bills without creasing them. Because of its size, it has to be stored in the breast pocket of the jacket and is, therefore, less popular and versatile.

In the bi-fold area, the Coach Heritage Stripe Wallet which comes in navy, brown, and black and white (US$148) has full length bi-fold compartments, a snap coin case and credit card and multifunction pockets, perfect for all needs.

Burberry has a collection of continental wallets (between US$625 and US$1395) that are longer than the usual men’s wallets. The advantage is that along with zip and note compartments, it also has plenty of space for cards.

Women’s wallets come in a multitude of styles with bi-folds, clutches (purse-like wallets that are clutched in one hand), envelopes (slender, rectangular wallets that are shaped like envelopes), operas (hard-cased wallets that snap shut) and wristlets (wallets that have a strap that allow them to be carried around the wrist) being the more common.

Prada’s women’s bi-folds offer different types of closures – snap or zipper (US$580); and, for the wild night out, the studded patent Saffiano leather wallet has extra bling (US$590).

Salvatore Ferragamo’s clutch purses, in small (US$825) and large (US$995), come with a removable wrist snap so you can use them like a wristlet if it strikes your fancy. The Gancio lock closure with a key in enamel and gold is an interesting detail.

Kate Spade’s Cobble Hill Bee (US$78) in a refreshing apple green with a zip top closure is a perfectly perky example of a wristlet. For summer fun, the Flicker Fabric Bee wristlet in sunshine yellow with bold blooms

The Feel of Fashion

Finally, consider the type of material you want your wallet to be. Most wallets are made of leather. But some can be made of suede, exotic skins like alligator or snake, natural fabric like twill or even synthetic ones like nylon. Opera wallets usually have a metallic frame and come covered in vinyl over a hard case. There are even wallets made of aluminium.

The Wallet Shop carries Tru Virtu’s Oyster line of aluminium wallets (US$46) and card cases. They also have a variety of brands like Myuk, OZOZOsac, Crossing and Je Ne Sais Quoi that give good value for money (under US$25).

With so many types, styles and materials to choose from, the wallet is more than just something to carry your cash, it can be a statement of your style and status. So, have fun shopping!

Shop with us:

Louis Vuitton
2 Orchard Turn
Ion Orchard
#01-23
Singapore 238801
Tel: (65) 6788 3888 
www.louisvuitton.com

Longchamp
2 Orchard Turn
Ion Orchard
#03-21
Singapore 238801
Tel: (65) 6509 8139 
www.longchamp.com

Kate Spade
2 Orchard Turn
Ion Orchard
#03-21
Singapore 238801
Tel: (65) 6634 9117 
www.katespade.com

Kate Spade
252 North Bridge Road
Raffles City Shopping Centre
#01-24
Singapore 179103
Tel: (65) 6338 0969 
www.katespade.com

Prada
2 Orchard Turn
Ion Orchard
#01-01& #02-15
Singapore 238801
Tel: (65) 6509 3113 
www.prada.com

Miu Miu
2 Orchard Turn
Ion Orchard
#01-27
Singapore 238801
Tel: (65) 6509 8987 
www.miumiu.com

Coach
252 North Bridge Road
Raffles City Shopping Centre
#01-35
Singapore 179103
Tel: (65) 6837 2188 
singapore.coach.com

Salvatore Ferragamo
2 Orchard Turn
Ion Orchard
#01-10
Singapore 238801
Tel: (65) 6509 8003 
www.ferragamo.com

The Wallet Shop
9 Bishan Place
Junction 8
#02-01 
Singapore 579837
Tel: (65) 6258 1006 
www.thewalletshop.com

The Wallet Shop
200 Victoria Street
Bugis Junction
#01-12 
Singapore 188021
Tel: (65) 6337 2138 
www.thewalletshop.com

The Wallet Shop
21 Choa Chu Kang Ave 4
Lot One
#01-08 
Singapore 689812
Tel: (65) 6892 6031 
www.thewalletshop.com

The Wallet Shop
4 Tampines Central 5
Tampines Mall
#01-37 
Singapore 529510
Tel: (65) 6544 0184 
www.thewalletshop.com