High end wallets, purses or any small leather goods are a great way to dip your toe into the world of designer goods. They may be expensive but if you buy right you will make a purchase that will stay with you for life. In this blog post I will review 4 different types of designer wallets to help you decide if any of them are suitable for your lifestyle. Also, I should point out that some of these products were bought in previous seasonal collections so may not be available any more. Lastly, the prices I quote are what I paid for them at the time of purchase, therefore, you may find some of the prices may have increased.
PRADA Card holder £150.
I have to say usually all my high end purchases are well thought out and budgeted for, but I spotted this beautiful Prada card holder while walking through Selfridges and it was love at first sight. Elephants hold a very special place in my family’s heart and being pink with delicate white polka dots was the icing on the cake. Two years later and it has consistently been my everyday wallet. It is perfect for when I only need a couple of cards with me for example at the gym or when running errands. It is made from Prada’s signature material, Saffiano leather, which I find to be very durable and easily up to the task of everyday use and will continue to look brand new. Although this print was a limited edition, there are still plenty of other colour options on Prada’s website. If you are a minimalist person and like to only carry a small amount of cards with you or the odd £10 this is perfect for you.
CHANEL Classic card holder in lambskin. £240
This was purchased back in 2015 and I should say that since Chanel’s yearly price increases this is now retailing for £360. However, I think we can all agree that this wallet is visually stunning and I can truthfully say the caviar leather feels as luxurious as it looks. This, however, is part of the problem, it feels and looks so special that you feel slightly reluctant to take it out of the box and use it, but once you get past that aspect it is amazingly practical. I do consider where I am going before taking this wallet with me as I want to treasure it forever. Caviar leather is the most resilient leather Chanel do but it still does not make it immune from marks and scratches from everyday use. Therefore, I generally save this for special occasions or just times when I am feeling extra fancy! If you feel this option isn’t for you, then you can opt for softer leather such as lambskin which is softer and smoother but does mark very easily. Some people believe that you lose some of the beauty and elegance of the material with caviar leather due to the grainy appearance but in my opinion it’s worth it for the durability. Inside it has a large compartment which can hold a fair amount of cards, a few notes and the occasional pound coin. The wallet is secured with a popper close mechanism and although it is simple, it is very effective. So to conclude, if you buy this wallet to use everyday, be aware that the leather may wear quicker, but it is a stunning piece of quality craftsmanship to own and treasure.
LIBERTY Travel card holder. £65
Although technically this is meant to be used for travel cards and tickets, there is no reason why this couldn’t be used as an everyday wallet. It has ample room for cards with 4 designated slots on one side and a see-through ID window on the other. This wallet comes in an array of fabulous Liberty prints, each stylish and distinctive in their own way and even better, the exterior leather is very durable and could definitely withstand daily use. This wallet is a lovely and slightly bigger alternative than a card holder but still compact enough to fit into a coat pocket or small handbag.
PRADA Envelope large wallet. £250
Last but certainly not least, we have the Prada classic large wallet which is so big it can hold as many cards, notes and coins as you want! This is my go to wallet if I need to carry more than will comfortably fit in my smaller wallets. I can also confirm that after a lot of use and as you can see from the picture above, it still looks in excellent condition. It has a large main compartment with card slots built into the side and a zipped compartment on the reverse side for coins (or emergency shoe money!). This classic staple will never go out of style with the minimal silver Prada monogram and black chic leather exterior this wallet will be a lifelong purchase.
I hope this has given you some good advice on where to spend your pennies!
Mydaisystyle
