Many men pull out a huge wallet when it comes to checking out. Between the time they spend taking out the wallet, picking up what falls out, and putting it back in their jeans or coat, they would sometimes already be home.
Okay, I'm exaggerating... but only slightly. All this to tell you that minimalism has its good points, and that carrying all those loyalty, bank, business, and transportation cards (in addition to your change) is neither practical nor aesthetic. So there's no point in walking around with your house in your pocket.
First of all, it deforms your clothes . We have been telling you for a while that jeans are a material that loses between 1 and 2 sizes when worn: putting too much in your pockets will make them saggy, or at best bulging because they are full, which also breaks your silhouette.
And from an aesthetic point of view, it's a shame to give so much importance to its appearance only to end up taking out of your pocket an object that has lost all its shape and looks more like a poor counterfeit than the legitimate showcase of your finances (means of payment) and your image (business cards).
In 95% of cases, you will only need your bank card, 1 or 2 bank notes, your transport card and the photo of Auntie Lucette. And possibly some business cards. Not enough to rent a semi-trailer, right?
So opt for an elegant card holder or a small wallet.
Your change will go in your pockets . If you follow our recommendations on men's jeans that should be fitted, the coins will not fall out when sitting (unless you ride a pony, but that hasn't happened to me since CE2). Or if you prefer, in a... coin purse, which is a simple small zippered pocket. With 2 separate items for cards and coins, you avoid the king-size wallet.
© Wallet.
We come to all those items that are only useful a few times a year : loyalty cards, identity cards (but why do French identity cards have twice the surface area of a credit card?), passport, etc.
All these other things will fit perfectly in your old, oversized wallet left at home. Or in your bag (you can reread our article on men's bags ).
What is certain is that given the newly acquired lightness: you will not miss your old gear!
HOW TO CHOOSE YOUR CARD HOLDER OR WALLET?
Let's be clear right away, you won't find what you're looking for in holiday flea markets and other cheap stores. At best, you'll only get a cardboard/imitation leather object that will lose its shape in a few weeks. These items age badly, and in any case, the presence of a brand is no more interesting for your leather goods than it is for your clothes.
So choose a truly beautiful object, cut from a noble material. To ensure the quality of the leather , check that the skin is smooth and regular, with fine and tight pores. Also check the assembly : as usual, you should find very regular and solid seams.
The choice of leather is vast . Some will prefer cowhide leathers, which are thicker and offer a better hold. For my part, I was given a lambskin billfold, thinner but less robust (be careful not to twist it in your pocket). After 2 years of use, I am still very happy with it.
Others, finally, will turn to more exotic leathers such as crocodile, stingray leather, or even eel leather. Why not, but on condition of sticking to sober designs.
So here is the one I use: it is very simple and I have plenty of room for the essentials for urban survival.
SMALL SELECTION OF WALLETS AND CARD HOLDERS
Finally, here is a small selection of more original pieces. If you have other good ideas, let me know in the comments and I will improve the article 🙂
PS. Thanks to Rémi for his product suggestions.
