In the fashion realm, I'm often amused that people will go to great lengths to put together a beautiful outfit, yet they continuously neglect the less obvious accessories such as umbrellas and wallets.
Like any other accessory, umbrellas and wallets can make or break your look. No matter how well dressed you are, when you pull out of your expensive bag the cute multi-colour hearts and polka dot wallet you received as a present for your 15th birthday, the allure of your impeccable outfit will be diminished. An umbrella that's falling apart ruins the confidence and authority of a businessman dressed to the nines.
Forget clothes: to me, a quality leather wallet and an umbrella that doesn't turn inside out with the first gust of wind are a definite sign that someone has their personal style down to a t.
Comme des Garçons's elegant and playful wallets are a longtime favourite of mine. However, my admiration of them is bound to remain aspirational: I firmly believe it doesn't make sense to buy a wallet that costs more money than I'll ever have in it.
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Bought myself an N.D.C. wallet (http://www.ndcmadebyhand.com/) years ago, still serves me better then I ever thought it would, although it did cost me a small fortune.
Nevertheless, I don't regret the purchase and I sincerely hope it will stay with me as long as ... well, as long as I live. At least that long.
I could not agree more. I have been carrying an embarrassingly tatty purse for a while. I just bought a shiny new one and I suddenly feel worthy of having any interest in fashion. Great post.
Elise x
There's the vuitton damier graphite wallet, that is just absolutely breath-taking in my opinion. But I wouldn't want to consider having an expensive wallet, when I already have 2 other wallets. My Kenneth Cole New York ones are holding up just find. One is a small black men's zip around and other is a women's tan & leopard calf hair clutch/wallet. One day I'd like to find a small French wallet, but it's no rush. I did order a Furla leopard one via gilt groupe once, but they sent me a black crocodile continental wallet instead.
But I am guilty of carrying beat up umbrellas.