Wallets: save or splurge? - YouLookFab Forum

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Wallets: save or splurge?

gradfashionista

(website)

Veteran

I'm shopping around for wallets at the moment, having abandoned them years ago and, like handbags, there's a huge price range. I'm just curious whether you tend to save or splurge on your wallet. On my part, I love a nice wallet in the same way that I love my handbags: soft leathers, strong and careful stitching, neutral colours, tiny accents. What about yourself?

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36 replies

Latest reply was from rizamei

Joy

Veteran

I like bright ones that I can find with ease. I also am very picky about the configuration. I suppose I pay medium range prices, but am willing to pay a bit more for just the right one. After all, it is in constant use. I usually wear one out before buying another unless my needs change.

Anonymous

I love wallets that match my purse. I am willing to pay more for a nice leather wallet that is coordinated to a specific purse. It is my style signature.

The feel of the leather is very important to me so I base my purchase on how it feels in my hand. I also really want it to have a change compartment.

I probably pay a bit more for my wallets, but I use them constantly. I have only once had a wallet wear out. I replaced it with the exact color/model.

Diana

Veteran

Honestly, the first thing I look for in a wallet is the size/configuration. (size, especially. Why are all women's wallets so honking big? And the men's ones never have a zip pocket...) I guess I am willing to pay more for them because I do use the same one every single day, and I generally don't buy another one until the current one falls apart.

Currently I have a small red leather Coach wallet. So, mid price, I guess.

ETA: My last wallet was stolen but I'd say, thievery aside, they last at least 5 years for me.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Splurge. DEFINITELY splurge. Although I am very fussy about the size, colour and compartment configuration. I just refreshed my wallet style in London. Citron Furla.

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Elle

Veteran

I only care that it isn't bulky so I'm in the save category.

Echo

Veteran

I definitely splurge on a wallet. Construction and details really matter on a piece that gets as much use as a wallet. And while many people balk at paying as much for a wallet as they might for a bag, the wallet takes more skill to make, attention to detail and quality to last the same amount of time a bag does, IMO. I used to try to match a wallet to a bag, but then came to the conclusion that only one style of wallet really worked for me. I now buy one in a colour or print that makes me happy and use it for a very long time. Indeed, once I started buying quality wallets, I haven't been able to wear one out, and I now have a number of nice ones to coordinate with different bags!

Peri

Veteran

I splurged, because I was very particular about size, configuration and color. The one that hit 10 on all points was $100. I didn't set out to splurge, but I wasn't reluctant to because I knew I would have it for years.

Anonymous

I think I'm all alone on team Save, sniff.
I would buy something inexpensive with a good configuration and spend on more on a nice handbag.
You can still get really cute wallets for not much money
I'm with Joy: I like bright ones!

Keix

Veteran

Splurge to an extent; I'm super picky about configuration. I wanted a zip around wallet that would fit my phone and had a wristlet strap; i.e. a continental wallet with a slightly different shape, which is hard to find since most places just sell normal continental wallets.

Marilyn

Veteran

My current wallet is the first one I've splurged on and it has been well worth it. It's a slim Coach Legacy Wallet in a gorgeous ultraviolet colour. I've been using if for a few years now and it still looks brand new. I get loads of compliments on the colour when I pull it out to pay.

JAileen

Veteran

I've always had a nice leather wallet. My last wallet was made by Coach and was ridiculously fat. It made it hard to fit anything else in my purse. Then I got a jumbo phone (6SPlus) and I really had the change my ways. I got a long slim nylon wallet. The advantage besides being slim is that it's light weight, too. And then there are the owls! It's by Orla Kiely from Amazon.

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Style Fan

Veteran

I would splurge if I needed to. I find it very hard to get the right wallet. I had a beautiful wallet from Roots that was stolen (sniff) and Roots stopped making that model. Right now I have a 2 piece arrangement. Not great but I have not found anything else that works for me.
I need a place for ID and cards, cash, change (zipper and larger than a postage stamp) and another compartment for tokens. I do not need a place for cheques. Who writes cheques? Rant over.

anne

Veteran

I suppose I am a saver, but happen to have a lovely bright blue one that was a gift some years ago. In fact I'm trying to remember if I have ever bought one in my life or if they were all gifts or handed down items.

I don't like twist clasps for money, and I do like having quite a few compartments for cards, as I have a lot of them

rachylou

Veteran

Configuration is most important to me. I have 'requirements.' So I have ended up giving away my spendy wallets and now use Target ones exclusively. But I should say my wallets are the kind that go in another bag or pocket. The thing about spendy is, spendy is often so heavy. Cheap nylon saves the back/wrist.

unfrumped

Veteran

What Rachy said, kinda.
I like just the right compartments and coin place. So I dong need spendy duh-signer, but will buy the wallet I like if I come across the right one. ( within some kind of reason!)
I've mostly bought leather because I like the feel and because my " receipt wallet" is fabric/ Velcro, but I agree weight is getting more important and I would consider other materials if I liked everything else.

Bonnie

Veteran

I have a tiny wallet that just holds some paper money and credit cards that I have had for over ten years. It was expensive and made by Mark Cross but has lasted. I can put it in my pocket or in my bag's pocket and I love it.

Dee

Veteran

I wanted one that wasn't full length, but could still hold more than 4 or so cards. I ended up with a Michael Kors half-length zippered wallet that I'vd used for a few years. It held enough and had room for change. It was a bit of a splurge, but it could have been worse, and the wallet has held up quite well.

Gigi

Veteran

I say splurge if you can find one that you really like that is made from leather so that it will last. I got my first leather wallet years ago, and I still use it today. It is still in great shape, and I've had it for probably 17 years. So it's actually been cheaper in the long run than buying many lesser-quality wallets.

CocoLion

(website)

Veteran

I'm on team save. I get the slimmest smallest I can find, because I like smaller bags. Currently I have a leather one from Tignagnello which I like, not an expensive brand. There are times I skip the wallet all together and use the inner zip pocket of the clutch or cross body bag. Fossil, Tignagnello and some Michael Kors even come with wallets built into the bags (credit card slots, coin zip pockets).

retailgirl

Veteran

I have a Coach wallet that's about three years old, Legacy collection, navy with red that I bought to match a Coach duffle. I carry the bag now and then but use the wallet every day. Still looks good. My requirements: some zip pockets, not too big, room for cards but I don't carry a lot of them. Soft leather, nice color. Good wallets usually cost as much as bags because there's a lot of hand work to them.

Aquamarine

Veteran

Configuration and size are most important to me. It has to fit in the majority of my handbags. I think you can get a nice wallet at many price points. Off-price retailers generally have a good selection if you are not picky about color. I like Fossil for quality and budget-friendly wallets.

However, next time I will probably go for a bright color as I am finding it harder to see a dark wallet inside a bag, which wasn't really an issue 10 years ago!

ma

Veteran

I am in the mid-ranhe, i suppose. My current one is a Perlina from Nordstrom Rack that i bought in Seattle when my daughter was 5 months old and she is 5 years old now and i still dont have any problems with it (except maybe it could use a cleaning.) My husband actually bought me a very nice MK one last mothers day and i returned it because i didnt think i needed it.

dakotacheryl

Veteran

My favorite wallet, is one from Dooney & Bourke that came as part of a set with a handbag on QVC. It has 3 credit card slots inside on each side and is roomy enough in the middle for the rest of my cards, receipts, cash folded in half and change.
I loved it so much, I bought another one on eBay. The colors I have are cognac and purple...I'm still using the cognac one...and it shows no wear after several years.
This wallet is small enough that it slips into all of my purses.

I am going to look into a new wristlet from Coach that will fit the large iPhone.

Anonymous

Jaileen, another Orla Keely fan here! I love your wallet!

Susie

Veteran

As others have said, size and the functionality are primary considerations. Mine is fairly small as I use a variety of size handbags. I actually have the same wallet in 2 colors- 1 for winter and 1 for summer.

But even a practical item can speak to you...I recently got to spend a day shopping with my Mom which is pretty rare so I suggested that we shop together for each other's Christmas gift. (I got a super soft faux fur vest at Nordstrom.) My Mom had been using the same wallet for more than 20 years and it had been a gift from my sister. It was time for a replacement and we looked in several stores before coming across the perfect one. The leather was a beautiful color and nice and soft. But we knew it was THE one for her when we saw the tiny emblem, an elephant, which is a special favorite for her.

Oh and it wasn't overly expensive but the fun of choosing it together makes it priceless.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I'm another who is very picky about size and configuration of a wallet. My current one was a little bit of a splurge, even though it was on sale, it was more than I'd spent for a wallet previously. It's a small Longchamp in a deep wine color and a reptile texture, and it's getting better with age. I bought it two years ago when I was downsizing my purses and I moved to a smaller wallet that would easily fit in a clutch.

I tend to get tired of wallets before I actually wear them out, but I've passed along a couple of nice ones to my niece over the years.

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Jules

Veteran

Save vs splurge is relative, but I think on balance I'd rather have something decent quality that wears nicely. I got sick of my last one (brightly multi-coloured) before it wore out, but it can now be passed on to my daughter or friend who both love it. Since it's an essential, not easily swapped out, and you use it every day I think it is worth a splurge, in terms of cost, quality AND effort.
PS Janet.... That wallet is gorgeous and very you

shiny

Veteran

I look for configuration and size, as well as "feel."

This has been my wallet for many years now - Michael Kors.

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Anonymous

Definitely splurge! I bought myself a new D&B wallet (pebble leather) last year at Macy's and I love it. I also have a vintage Gucci that is about 40 years old and it is in amazing condition. My other wallets/wristlets are Coach (leather only)

I wore out all the wallets that were given to me by family/friends over the years very quickly that were not of high quality.

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