Every man owns a wallet. It is one of those essential accessories that many people cannot do without. If you don’t own one, you cannot stay organized while on the go. Your bank cards, money, and other important essentials are all safe and accessible from your wallet. That is why most men carry it to keep all those little essentials handy.
Wallets are not only used to stay organized. They can reveal your style and taste. There are many situations when you see a man who is stylish and trendy with a debonair look and an air of sophistication, and then he pulls out his wallet the sight of the thing is utterly shocking. Crusty looking leather with ripped seams that simply falls apart when he handles it.
If you’ve ever been that man, your embarrassment was probably only matched by the look on peoples faces. Below are some of the main offenders for bad taste in wallets.
Canvas wallet
These types of wallets are not completely useless or a total embarrassment. There is one situation where they come in handy and are the perfect EDC. This is when your son needs his very first wallet. Getting him one made with a canvas material is the surest way to wallet train the little dude. Aside from this, no self-respecting man should be caught dead carrying a canvas wallet.
Canvas wallets, denim wallets, or wallets made out of corduroy or any such materials should be outlawed.
Patterned wallets
These wallets are usually seen in the pockets of teenage boys who are still trying to find themselves. Simply put, only juvenile delinquents who have no taste whatsoever will be caught dead carrying a patterned wallet.
They come in all styles and designs like checkered, geometric prints, lumberjack designs etc. You can even find some with green camouflage prints, swirls, and stripes.
A patterned wallet is a sign that you have extremely bad taste that is probably irredeemable. There is no style all fashion taste that can accommodate a patterned wallet. These types of wallets are simply insulting to the wallet-carrying population.
There are some cases where a pattern wallet is somewhat acceptable though. This is when, and only when it is made by a designer like Louis Vuitton or Burberry. You can get away with this because of the brand name.
For instance, a Burberry wallet with the signature check design is a good example. If you must carry a wallet with a designer pattern, make sure it is authentic. Your mannerisms will also help you pull this off because no matter how expensive your wallet is, you can only look the part if you act the part.
The two-color wallet
Why on earth will anybody carry a wallet with two colors? Are they trying to mix and match their outfit? Or is it some kind of color experiment that requires your belt and shoes to match your wallet? If that was your plan, then, unfortunately, I have no tips for you today because there is literally no hope for you.
If you’re not interviewing to be part of a circus, then know that a two-color wallet was never in, and will never be fashionable. It smacks of lousy taste and is a turn off for any woman who has an eye for fashion.
There is no rulebook that states that your wallet must match your outfit. In fact, your wallet is a stand-alone fashion item. It’s independent of any other accessory, and sort of has a life on its own.
If you think about it, your wallet is in a world of its own sitting alone in your pocket. It’s not seen by people every day, and the only time it comes out to play, it definitely should make an impression. You want your wallet to show that even in your innermost hidden places, you are classy.
Whenever you pull out your wallet, people’s admiration of you should increase and not reduce. I dedicated several paragraphs to the two-tone colored wallet because of how absurd it is and how much I want to see it gone!
Please stick to one color and try not to be a hero by carrying a two-tone colored monstrosity.
The logo
Your wallet cannot be used to prove a point about the total cost of your wardrobe. It serves a lot of benefits, but should not be viewed as that accessory to level the playing field. Your wallet is supposed to be a subtle addition to your ensemble, not the selling point.
If your wardrobe is distasteful, then I’m sorry because there’s nothing your wallet can do to change that. Some people may not agree, but any wallet with a designer logo like Gucci, Fendi etc., should be laid to rest six feet under the ground. This is not to diss designer brands but to state the obvious to those who are trying too hard; especially with their wallet choice.
Even if you’re infected by the logomania craze, a wallet with a logo on it is pointless — no one gets to see it, so why bother?
So far I have mentioned four no-nos for wallet carrying men. There is a wallet that I recommend 100% of the time and this is the classic black leather wallet.
Say yes to the classics!
A classic is a regular black leather wallet which is safe and will go well with just about any wardrobe choice. When you’re wearing a suit, your classic black leather wallet will go nicely with the formal look. When the classic is old and beat up, it will still look dignified without much effort.
You can dress up or down and still carry a classic wallet. Whether you’re wearing jeans or a sports outfit, your classic black leather wallet will fit in perfectly.
If you are a one-wallet man, the classic black leather wallet should be your only choice. Think about it, many male icons like Eastwood, McQueen, Newman, and Dean have all been seen at one time or another with the classic.
You can add some variety to your EDC with a brown leather wallet. This is also a classic that will go well with just about any outfit. But my number one choice is the black classic because you can never go wrong with this EDC.
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