It’ll be here before you know it. Our annual 12 days of Dappered gift guide covers one item/idea each week-day for the next dozen days. All will be reasonably affordable, and at the same time they should (hopefully) appeal to someone who might drop on by this corner of the internet. So if you’re looking for ideas on what to give a decently dressed (yet budget conscious) fellow, or, if you’ve got friends/family struggling for ideas on what to get someone (you) who’s hard to buy for, check back in as this year’s 12 Days churns on. You’ll also find the growing archive here.
Smartphones, tablets, laptops, laptops that can turn into a tablet… one day we’re dialing into AOL with a 56K modem, the next we’ve got more technology at our fingertips than Wesley Crusher. But just because we’re hardly away from our screens, doesn’t mean we’re doomed to walking around with these things encased in Robocop’s luggage. Proof is below. Feel free to add to these idea starters, by adding your own favorite tech case (w/some timeless or vintage appeal) in the comments.
The Laptop Sleeve: Old Calgary Macbook Alpha or Proxima – $65.00
That… is one sexy laptop case. For those of us who use (gasp) PCs instead of Macs, it might be worth comparing measurements, or, sending them an email to see if your non-Mac will fit in one of these. German felt + Italian leather. Pocket on the exterior is for extras like a smartphone/notebook/pens/etc… Made in the USA.
The Tablet Case: P.B. Kindle – $39.00 | J. Crew iPad – $29.75 w/ WINTERSALE
The Pottery Barn (yes, Pottery Barn) case comes with free monogramming. Not bad. And the J. Crew iPad cover is simple, on sale, and the extra 30% off code WINTERSALE certainly applies.
The iPhone Case: Allen Edmonds – $45 | Focused Space Waxed Canvas – $30
The Allen Edmonds iphone case originally had some problems with the construction (see the reviews) but it appears they’ve fixed those issues. Lots of color combos to choose from, and the slip on the back is a great place to keep a few business cards. Made in the USA. For the waxed canvas case, you’re looking at either a light or dark canvas exterior on that one.
The… Mousepad? Saddleback Leather – $45.00
Yes, a $45 mousepad. But it looks (& smells) amazing, and comes with the standard Saddleback 100 year warranty. Probably not gonna be using mice in a hundred years, as by then we’ll have devices that’ll just read our thoughts, but, well, y’know. Great for now when the times are quaint and the technology isn’t quite so implanted in our brains.
The All in One: Barnwood Leather Original Outdoor Office – $135 – $150
Many thanks to reader mr_gibson1 for passing along this indiegogo project (so, like Kickstarter, there are risks). Perfect for those who like to use technology as well as the good ol’ pen/pencil and notebook. $135 gets you the Original in Pull Up leather, and $150 gets you the outstanding looking Horween leather option. Based out of Delaware. Also seen at the top of the post. Know that this is a “flexible funding” campaign, so even if they don’t hit their ultimate goal, they still collect the funds.
Your turn guys… where can someone find a great looking, yet still functional case for their smartphone, tablet, or laptop? Leave it all in the comments section below.
The perfect mousepad for the steampunk office.
That mousepad is hilarious in a badass kind of way (or badass in a hilarious kind of way?). It’s awesome even though it would be tough for it to not look out of place.
But these felt laptop cases, card cases, etc. that have been popping up just look like bad arts and crafts projects.
Not sue if AE actually ever fixed the problem. I bought a case in Sept. when the 5S came out. The, what I will call, sealing epoxy along the ridge of the case has peeled off on all four corners and is now peeling off in the middle of the case ridge too.
Most of the peeling began after I got my first pair of Gustins (perhaps rubbing the denim as I took my phone out of the very tight fitting pocket had something to do with it). In any event, I am stopping by my local AE tomorrow to see what they can do to fix the problem.
Interesting. According to the comments online from AE they said they’ve fixed it. But yeah, bummer.
Yoox currently has some Cote et Ciel tech cases that are absolutely gorgeous.
No Android love?
Got one myself. What do you use? I’m not much of case for my phone guy, personally.
Hot damn, I do loves me the look of that Barnwood Outdoor Office, but flexible funding makes me once bitten twice shy about the whole thing.
Can anyone recommend me some good, reasonably priced iPhone 4s cases? I’m a fan of leather, but I do like the ones posted here.
Jcrew factory has some…
Been using my new Briggs & Riley Laptop/Briefcase and really liking it. Looks more like a briefcase than a laptop case and more stylish. Moss green nylon.
I use the Ringke Fusion on my Nexus 4. It’s definitely a minimalist case. Hella cheap too.
I just buy Nokia phones and figure I don’t have to worry about a case.
And that is the story about how my Lumia 1020 acquired a single crack along the base of the screen. (At least it doesn’t actually impact the usage of the phone, like most cracked screens do.)
Hey Jesse, thanks for your message. I think you may have just won me over. Appreciate the extra effort.
+1 to this smart guy.
Keep an eye on JCrew’s or JCF’s sale section for their cases. I picked up a red leather one for $7.
Just to follow up, I went into the AE today and exchanged the case. The sales lady was trying to figure out if, based on the purchase date, my original case was from the first “bad” batch. She could not come to a definitive conclusion, so we will just have to wait and see how this one wears…Joe, for what it’s worth, I’ll shoot you an email to give you an update.
A little on the spendy side, but if you’re looking for quality, giftable stuff along these lines it’s almost obligatory to check out Hard Graft. Their stuff is awesome and (maybe more importantly for the holidays) special & unique.
It’s tough – so many companies make iPhone cases.
The other issue is that if Joe listed, say, an GS4 case, someone would say, “No Note 3 love?” or “No Nexus 5 love?”
I love my Nexus 5, but I know it’s niche and though I’d love more case recommendations (currently back and forth between a Spigen Ultra Hybrid and a Poetic bumper), hard to cover all the Android choices in one swoop, ya know?
Can anyone point in the direction of a nice, but not $200 13″ laptop bag with handles?