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.
The boxed bi/trifold + trinket set is kinda sad. It’s the equivalent of gas-station flowers on Valentine’s Day. It shows desperation. The giver wants to get the guy in their life something sharp and professional, but instead they seem to have grabbed something out of the pile of impulse buys on the way out of the department store. See right –> (Aw, thanks Grandma)
Instead, combine a slim card case w/ a simple money clip. It’s sleeker, it’s a combination favored by many a blazer wearing fella, and there are plenty of good-looking options out there that’ll look a lot better than those unfortunate, pre-boxed alternatives.
Saddleback ID Wallet – $33.00 | Coach Bleeker Legacy Money Clip – $48
A card case with a 100 year warranty. That’s what Saddleback does. Thick, full grain leather with a pig-skin lining. Shown here is the lightest, tobacco brown color after a year’s worth of use. Full review here. Meanwhile, if the Coach money clip just seems stupid expensive to you, there’s this option over at Sierra Trading Post for dirt cheap. But there’s a big ol’ logo on that one. Sign up for the Coach email list and they’ll send out 25% off codes quite often.
Jack Spade Embossed Paisley Card Holder – $50 | Bosca Money Clip – $30
I’M SORRY I CANT HEAR YOU OVER THE PATTERN ON YOUR CARD CASE. Not the most subtle pattern, but at least it’s embossed and tonal. And that oxblood color is something else. Ships free. If you’re going with something that… different for your card case, might as well keep it plain and simple on the money clip.
Old Calgary Whiskey Wallet – $35 | Cole Haan Greenwich Money Clip – $48.00
Gotta love the wacky world of economics. The hand-crafted, made in the USA Italian Leather + Wool Felt card case from Old Calgary (also seen at the top of page) is thirty five bucks. The Cole Haan Money clip is almost fifty. Both mighty fine looking.
B.B. Buffalo Card Case – $78.40 ($98) | Allen Edmonds Money Clip – $28
($35)
Extra texture on that card case from Brooks Brothers, which is 20% off through the end of today (12/12). Meanwhile, the blue interior on the AE moneyclip is a nice touch. Careful though, magnets are strong. Apparently a little too strong for some (see the one review… strange)
Coach Bleeker Colorblock Case – $68.00 | Tiffany Sterling Silver Money clip – $170
Looks like someone ended up on the “nice” list this year.
Your turn guys. Are you a member of team card case & money clip? What do you carry? Leave your suggestions in the comments section below…
Would have loved to see a waxed canvas/canvas option in the list.
I have that Saddleback ID wallet in coffee brown. It’s great. I was worried that the ID window would get loose but it hasn’t. I use a binder clip for a money clip, works just fine, better than a paper clip, but almost as cheap.
I just fold the cash and slip it into the card case. Sure, it sticks out a bit, but not enough to necessitate a separate accessory.
Here’s my current pocket distribution.
Left front: business card case, key ring with fat electronic car fob, loose receipts. Right front: Kel-Tec. Right rear: phone. Left rear: bifold wallet.
So, this combo would thin out the left rear pocket slightly, by the thickness of any paper currency I might be stuck with, but then what to do with the fat money clip? Them Bonobos chinos you recommended don’t have a lot of room left in the front pockets, Joe!
I bought my brother the Saddleback ID wallet, which I covet and despite it being on my wishlist for ages no one has reciprocated and got me one. So, I still carry something similar looking to that Coach one that I got at Target. For some reason that Tiffany money clip really annoys me, maybe because you can buy a sterling silver money clip and get it custom engraved for half the price.
You keep your phone in your back pocket? How does that work when you sit? You’re a braver man than I.
Edit: Although if I were to carry a Kel-Tec on my person, I’d probably have bigger concerns than my phone.
http://www.guardedgoods.com/collections/all
I do this too. A handful of bills doesn’t take up much room in a card case or minimalist wallet.
i have the tiffany money clip… and the only downside is over time the clip doesn’t hold cash that well
Herschel (http://bit.ly/Jm3wBg) has a nice canvas combination card holder/money clip. I love mine. It’s obviously not quite the same gift if you’re looking for something for someone else, but it’s useful in its own right, and canvas. They come in different colors, though I don’t see the others on Herschel’s website right now.
I use a colonel Littleton #33 wallet. Has room for 2-4 cards and a the back carries cash: http://www.colonellittleton.com/leather-front-pocket-wallet-no33
I had a metal Jack Spade clip for awhile, until I recently lost it. But it always bothered me — how do you guys keep it from stretching out when you’ve got more than a few bills? The minute I get some ones the thing became a pain.
I actually like the paisley Jack Spade! Here is a tip. I signed up for their newsletter and got 15% off 🙂
I’m not a big fan of wallets with ID windows, especially plastic ones. They get gross, and most places (at least in New England) that require ID will ask you to remove them from any holder. This is the card holder that I’m hoping Santa gets me:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0037W704C/
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/81ggbB3WNCL._SX522_.jpg
Just a note: the Saddleback ID window is open. It’s basically just a leather frame – no plastic involved. It’s actually really easy to remove your ID when you need to.
Some nice looking card cases, particularly that Saddleback. Can personally vouch for the Coach case. Have a brown, non-colorblock version that was a groomsmans gift about 8 years ago. Has been my only wallet since then and has aged nicely. Still very good friends with most of the other groomsmen and their experience with it has been the same as mine. It is actually pretty funny when we are at a bar and all pull out the same case. Supplement with a cheap JCF metal money clip or just stuff a couple bills in the card case.
Are y’all rocking these in front pockets? Or just blazer/jacket pockets? Any issues with other things you carry in front pockets (not including handguns)?
The best looking wallet IMO (saddleback) is also the cheapest with a 100-year warranty. I am seriously considering adding that to my christmas list and retiring my old ralph lauren card case. It looks like the ID side might not show the full ID that well and would require you to take your ID out to show it when being carded. Is this true?
Nice list, I really like the Old Calgary and the Coach one. I use this one by Dopp:
http://www.amazon.com/Dopp-Black-Pocket-Get-Away-Wallet/dp/B009KE5YF8/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1386951694&sr=8-4&keywords=dopp+front+pocket+wallet
Brown and black leather, and some subtle contrast details. Has an antitheft RFID-blocker pocket, but I have no idea how effective it is. ID, 3 cards, and room for cash and a couple business cards. Had a plain black one before, but this one had just enough to be distinct.
I suppose if you have a Tiffany money clip, the longer you have it, the more likely it is that you’ll just have your assistants carry a briefcase full of $100s for you wherever you go. 🙂
(Wish I had that clip myself… it’s a stunner)
Thanks! I like the overall design but will be holding out for a non-camo option.
Yeah, right there with you. Mine is a muted orange with no camo to be found, which is great. They’re definitely worth searching for if you like the design, since there are a wide variety of colors. Found mine in small mensware shop in Philadelphia, but I’m sure there are online Herschel vendors that would have them.
If you’re paying more for something made of leather than Saddleback charges, you’re paying too much. If you’re paying for something made by Saddleback, you’re still probably paying too much, but you’re awesome and I want to be you.
I have a card case from Gustin in light tan that I never use. The leather is nice, but height is less than a card, so everything sticks out the top. I also had an Alchemy Goods card case (made of recycled bike tires) that I used for a couple years. It worked great except that the rubber really held onto cards, but got pretty beat up over that time period (though I’m not sure any wallet would hold up with my Pit using it as a chew toy).
My current carry is the ID card insert from a Relic bifold wallet (probably from Kohl’s). I used that wallet during my big wallet days, and recently realized the insert was perfect for a front pocket carry. 3 tiered card slots and an ID slot. I agree with some of the other posters, the clear plastic on the ID slots just doesn’t work out in practice. Cash goes in there behind the ID as long as I have less than 20 bills or so.
I don’t like magentic money clips.They are too bulky. SO the only one on this list I like is the Tiffany one, but $170? No thanks I wouldn’t have anything left to clip. I guess that’s one way to get rid of pocket bulk!
http://www.maxtonmen.com/collections/wallets-belts/products/the-raven-wallet
Is it a hassle to get you cash out from the case quickly?
Does anyone have suggestions of a thin card case / money clip all-in-one?
i want color block wallet, here sir, is all of my monies.
This is the one I’m looking to buy after the holidays, should I not find one under the tree.
Fossil has a ton of those, but I’m just not a fan. Cheap construction + odd “knob” wallet feeling in the front pocket.
No wallet needed: http://uncrate.com/p/2009/05/trojan-2go.jpg
It’s on my wish list as well – probably going on my wedding registry.. lol
Gustin selvedge denim wallet. Wonderfully slim, and will age/fade like their jeans. 🙂
In fact, I use a neatly-cut-off eyeglasses sleeve as a “phone wallet” to cover the bottom half of my phone. Keeps it from slipping out, and keeps the hard bottom edge from wearing through my pocket.
Kel-Tecs were made for carrying on the person, weren’t they? For high-quality leather Kel-Tec holders, take a look at hedleyholsters.com.
I have that clip, but reserve it for occasions when I’m wearing a tux. Holds my driver’s license, Mastercard, and a few bills for valets and tips. Keeps the wallet bulge off of the elegant dinner-suited butt.
For those interested in the Coach card cases, I just went and bought a similar one at my local store. I expected to pay full price but apparently they had a 50% off promotion going. There weren’t any signs or anything in the store, but they took the 50% off when I went to buy it. Might be worth checking out.
The Herschel one is nice, but you can do it cheaper. I bought one of those “magic wallets” and cut the “magic” part off. Voila! A canvas cardholder for under $10.
I think that any place that’s seriously checking ID is going to make you pull it out anyway to see that the construction is authentic.
Generally though I agree with you; I’m not familiar with guidelines on how a US driver’s license has to be laid out, but in those photos much of the portrait and all of the info on the bottom strip is pretty obviously obscured.
Seems like it’d only be of any use if you’re at someplace that’s only casually checking your name/address or birthdate.
What’s the color of the Saddleback ID Wallet shown in this post?