Despite many payments and cards becoming digital in recent years, most of us are definitely better off still carrying a wallet in our day-to-day lives. Whether you’re looking to carry every valuable under the sun or just your ID and a couple credit cards, designer wallets come in all shapes and sizes to accommodate your needs. And why designer specifically, you ask? While you can certainly find similarly high-quality pieces without a label (or loud logo) attached, many of us love owning a few designer pieces here and there — just because! And of course, the quality is absolutely there as well, and you’ll get to keep yours for years.
If you’re on the market for a beautiful designer wallet, you’ll need to consider what kind of size and capacity you’re looking for, as well as any personal preferences in terms of material, closure, color, and overall design. To help you make sense of all the options, we researched the very best designer wallets you can find right now, and asked stylists and influencers for their insights. Below are our top picks for designer wallets.
Best Overall
Prada Small Saffiano Leather Wallet
What We Love: It’s cute and compact while actually fitting a ton of essentials.
What We Don’t Love: Saffiano leather looks and feels less plush than smooth leathers.
“She's trendy, she's minimal, she whispers quiet luxury, and she's Prada!” says Melissa Watkins, a style influencer and founder of Fab Glance. This wallet is perhaps one of the cutest ones on our list, with eight beautiful shades available — including simple black options and lots of fun colors, such as bright orange and yellow, or pastel pink and blue. “If you’re a pink lover, like us, then you may love the Small Saffiano Leather Wallet by Prada in Petal Pink,” say Whitney and Megan Bacon-Evans, a wife and wife duo of style influencers. “This chic one-toned wallet has the signature Prada enameled metal triangle logo on the front.”
Besides being adorable, the best thing about this wallet is that it’s beautifully compact while also having the capacity to hold everything you need in any size of purse or handbag. Its teeny dimensions conceal one bill compartment, a zipped coin pouch, two internal pockets AND four card slots. Saffiano leather is great for ensuring your wallet holds up to wear-and-tear brought on by rubbing shoulders with your keys and such; the only thing we would say is that it looks and feels less plush than a softer cowhide or calfskin leather, which may be a consideration.
Material: Saffiano leather, moire | Size: 8.5 W x 11.2 H cm | Closure: Snap button | Colors: 9
Best Leather
Gucci GG Matelassé Card Case Wallet
What We Love: It’s made from super soft leather.
What We Don’t Love: The logo design may not be right for fans of understatement.
If part of your reason for wanting a designer wallet is your love of logos (we can totally relate), then small leather goods from Gucci are always a good idea. “We’re both big fans of having Gucci accessories, from scarves to belts — you also can't go wrong with a card holder,” the Bacon-Evanses say. “This wallet is channeling ’90s vibes and you may also prefer the soft feel from the matelassé leather that Gucci uses.” Yup, not that this is its main draw, but this wallet’s leather will bounce back in a super satisfying way if you poke it, and just overall has a great hand feel.
Available in dusty pink, black, or gray, this little wallet features the brand’s signature double G both in gold appliqué and as part of the “matelassé” effect for an obviously designer piece. It probably goes without saying, but this is definitely not the one for you if discretion is the name of your game. As for its capacity, this card case boasts five card slots, one open pocket, and one zipper pocket, making it perfect for carrying a little cash, some credit cards, and perhaps your travel card for instance.
Material: Matelassé leather | Size: 4.3 W x 3.3 H x 1.2 D inches | Closure: Snap button | Colors: 3
Best on a Chain
Coach Tabby Crossbody Wristlet
What We Love: It’s the perfect compromise between a large wallet and a small handbag.
What We Don’t Love: It doesn’t have many separate compartments.
For those looking to use a wallet instead of a clutch bag (or vice-versa), this one is your gal. “Coach's Tabby bags had an amazing moment, and the moment isn't losing steam,” says Watkins. “This wild card wallet is great for fall concerts because it's a wristlet and it's a mini crossbody! Two pieces for the price of one.” This model is somewhere between a large wallet and a small handbag, and features two interior card slots and one exterior slip pocket, but you will need to add your own coin pouch if you’ll be carrying loose change, since that’s all the dedicated wallet-style storage you get here.
Other than that, we love how this wristlet looks — in either white or black grainy leather — with its flap and push-lock closure adorned with the brand’s “C” logo hardware. The wristlet strap option is made of leather to match the purse’s body, while the crossbody strap is a gold metal chain. Both are easily removable and attachable using a simple lobster clasp for versatility.
Material: Leather | Size: 7.25 W x 4.25 H x 1.25 D inches | Closure: Push-lock | Colors: 2
Best Small
Dior Caro XS Wallet
What We Love: It has a retro feel and a convenient compact size.
What We Don’t Love: The white leather can show dirt more easily.
This cute little wallet reminds us of something we might have had as a kid, and who doesn’t love a little nostalgia wrapped in with their luxury leather goods? “This pretty Dior wallet made of calfskin features the white multicolor Florilegio motif, which is a delicate flower pattern that looks like a watercolor painting,” says model Allison Weiss Brady. “The wallet is a great, smaller size and comes with two card slots, and a convenient zipper compartment.” It also has a larger non-zipped interior compartment for all your extra wallet essentials. Obviously, it is on the smaller size so won’t be suitable if you like to carry all your cards and personal effects at the same time.
Made of soft calf leather, this Dior wallet tops off the luxury feel with rose gold logo hardware and a matching zip and snap button. And for those who love the size and convenience of this little guy but aren’t super into the floral design — which may show dirt more easily due to the white background — this model also comes in Dior’s signature “Cannage” leather stitching, in solid colors including black, sand, and blue-gray.
Material: Calfskin | Size: 4.5 W x 3 H x 1 D inches | Closure: Snap button | Colors: 7
Best Large
Valentino Garavani Rockstud Leather Continental Wallet
What We Love: It can hold a LOT of stuff.
What We Don’t Love: It has a visible logo, which won’t be to everyone’s taste.
Where many designer wallets embrace a classic style we love, you may prefer a little edge when it comes to your accessories — something Valentino is outstanding at, without going over the top. “This sexy wallet comes in pebbled leather with the Valentino signature Rockstud trim in a platinum finish,” says Weiss Brady. “Available in black or beige, showing up with this wallet is a statement that you’ve arrived.” Of course, though, you’re still getting the exceptional quality you pay for here, since this piece is made in Italy from premium calfskin leather. You may need to pass this one up if you’re not a fan of logos, since it reads Valentino Garavani in gold letters in the front.
Another big pull of this wallet is its large format. A continental-style piece with an all-around zipper to secure your belongings, it wouldn’t look out of place used as an evening bag. As for its capacity, it features two wide interior pockets, one zipped compartment, bill pockets, and a whopping 12 card slots.
Material: Leather, viscose | Size: 7 5/8 W x 4 H x 7/8 D inches | Closure: Zip | Colors: 2
Best Long
Cartier Panthère de Cartier Long Wallet
What We Love: It exudes retro elegance.
What We Don’t Love: It only comes in one colorway.
This wallet is giving Jackie Kennedy energy big time. Hailing from hyper luxury French heritage label Cartier, it exudes the charm and elegance of decades past that will still pair beautifully with a more modern outfit. With a length of 7.5 inches, this long wallet is another one that’s guaranteed to fit all your cash, credit cards, loyalty stamp cards, mementos, and anything else you might want to stash in a wallet. It contains 12 card slots, a coin pouch, two flat pockets, and two rather large non-zipped interior pockets.
Made of chestnut-colored calfskin on the outside and lined with black lambskin, this wallet gets even more luxurious thanks to the golden Cartier “C” hot stamp on the front, finished with the brand’s signature panther head. We also love the flap’s curved line, which adds some clever yet discreet detailing to the finished product. The only snag is that this one only comes in one colorway, but if you love brown leather, you know what to do.
Material: Calfskin, lambskin | Size: 4 W x 7.5 H inches | Closure: Snap button | Colors: 1
Best Compact
Céline Compact Wallet With Coin Triomphe
What We Love: It’s beautiful and luxurious.
What We Don’t Love: The detachable card holder looks a bit clunky when attached.
These days, with Apple Pay as many of our preferred payment method, and many loyalty cards becoming digital, a compact wallet that holds just enough often does the trick better than a larger one can. This Céline number comes with four card slots, one bill pocket, and — importantly — a detachable zipped card holder with a flat pocket. If you keep just your ID and main credit card in the detachable compartment, you can easily put it in your pocket or a small purse if you’re not going to be carrying a large handbag. We do find the card holder looks a bit clunky when attached to the wallet’s body, but it’s so practical that we just have to let it slide.
As for how it looks, this is perhaps one of the most beautiful and streamlined wallets on our list, with its luxurious smooth, shiny calfskin exterior and lining, its small flap, and its golden “Triomphe” embellishment in the front. It also comes in a range of stunning colorways: a tan, a gray, a creamy yellow, a brighter yellow, and a simple black.
Material: Calfskin | Size: 4 W x 3 H x 1 D inches | Closure: Snap button | Colors: 5
Best with a Coin Pouch
Chanel 19 Long Flap Wallet
What We Love: It’s the perfect way to add a little Chanel to your wardrobe.
What We Don’t Love: It’s very expensive.
With Chanel handbags liable to set you back several thousand dollars these days, a wallet from the cult French label makes the perfect alternative for those who are obsessed with the brand’s double C and luxurious design and materials but aren’t willing to drop three months’ rent on a purse. That’s how the Bacon-Evanses see it, anyway. “For a timeless look and investment piece, look no further than a Chanel wallet,” they advise. “To say we’re in love with the Chanel 19 Long Flap Wallet in shiny pink would be an understatement. Not only is the wallet stunning and practical, it’s a great way to start collecting Chanel pieces.” This is by far the most expensive piece in our selection, but relative to a handbag, it’s still a lot more accessible.
This wallet is especially fun to look at, with its candy pink hue, diamond stitching, and gold metal and leather chained logo embellishment. Meanwhile, it’s big enough to hold anything you like, with a large zipped coin pouch, a whole bunch of card and bill slots, and lots of extra space in between.
Material: Lambskin | Size: 4.1 H × 7.6 W × 1.2 D inches | Closure: Snap button | Colors: 1
Best Card Holder
Brandon Blackwood Accordion Card Case
What We Love: It’s a super practical way to transport your cards.
What We Don’t Love: The Brandon Blackwood label is more designer-adjacent than designer-designer.
“This denim card case is great for the girls who want a non-leather option, but want to showcase their favorite designer,” says Watkins. “Also, this Brandon Blackwood denim card case looks good outside your purse and is easy to clean if it picks up a stain. The hardware is the best part — upgrading its designer appeal.” This card holder also has the name of the brand etched in white letters across the otherwise blue fabric. While Brandon Blackwood is not what you’d traditionally think of when you think “designer,” the brand has carved itself a definite niche in more affordable luxury in recent years, as Blackwood himself once explained to InStyle.
In practical terms, this accordion card case is well named: It features four gussets, which allow the wallet to fold like an accordion and accommodate four cards. Opening and closing via the front flap and snap button, this piece also features a detachable wrist strap for those times you just can’t be bothered with a full-on handbag.
Material: Cotton or cowhide leather | Size: 0.98' D x 2.76 H x 4.02 W inches | Closure: Snap button | Colors: 5
Best Bi-Fold
Kate Spade Morgan Colorblocked Small Slim Bifold Wallet
What We Love: It’s very sweet and easily wipes clean.
What We Don’t Love: It’s less secure than a continental or flap-style wallet.
Alongside Coach and Brandon Blackstock, Kate Spade is another lovely option for mid-range designer pieces — when you want a little bling, but not the price tag that comes with it. Obviously, that aside, this Kate Spade bi-fold wallet is just very sweet, thanks in large part to its two-toned exterior. Choose between two purposefully clashing shades of pale pink, or contrasting beige and black.
This medium-sized wallet opens and closes via a classic snap button, and features one zipped pocket, two interior slip pockets, and an impressive eight card slots. Made from Saffiano leather, it’s also wipe-clean, which makes your life so much easier. The only downside to this wallet is that — in the absence of a flap or zip-around closure, it’s a little less secure and your items could slip out of it if you don’t zip the pocket up properly for example. As long as you don’t mind the occasional coin making its way into your purse, this shouldn’t be much of a problem.
Material: Leather | Size: 6 4/5 W x 3 7/10 H inches | Closure: Snap button | Colors: 2
Best Flap
Saint Laurent Cassandre Matelassé Large Flap Wallet In Lambskin
What We Love: You can use this wallet on the reg without worrying too much about damaging it.
What We Don’t Love: Only the black version comes with different-colored hardware.
It doesn’t get much more classic (and let’s face it, influencer-approved) than a piece of leatherware finished with YSL’s golden “Cassandre” logo hardware. This one features chevron matelassé leather and a large pointed flap which closes with a snap button. “The lambskin is soft, but the textured flap forgives a bit of wear and tear,” says Watkins. “The key to a great wallet is something that has lots of space but looks sleek enough to live outside your purse.”
When it comes to space, this one doesn't disappoint, with 12 card slots, one coin pouch, two bill pockets, and two receipt compartments. The lambskin model sadly only comes in two colors, but the grain de poudre embossed leather version saves the day with its eight colorways. But unfortunately for those who don’t love gold, only the black version of this wallet comes with an option of silver or black hardware. Still, the gold logo is an undeniable part of this piece’s appeal for many.
Material: Lambskin | Size: 7.4 W x 4.3 H x 1.1 D inches | Closure: Snap button | Colors: 2
Best Continental
Louis Vuitton Clémence Wallet
What We Love: It holds tons of your belongings and the zipper provides an extra layer of security.
What We Don’t Love: It’s made from coated canvas rather than more luxurious leather.
A continental wallet is a fantastic option for those who want to be able to fit all their valuables and also count on a certain level of security. “Whitney carries a Clémence Wallet by Louis Vuitton which has a monogram canvas,” the Bacon-Evanses say. “It’s a great size to carry all her cards, and occasional cash or change for those occasions when it’s needed.” Yep, this wallet has eight card slots, one zipped coin pouch, two large separate compartments, and two inside flat pockets.
The classic brown monogram option comes in Fuschia and Rose Ballerine lining options, with a matching zipper tab. “We love the pink lining as we feel it gives it an extra feminine feel,” the influencer duo say. If you love the size and format of this wallet but aren’t super into the monogram, it also comes in solid-colored and checkered options. While it’s made from coated canvas rather than more luxurious leather, this is what keeps the Clémence at a relatively reasonable price when compared with our picks from similar labels YSL and Valentino.
Material: Coated canvas, cowhide leather | Size: 7.9 W x 3.5 H x 0.8 D inches | Closure: Zip | Colors: 8
What to Keep in Mind
Material
The most common material for designer wallets is high-quality leather, but there are other options out there. “My personal preference is leather because it's longer lasting and molds to your touch over time (which I honestly think is quite romantic),” says Gabriela Rosales, a fashion stylist and founder of The Stylist Witch.
If you don’t love the idea of leather goods, you definitely have options too. “If you want to go vegan, look for covered canvas or denim,” says Watkins, while the Bacon-Evanses suggest looking at labels such as Stella McCartney or Vivienne Westwood for vegan leather alternatives. Meanwhile, our denim pick from Brandon Blackwood is sure to float your boat.
Size
Which size of wallet you go for really depends what you’re going to be storing in it. Think about the purse you'll be storing it in, and if you're better off picking a long and lean wallet like Cartier's Wallet or something small and compact, like Dior's Floral Wallet. “Anything that can fit easily and comfortably in your hand is ideal — for me anything in the 4 to 10 inches in length,” says Weiss Brady. “The width will vary, and depends on how many credit cards you carry around with you. Bonus if the wallet comes with a wrist strap to make it more convenient to carry around.”
Closure
Again, this is very much a question of preference, so we had the experts weigh in. “I like long flap wallets that open like books and I prefer them without closures like zippers or buttons because it's too fussy when dealing with a quick transaction,” says Rosales. “Also if you have long nails like I do, the stress is real!” But Weiss Brady feels the opposite way: “I prefer a zipper where everything securely fits in,” she explains. “I don’t love closures that can easily unlatch or pop open.” For the most security, we recommend a continental wallet like Valentino Rockstud Leather Wallet.
Your Questions, Answered
Are high-end wallets worth it?
Should you invest in a designer wallet? Well sure, if you want to! “We love our high-end wallets and look at them as an investment piece,” say the Bacon-Evanses. “As it’s an item you’ll use frequently, you definitely get your money’s worth.” Meanwhile, Weiss Brady advises splurging on an item that can double as a clutch bag, like Coach's Crossbody Wristlet, so you’re really getting your money’s worth.
Will a designer wallet last longer than others?
The simple answer is that, yes, you can expect your designer wallet to last longer than a cheaper version. “They are made with higher quality materials that can endure more use and will save money in the long run by not having to replace them regularly,” says Rosales. However, Watkins cautions that the brand name definitely adds a premium to the price tag — meaning that you can get a high-quality wallet that’s more expensive than one from, say, Walmart, but far more affordable than one from a recognizable label. It’s really up to you where your preferences lie.
What is an RFID wallet?
If security is a high concern for you, you may want to consider an RFID wallet. “The purpose of an RFID wallet is to help protect your credit cards from being scanned by thieves,” the Bacon-Evanses explain. “The wallet does this by using a special material that blocks or interrupts radio waves.”
Why Shop With Us
Iris Goldsztajn is a Paris-born, London-based freelance writer with 10 years of experience covering fashion, beauty, wellness and lifestyle for the likes of InStyle, British Vogue, Marie Claire, Cosmopolitan, Bustle, Refinery29 and many more. As the former associate editor for Her Campus, she was responsible for all style and beauty news coverage. In order to write this article, she researched the best designer wallets out there, and spoke to various fashion experts who shared their recommendations: Gabriela Rosales, a fashion stylist and founder of The Stylist Witch; Melissa Watkins, a style influencer and founder of Fab Glance; Whitney and Megan Bacon-Evans, a wife and wife duo of style influencers; and model Allison Weiss Brady.