Functionality not lost, designers like Paul Smith, SimonCarter, and Richard James have brought wallets out of the dark and into thelight. Vivid colours embossed on their covers and linings with depictions ofcomic cartoon strips started appearing, even bikini clad women and mini minors.
Mens wallets have recently been elevated to fashionaccessory status, originally created to perform a specific function, to carrypaper money; weve just given it a much needed face lift.
Richard James a Savile Row tailor uses vibrant pinks,purples and burgundy on the inside flaps to create individuality for his brand.Top stitching is also widely used to create some interest.
Then Simon Carter came up with a real winner, the Jeanswallet, made from ultra fine, calf hide, slim and thin, with just enoughcompartments for cards and cash. It slips nicely into the back pocket of eventhe tightest jeans with ease and it feels so good in the hand.
Vivienne Westwood range of mens wallets and leather goodsare simply sublime, just a brief handle enough to satisfy the senses. And ifyou want to complete and compliment then have a look at her cufflinks.
Originally their purpose was purely functional; developedalmost immediately after the introduction of paper currency to the West in the1600s. (The first paper currency was introduced in the New World by theMassachusetts Bay Colony in 1690.) Prior to the introduction of paper currency,purses (resembling simple drawstring leather pouches) were used for storingcoins. Early wallets were made primarily of cow or horse leather and included asmall pouch for printed calling cards.
No matter how functional theyll never achieve the samestatus as the more decorative mens fashion accessories, like silk ties, lapelbadges and the everlasting silver cufflink.
The modern bi-fold wallet with multiple "cardslots" achieved its uniform standard size in the early 1950s with theintroduction of the first credit cards in 1951. Wallet design remained mostlyunchanged throughout most of the late 20th century, while today wallet designhas exploded into myriad shapes, designs, and colours from dozens of designers.
Now days, its not uncommon for men to posses a collectionof wallets. They have become more central to fashion accessories and make idealgifts. If youre a frequent traveller, theres the passport wallet. For theeveryday businessman on the busses or subway, then the coin wallet makes a goodcompanion.
Although cold hard cash has given way to the credit card, itstill pays to carry some coin and paper money, just in case you need to spenda penny.
Finally how to care for a wallet First of all dont besold that expensive little container of magic ingredients, being the only typeof polish suitable for your new wallet. Itll cost you a third of the price of the wallet. The truth is most leather care products contain pretty much the sameingredients, so a good quality shoe polish will suffice. All you need is a tinof appropriately coloured shoe polish, one soft brush to apply the polish,another for buffing, a piece of chamois and a tidy bag to store everything in.Once a month take out your wallets, empty its contents and get to work. After awhile this will seem less of a chore and more of an enjoyable exercise, the feeland smell of freshly polished leather is most rewarding.
And when youre ready to discard your old faithful recycleafter one last buff pass it on to charity and let someone else derive pleasurefrom a piece of well worn leather.
Perpetuating traditional values of English made clothing andaccessories is part of our ethos.
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