Who a leather wallet suits
A leather wallet suits someone who carries one every day, and whose current wallet has seen better days. Everybody knows that person: the wallet held together by habit, bulging with receipts, which they will never replace themselves.
It's a practical gift for a dad, a partner, a brother or a graduate starting a first job. It is quiet, useful and always with them, and it fits a birthday, Father's Day, graduation or Christmas.
What to look for in a leather wallet
- Style. A bifold folds once and holds notes flat. A trifold folds twice, holds more and is thicker. A passcase has a flip-up window for ID. A slim card holder or sleeve carries a few cards and suits a front pocket.
- How they carry things. A slim wallet that's too small for their cards ends up in a drawer. A thick one that won't fit their pocket does too. Think about whether they carry cash, and how many cards.
- The leather. The listing names the type, such as genuine, top-grain or Italian leather, and the finish, which may be smooth, pebbled or distressed.
- RFID blocking. This is a lining designed to block the signal from contactless cards, so a reader can't read them through the wallet. Some people want it, and the wallet works the same either way.
- Colour. Black goes with everything, brown looks warmer, and navy is a quieter choice. If you can see the wallet they use now, stay in the same family.
- Size. Bifolds are usually about 11 by 9 cm when folded, which fits a back pocket.
When a leather wallet is the wrong gift
If they pay with their phone and carry nothing else, a wallet is clutter. If they avoid leather, it isn't for them. And if they love the old one, with its soft corners and a card slot that has stretched to fit, they may keep using it for another decade. The wallets here are mostly cut as men's styles, so for someone who carries a purse, a different gift may fit better.