Through all the years of carrying my trusty straw bag, I’ve never found the perfect wallet to go with it. Using a tiny card holder was convenient, but all too risky, should it inadvertently fall out (my bag can be a black hole at times). I inherited my grandmother’s long, clasp-closure Prada wallet a few years ago and it’s proved useful, holding a good amount of coins, bills, and space for cards. The only issue is that when I wear a smaller bag out for dinner or drinks, it takes up most of the space because of its length. It seems like a simple card holder would be the solution to this, but in truth, paying for things with coins here in Europe is basically like spending no money at all! *Sarcasm* So, I need to carry my coins to justify the copious amounts of espresso I’ve been buying since I’ve moved.
I’ll be taking a short trip to California soon, and I figured I would shop on eBay (both the US and Japanese versions) while I know I’ll have an opportunity to get my purchases and bring them back to Switzerland — Thank you to my mother for housing these mystery parcels for me in her home <3
I have a few selects on my watchlist and haven’t decided on which one to buy, but wanted to share a few of my picks with you.
Vintage Italian Leather Wallets
All of these elegant Italian wallets on eBay were recommended to me while looking at other product pages, which I think speaks to the platform’s ability to consistently reveal wonderful, true vintage items when least expecting it. For the design, condition, and seemingly lasting quality that each model has, it’s kind of a steal considering they’re all under $30. I love the gold stamped fleur-de-lis motif on the blue one, it reminds me something an old, refined Italian woman would carry around with her. The keywords I recommend using to find any other similar ones would be “vintage italian wallet” or “vintage florence leather wallet.” From there, you can go off on a more detailed search using any brand names or similar keywords featured in the listing. The top right model is the most stylish and useful — the wallet features a place for notes, coins, and cards and the fact that you can bring your favorite lipstick around with you in a matching case is a thoughtful touch.
Secondhand Vivienne Westwood Wallets
Every time Ssense has a sale, there are always Vivienne Westwood wallets in the assortment. I’ve never been able to fully commit to buying one from them because I’m reminded that Japanese eBay has a good selection for around half of the Ssense sale price. Availability on the platform ebbs and flows, and usually they’re always made in black leather. I like the compactness of these two models — both have a place for coins, cards, and cash without being too long, making it easy to switch between bags. What’s even better about these two is that the coin pouch is in the back and separated from everything else, ensuring that you can close the main compartment without having to squish everything down.
Secondhand Chanel Wallets
And, of course, when I’m on Japanese eBay, I can’t help but peruse the Chanel brand listings. I always find unique accessories, and even though some of them are not initially in great condition, it doesn’t hurt to take a chance (if you can) and clean it up a bit once you receive it. That’s exactly what I did when I found my $250 Celine tote, and it freshened up beautifully using saddle soap and leather conditioner. I’m not exactly sure of the era these wallets are from, but they’re reminiscent of early to mid 2000s. My personal favorite is the bottom left wallet, which has a sequin-y, reflective material both on the outside and inside. It’s a little bit longer (and pricier) than what I’m looking for, but if I keep everything organized and don’t hoard 500 receipts, it might just fit into my smaller bags. Although Chanel is planning for another price increase, you can still find bargains on Japanese eBay, but it takes more patience than it did two or three years ago. Resellers all over are adjusting prices to keep up with the price hikes and perceived “value.” Fortunately, accessories, like wallets, scarves, and sunglasses, are still moderately priced on the Japanese online resale market and accessible for those who are looking for a bargain.
Tell me: do you like having a singular wallet, or do you not mind having a few on rotation and switching them out every so often? Luxury or affordable? New or secondhand? Any weird superstitions with using a secondhand wallet? I think I’m still finding my wallet identity, so to speak.
Outside of fashion, I’ve continued to listen to a lot of podcasts and music again. I was on an audiobook obsession for a moment, but then I realized I have to really want to listen to a book on tape, otherwise I just prefer reading a copy. As I’m writing this, the rain is almost on its way out and I’m preparing for a nice, sunny 10 days ahead.
Thanks for reading, and I’ll see you in the next one! <3
Definitely a rotation of wallets!