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Do not ignore what your wallet says about you
A wallet is a valuable accessory for a man, one must ensure that they carefully choose one. Photo by Isaac Kasamani
What you need to know:
A woman’s bag and what lays in it is still a mystery for all men from age to age. Yet in trying to solve this mystery as men, we are forgetting about our wallets and what they should bear altogether.
Picture this: you are talking to a small group of people. Things are going great–in fact you feel this could really lead to something big. Then someone asks for your business card. You reach into your pocket and pull out…a huge lump of nylon and duct tape with tattered receipts and dozens of currency notes sticking out from the corners. Fumbling through the tightly wound ball of “important” items carried “just in case,” you finally manage to find a card after five minutes of searching. It’s marked up and bent, but hey–it’s a card, right? Not a great impression, eh?
The wallet gives us clues into how a man spends his money, what he thinks of it, how comfortable he feels in his own clothes. “The style of wallet (leather, bi-fold, Velcro even a money clip), gives us clues that help us determine whether a guy is messy, organised, pompous, cheap, irresponsible and so on. Just like a handbag or purse gives insight into a woman’s personality, the wallet takes us into the male psyche. It is after all, the equivalent of a male handbag,” explains Amanda Wattenberg, a grooming coach on Art of manliness.com. A man’s wallet says more about his inner self, his financial stability and how well groomed he is.
The lighter the better
Grooming experts advise that a man’s wallet should achieve qualities of functionality and be presentable. Ryan Walter writes in an article “Between man and his wallet” in the Enquire magazine, that men should learn to respect their wallet. In his view, today’s man is guilty of carrying a designer wallet, one that’s stuffed to the brim, waiting to explode and blow all the “important” papers to the wind. Walter proposes that men should consider going through their wallet and stripping it down to its bare essentials. An overstuffed wallet looks silly that’s for sure. A giant wallet in the back pocket of your pants makes sitting uncomfortable and your backside look like it’s growing an unsightly tumour. Carrying an overstuffed wallet in your coat pocket weighs you down on one side, making the jacket’s shoulders a little lopsided. And regardless of the pocket you put it in; a heavy wallet will create creases that shorten the lifespan of the garment.
Getting it right
However, it is not all about functionality, appearance of a wallet is equally crucial and it is clearly laid out as to how a good wallet should look like. “Your slim day-to-day billfold won’t hold larger papers and tickets when you travel. A polyester and Velcro wallet with your alma mater’s football insignia is fine for shopping on a Saturday, but won’t make the best impression at a business lunch,” says Dennis Okwalinga, whose shop on Luwum Street boasts of a good variety of wallets.
Okwalinga gives an example of Sport wallets, which are usually made from a synthetic texture; these wallets are made in bright colours and with features for men who need to ensure the contents of the wallet stay put. They also feature straps to secure them to the individual, can be water resistant, and utilise Velcro and zippers. A well groomed man should reserve these wallets for times when their functionality is a requirement–not when wearing a dinner jacket.
Leather is the most popular choice for most men. According to Okwalinga, there are two types of leather from which wallets are made, that is; the faux pas leather and genuine leather. Faux pas is basically the non-authentic leather yet genuine leather is also further subdivided according to what it is made from. In most cases, it is usually raw hide or lambskin. “The label on the leather matters a lot and in most cases, it would be preferable to go to a boutique that trades in wallets to choose a good wallet,” says Okwalinga. However, he cites other important factors like the threading, in which case study thick threads represent a good quality wallet. In his opinion, the price charged for a wallet in a good wallet shop usually represents its quality. In order to know fake leather, it tends to be glitterier and much stiffer than real leather. Wallets come in check book, ID, bifold and trifold styles.
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GROOMING: My wallet and I
Sarah Tumwebaze
Gerald Karuhanga, Western Uganda Youth MP
I always buy coffee brown wallets because brown is my favourite colour. I buy them from anywhere. I prefer a small and light wallet because I put it in my pocket and I do not want it to look as if I am carrying a calabash or a bomb in my pocket because that is how big wallets look like when in some one’s pocket. I normally put money and a few of my business cards in the wallet.
Peter Miles, musician
I prefer light brown wallets because they are conspicuous. I have ever had a black wallet, but when you misplace it, it’s hard to find it because there is so much black everywhere but light brown is easy to find. I have no specific preference of wallet type because I am not fussy but as long as it’s good leather, has three compartments and can “hide” money very well. I keep the wallet in my pocket but when in my car, I normally place it on the seat and it always contains money and business cards.
Ali Alibhai, CEO Talent Africa
A wallet is a very important accessory because one sees it all the time and it keeps one’s important items. When it comes to choosing wallets, I go for designer brands. My current one is a Loui Vuitton; however I also have a Gucci. Items you are most likely to find in my wallet are Shs240,000, a driver’s licence, ATM card, Visa Card, business cards, health care card, membership card to clubs-Silk, Cayenne and Rouge and sim cards for South African and Canadian telecom.
Arthur Blick Junior 9-time National Motocross champion
I prefer brown wallets and when buying, I do not care about the type. All I look at is whether it is nice. I keep the wallet in the pocket and it always contains money, my identity cards and the ATM card.
