Pocket Quarterback

Pocket Quarterback

17 sleek pieces that won't get you called for holding

Gentlemen, empty your pockets. Now take notice of your pants. This is how they're supposed to look--even when your wallet and keys are in there. See, the sharpest slacks lose any semblance of style when you treat them like saddlebags.

The next thing we want you to do is trash everything in your wallet that isn't green, plastic, or a driver's license. Now trash the wallet. You're going to replace it--and everything else you dumped on the table--with leather that makes you look good whether it's playing inside or outside the pocket.

GREEN KEEPERS

Wallets

A woman can tell a lot about you from your wallet, and not just whether or not you have the bucks to bankroll expensive dinner dates. It tells her if you're a man of style . . . if you invest in quality . . . if you think Hook-and-loop is a fashion statement.

Keep it thin and smooth with classic black or brown leather, or add flair by choosing a wallet with a dash of color or unique detailing. "Look for a leather or high-quality fabric lining in the billfold pocket; it prevents bills from getting caught when you're taking them out," says Reed Krakoff, president and executive creative director of Coach.

First-Class Traveler

Travel Wallet

Trips, especially abroad, require a lot of paperwork. This Cole Haan holds all the oversized stuff you typically need, such as your passport and airline tickets, as well as your regular wallet contents. Store it in your breast pocket or carry-on bag.

LORD OF THE RING

Key Chains

Look like the man who owns the new BMW Alpina Roadster (even if you don't), instead of the man who kept the free key ring given to him by a locksmith. Here, our favorite loops of leather. Check out the Fossil key chain -- it has a clock and a convenient trigger snap.

CARD CARRIERS

Store Business Digits

If your job is important enough to require business cards, you need a business-card holder. It keeps cards readily accessible, and it shows infinitely more class than pulling a crumpled card out of your pants. Also, a business-card holder will provide safe passage to cards you collect from others en route to your Rolodex. When choosing a case, pay attention to how many cards it can accommodate and how easily they slide in and out, says Krakoff.

A few points regarding proper business-card etiquette: It's better to give than to receive, especially if the person is higher in the pecking order. But wait to be asked for your card, then hand it over (information side up) and allow him to reciprocate. "When you receive a card, comment on the logo, style, or name of the business," says Lydia Ramsey, author of Manners That Sell. "It shows that you're paying attention to the information." If the person doesn't offer you a card, it's best not to ask.