Wallets: The Five Imperatives
Wallets: The Five Imperatives
Wallets do a simple job elegantly, but not all wallets are elegant. Indeed, a wallet or a purse is a window into who you are. When a woman asks to see a man’s wallet, she’s taking an intimate peek inside his soul. (Women, pay attention: A purse or handbag similarly tells a story.) Here’s how your wallet can help you make a lasting impression that’s positive.
- Replace your wallet when it shows wear. After all, your wallet holds your money. As a standard of measure and a store of value, money determines what you can afford and reflects value you’ve created. House it respectfully, the way it was earned. You’ll look good, and feel good, too.
- Clean your wallet regularly. Wallets have a tendency to fill up with things: Receipts, slips with phone numbers on them, coupons, business cards, credit cards, video rental cards, and, if you’re lucky, money. A cluttered wallet says you’re probably cluttered, too. What’s in your wallet should say something good about you.
- Keep your wallet thin. Some fashion advisors advise against tri-folds because they’re automatically too fat. Giant wallets are cumbersome to carry around and look unsightly in the pocket. When overstuffed, wallets tend to tear, and leather goes out of shape. If you absolutely must carry around a lot of things, buy a large wallet. In general, however, the rule is that if your wallet is thicker than a peanut butter sandwich, it’s too thick.
- Remove pictures of ex-girlfriends and ex-boyfriends. Pictures of people you’re no longer with show you haven’t put the past behind you.
- Never carry prophylactics in your wallet. While it’s a good idea to carry prophylactics if you think there’s even the slimmest chance you’ll need them, the wallet isn’t the right place for them. It makes the wallet bulky. Prophylactics are unseemly in the wallet, even if nobody sees.