Looking For a Gift for Your Boyfriend? Wallets are a Great Choice for any Occasion

Wallets far exceed their utilitarian function of holding money and cards, the right wallet is a must have accessory for every man. Although wallets are now considered fashionable accessories, they are in fact indispensable, and although the concept of the perfect wallet differs from man to man what everyone does agree on is they are an important necessity.

It is easy to see how they became associated with status symbol as they literally contain the wealth of a man. They are used to store currency bills, coins, bank cards, identity cards and a whole lot more. They vary in size, shape, and functionality. Buying a good quality wallet is important because it will last long, and a good design will ensure it fits all the essentials without ruining the shape of a man’s garments. Since wallets play such an important role in a man’s daily life, giving him one as a gift is a fantastic idea, though you must take care that it matches his personal taste and style.

Many gifts have certain customs, traditions and even superstitions attached to them, the wallet gift is one such. It is considered inauspicious to give someone an empty wallet even though it may be spanking new and perhaps even cost a fortune. This superstition about putting money - even a coin - before giving the gift has its roots in Italy, but has grown to a larger global tradition. You can combine this with the Indian tradition of adding Re.1 to a gift of money to make your gift even more auspicious.

However, if you aren’t one to believe in superstitions, you could still add a picture of the two of you (or just yours), a small note, or a stamped wallet card - these are credit card sized metal cards that carry a personal message, to make the gift to your boyfriend more special.

As important as wallets are, men sometimes take it for granted, forgetting that it adds up to their personal style. The effect of a carefully put together stylish outfit can be ruined once he pulls out a shabby looking wallet, or if the ungainly bulk of a poorly designed wallet is visible through his jacket or trousers.

Just the way you pick a different kind of purse for different purposes, wallets are designed for different needs - there are bi-folds, multifolds, some have a small pocket for coins, others are larger still and have room for a passport and pen, many will have more room for cards and a smaller space for keeping currency notes. Then there are wallets designed more for style than functionality. Which of these would your boyfriend prefer? Gauge his needs before you set out to buy one, even having a broad idea will make it easier to select because the sheer variety available can be quite mind boggling.

Wallets are most commonly made of leather but are also available in a host of other material like canvas, synthetic materials, carbon fiber, even metal, used car tyres and seat belts; consider which of these your boyfriend would most prefer. Whichever material is used, the wallet must be durable, well designed so it accommodates all his important things yet sits sleekly inside his pocket.

Leather is the most popular choice because nothing looks as elegant as a fine grain leather and there are several good options available in faux leather too. Leather is also a lot more durable, and unlike canvas or cotton, will not chafe again trouser linings and wear them out. When buying a leather wallet choose well known retailers over heavily discounted offers which may sell you a spurious or low quality product.

The colour, design, style and quality are the important things to consider when looking for a wallet, but since this is a gift for your boyfriend, take a moment to think whether he will prefer a good utility wallet or one from a well known brand. Boys can be just as fashion and label conscious as girls and if he generally wears clothes and shoes from well known brands, an unbranded wallet, no matter how good it is, will fail to shine in his eyes. Pay attention to his style as well - whether he choses design over functionality. Think of it this way - you have your own criteria for buying bags, so find out what is important in a wallet for your boyfriend.

Tommy Hilfiger is a popular choice for men’s wallets and if you are looking for a good quality leather wallet for your boyfriend, this Tommy Hilfiger Men Brown Genuine Leather Two Fold Wallet is a good option. Made of genuine leather it has a sturdy and sleek design, and even comes with a 6 month warranty. Buy this for the boyfriend who prefers to use plastic over paper currency as it comes equipped with 11 card holder slots, 2 slip pockets and card holders for ID cards. The brown textured, two fold wallet has one main compartment and a detachable flap. Buy it for Rs.1,949 on Myntra.

Well worn leather has a charm of its own and the Woodland Brown and Tan Men's Wallet is one that will age well. This wallet has the added advantage of being water resistant so if your boyfriend is often in the outdoors or tends to spill things, this one is a good choice for him. It’s casual, soft textured design is great for daily use, perfect for the fuss-free man. It has plenty of space too - 2 compartments, 8 slots to hold cards, 2 pockets, a pocket for coins and even a slot to fit a memory card. Buy this for Rs.1,195 on Amazon.

Is your boyfriend not a fan of real leather? Either the smell turns him off, it could be his religious beliefs or he simply happens to think it would be kinder to animals if people stopped using real leather. Whatever be the case, you can get the luxurious look of leather and the durability in this synthetic leather Van Heusen Black Leather Wallet. It has 4 slots for cards, 2 compartments and 4 pockets - including a flap pocket for coins. It has been designed to provide maximum utility yet create a sleek silhouette when placed in the pocket. Your boyfriend is sure to love the useful design. Buy it for Rs.900 on Jabong.

Blacks and browns are the standard colours you see on wallets everywhere, they are popular for sure but the uniform colours can get a tad boring after a while. If you want your boyfriend to stand out, and are confident he will like a brighter pop of colour on his wallet, go for something like this Louis Philippe Maroon Leather Slim Fold Wallet. Not only the design really sleek, the maroon is accentuated by a strip of striped blue and white fabric detailing on the side. It has four card slots, a main compartment and a flap pocket for coins. Buy this slim wallet for Rs.1,140 on jabong.com

One of the best options for wallets remains the classic black leather wallet and if you think this is what will best suit your boyfriend, the U.S. Polo Assn. Men's Genuine Leather Wallet is the thing for you. A classic design, the no-frills wallet has a main compartment, 4 slots for cards and a clear pocket to display an identity card or driver’s license. The good quality leather has a nice sheen to it, and this durable product is sure to last him for many years. The unadorned design has a subtle brand logo embossed in a corner on the front. Buy it for Rs.2,958 on Amazon.

Everyone likes to be made to feel special and your boyfriend is no different, he will be thrilled that you went through the effort of getting him a customised wallet engraved with his name. These personalised bi-fold men’s slim wallets are engraved with laser and are perfect for giving as gift for any occasion be it his birthday, graduation, new job or even for an anniversary or Valentine’s Day. Available in light brown, brown, black and grey, his name can be engraved in different fonts that you can select while placing the order. Buy it from Everything Decorated on Etsy for about Rs.1,100.

Your boyfriend is young and cool and you would rather not give him anything than give him a boring black or brown wallet. If that’s the case we have just the thing for you. The Leather Zentrum Men Olive Green Leather Printed Two Fold Wallet has a beautiful olive green tone, a bike printed across its front and has plenty of space for all his things too - a main compartment for currency notes, 4 card holder slots and a flap coin pocket. He is going to be thrilled with this biker wallet. Buy it for Rs.1,014 on Myntra.

Does your boyfriend need a little help keeping his cards safe? In an age of digital data theft, it isn’t rare to find people who have been victims of credit card hackers. Encountering such events can leave one feeling vulnerable and can be a harrowing, and expensive experience. Keep your man safe by giving him a wallet fitted with Radio Frequency Identification credit card holder which protects hackers from scanning the data on bank and credit cards. Not only is it fitted with RFID, it comes with anti-theft and anti-scan high end technology and even has a useful spring button to help pop the cards out so they can be easily accessed. It is available in black and brown, and can be bought for Rs.2,499 on Big Small.

Feel leather is passe and your ultra trendy boyfriend deserves something far more modern? How about a modern update to the classic men’s wallet, in something shinier, like stainless steel?Made from stainless steel and nylon, this ultra slim wallet has slots for 6 cards, one compartment for bills and two extra slots. Not only is it extremely eye catching, the steel blocks unauthorized transmission from RFID enabled credit cards and ID cards, adding an extra layer of security. Buy this for Rs. 4,678 on Uncommon Goods.

Buying a wallet for a boyfriend who already has a super wallet that you know he will never part with is an exercise in futility. But you are hell bent on giving him something he uses as frequently as his wallet. If you can’t replace it, give him something to keep inside it. There are a host of wallet gifts available, right from gift cards, membership cards, a cute picture and a more permanent gift item like wallet cards which contain a message from you. Put a loving note for him in his wallet that he can pull out and look at whenever he thinks of you, it will be a sweet way of being part of his day. You can also make redeemable gift coupons and slip them inside as a surprise.