Keeping 'em close to your chest just got a whole lot chicer.
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I'm a huge believer in "less is more," especially when it comes to my personal essentials. There's nothing worse than a too-clunky silhouette brought about by overfilled pockets weighing you down all day, making things needlessly heavy. But how, you might be asking, do you downsize on the things you need to have on-hand? Simple: with a card holder.
Wallets are cool and all, but a simple, sleek card holder is where it's at. Sorry to bifolds (and, god forbid, trifolds) but it's true! These days, all you really need are your cards, ID, and maybe a few slices of green, and card holders are being designed to accommodate that while staying slim and minimalist. Easy to slide out of your pocket when needed, easy to slip back in when you don't.
Gone are the days of thick, padded leather or nylon or—jumpscare—Velcro. Card holders are the efficient, effective, stylish alternative, and 13 of the coolest, chicest ones are, coincidentally, right here. Now go grab your card details out of that chunky wallet of yours for the last time.
best basic card holder
Lacoste Leather Fitzgerald Card Holder
Lacoste keeps things simple, sleek, and minimal, with a black leather card holder that features the iconic crocodile logo in metal. This one has a top opening as well as three on the outside for easy, fast access.
best secure card holder
Carl Friedrik Cardprotector
best secure card holder
Carl Friedrik Cardprotector
The absolute worst thing is when your cards slip out of your card holder. Carl Friedrik ensures that'll never happen, though, with this ultra-secure, sleek model that has a lever mechanism that can hold up to six cards, as well as aluminum lining to prevent RFID theft.
best timeless card holder
Ted Baker London Pannal Color Leather Card Holder
best timeless card holder
Ted Baker London Pannal Color Leather Card Holder
Elegant and timeless, this is a durable designer card holder you can have for years and years and years. With a green and blue interior, it proves that, when it comes to card holders, it's what's on the inside that matters.
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best stylish card holder
Montblanc Meisterstück Textured-Leather Cardholder
best stylish card holder
Montblanc Meisterstück Textured-Leather Cardholder
With a zip pocket and embossed leather, Montblanc's eight-slot card holder is going to be the everyday essential you actually love carrying around.
best designer card holder
Off-White Quote Leather Card Case
best designer card holder
Off-White Quote Leather Card Case
Off-White brings street style to a card holder—something we didn't know was possible, but with this three-card leather design, we definitely love.
Bellroy's tiny card sleeve has big impact, with a pull-tab that can hold eight cards without ever feeling bulky.
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best classy card holder
Métier Small Wallet
best classy card holder
Métier Small Wallet
Printed canvas is a great part of this classy card holder, sure, but the best part is the pull-out design that keeps your cards conveniently stored.
best casual card holder
Il Bisonte Leather Card Case
best casual card holder
Il Bisonte Leather Card Case
This Italian-made, leather card holder has four card slots, an embossed logo, and a separate pocket for your ID. Convenient and chic.
best sustainable card holder
Coach Coachtopia Wavy Card Case
best sustainable card holder
Coach Coachtopia Wavy Card Case
Made from at least 50 percent recycled leather, this stylish card holder is small but mighty, with six slots for cards and its very own digital passport.
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best luxe card holder
Loewe Puzzle Leather Card Holder
best luxe card holder
Loewe Puzzle Leather Card Holder
Loewe proves that card holders don't have to be boring, with their iconic puzzle design in small-scale. This embossed leather style has four card slots and an eye-catching color palette.
best minimalist card holder
Fossil Steven Card Case
Affordable and sleek, the Steven Card Case gets the job done, with one slide pocket and four card slots on a leather surface.
best elevated card holder
Prada Triangle Logo Leather Card Holder
best elevated card holder
Prada Triangle Logo Leather Card Holder
You'll want to forgo Apple Pay forever with this card holder—pulling the chic Prada design out of your pocket is a tiny satisfaction within itself.
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best simple card holder
Ettinger Bridle Hide Flat Card Case
best simple card holder
Ettinger Bridle Hide Flat Card Case
Contrasting black and tan leather gives a luxe look to this simple card holder, made by manufacturers of small leather goods for none other than the Royal Family. Good enough for the King, good enough for us.
