Finally! At long last! (Huzzah!) The great hunt is over…and I’m not referring to the hunt to find the perfect product to tame the out-of-control baby hairs in my bangs, because they have been extra unruly lately (if you happen to have a recommendation, please help a homie out).
No, I’m referring to my hunt for a new wallet/wristlet/smart phone holder thingamabober-doohickey.
I’ve been looking for one big enough (but not too big) to hold my behemoth of an iPhone, credit cards, spare change, keys, cat treats (#ccl) and a tube of lipgloss (very important) because I’m trying to streamline before BG arrives, and I want something that I can just toss into a diaper bag. And when I’m out and about, and she’s in one of those baby carrier contraptions around my middle, with a wristlet, I’ll be able to keep my hands relatively free.
The real challenge has been finding one big enough to fit my phablet iPhone 6+, but the Grand Street Layton by Kate Spade does (originally $228, marked down to $79!). It has 12 small pockets for business and credit cards, four big pockets (including two zippered exterior ones, which are where I keep my keys), a zippered interior compartment for spare change, and the main pocket, which is roomy enough for a big-@ss phone and a full-sized tube of NARS gloss.
The whole thing isn’t exactly petite, because, hello! — it fits a lot of stuff. It’s a little larger than 4×8 inches, which is kinda big for a wristlet, but it’s still small enough to fit in any of my purses. Plus, it’s reasonably thin and not too bulky. Oh, and it’s made of leather with light-colored 14-karat gold-plated hardware.
I grabbed it in black at a Kate Spade online surprise sale a few weeks ago. There were two colors available at the time, the black and a hot pink, and even though every fiber of my being was screaming “KAREN!!! HOT PINK!” I went with the black, because I thought it would go with everything, and it wouldn’t get dirty as easily.
I wish I could find the exact same wallet now online, but the closest one I’m finding is this one called the Primrose Hill Layton, which is kindasorta similar, and I bet also fantastic.
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
P.S. Wristlets: how do you feel about them?
P.P.S. I am so pregnant right now!
Elizabeth says
February 23rd, 2016 at 11:01 amThat camera keychain is SO CUTE! Where’s it from?
I love wristlets for shoving my phone, wallet and keys together when that’s all I need to walk across campus or go to Target, but other than that, I’m usually the one carrying a big-@ss purse with a shoulder strap. I need all my junk with me and my hands free.
Karen says
February 23rd, 2016 at 11:27 amHi Elizabeth,
I bought it a couple years ago at the SF Moma Museum Store. It also has a tiny fake flash and makes clicking sounds!
Elizabeth says
February 23rd, 2016 at 9:14 pmOmg…. that’s precious. I love tiny interactive things. If I ever find myself in SF again I’m gonna grab one.
Monica L. says
February 23rd, 2016 at 11:21 amPhotojojo has a faux leather wallet/wristlet (called the The Power Wallet) that fits a iPhone 6+, comes with a battery pack, and is only $30!
Karen says
February 23rd, 2016 at 11:28 amCute! Next time I’m looking for a wristlet I’ll check it out. The polka dot one is super cute. Thanks, Monica!
LindaLibraLoca says
February 23rd, 2016 at 11:30 amI never liked wristlets until I started using a diaper bag and needed to have one place where I could keep my stuff, so that really was a great investment you made there. Mine is considerably smaller, but I still use an old iPhone, so I don´t need that much space.
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Karen says
February 23rd, 2016 at 11:52 amYeah! I was told by a friend with kids that they’re a good thing to have, especially if you plan to do a lot of baby carrying (which I do). I like the idea of being mobile with her.
LindaLibraLoca says
February 23rd, 2016 at 12:06 pmI carried Little Bean a lot, too, carrying is great. You are mobile and she was always very calm and content when I did it. Great for bonding (and getting even more cuddles).
Ashley says
February 23rd, 2016 at 11:58 amI LOVE wristlets! However, I don’t like the opens on the top only style — I want to be able to open it like a book and see all my credit cards, etc. I had an old tusk one like that and it was amazing — it had an internal zip compartment for your cell phone. but they discontinued and mine broke after too much use and love and I’ve never been able to find one quite like it again. le sigh.
Agata says
February 23rd, 2016 at 12:11 pmI got a really cute wristlet from my friend from Christmas, it’s by Juicy Couture and I believe she got it at Kohls. It’s baby blue, fits my iPhone, cards, keys, numerous lipsticks, gum and I love it. I have been taking it to every hockey game and even when I go to a store just for a quick errand.
But I love this Kate Spade one you picked! Very cute and the color is really universal too.
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Kwmechelle says
February 23rd, 2016 at 12:14 pmYou had me at Kate Spade. OHMYGOODNESS what a cute wristlet. I’ve been looking for a similar one to toss in my gym bag. But who am I kidding? I’d do so much more than carry it in my gym bag. Planning a road trip soon. Must stop at the outlet to see what goodies I can find at the Kate Spade Outlet. Your’s is super cute. No thoughts on taming wispy fly-away bangs. As long as they’re cute, werk it! 🙂
Jennifer says
February 23rd, 2016 at 12:19 pmGurl, you are so incredibly pregnant! Love, love, love the tum shot. Are we sure there’s just the one baby girl in there?
Is Tabs freaking out yet?
And I must say, as a pink fanatic, I am the teensiest bit disappointed that you didn’t get the hot pink. But I understand the need to keep things neutral and organized. And frankly at $79, you could have gotten both and still been under the regular retail price!!!!
I’m not sure I can make the leap to a 6 plus. I fondle my hairdresser’s occasionally and its just so enormous. I really like a phone that will fit in my back pocket if need be.
XO,
Jennifer
Lulle says
February 23rd, 2016 at 12:45 pmI don’t personally like wristlets, because you’re not truly hands-free with that thing banging on your palm, and the strap is often too big to let them hang from your wrist anyway. I’ll use them for parties or date nights, but not for a day running errands.
I’m a big fan of crossbody bags, your hands really are free with those! In fact that’s basically all I wear. I have a few, mostly in bright colors, also in small sizes so they don’t get too heavy or bulky.
Now that I think about it I don’t really like handbags. I need to carry my stuff around, but practicality is really my main concern. There’s no way I would hold something in my hand or on my arm all day long, no matter how luxurious it looks. Yeah not even a Kelly bag.
Lulle recently posted … Review: Simple Cleansing Micellar Water
Erin says
February 23rd, 2016 at 1:30 pmI love a wristlet wallet combo. Then I can change purses easily or leave my big work bag in the trunk if I’m I’m going directly from work/errands to dinner. I’m sure it will come in handy between changing from a diaper bag to a regular bag lickety split!
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Kayla Han says
February 23rd, 2016 at 1:55 pmThis is really cute to have! It does fit most necessary things and cute to carry around. I’m more on the lazy side so I tend to carry a purse 🙂
Laura says
February 23rd, 2016 at 1:56 pmCute! I’m having a total Kate Spade moment lately after buying a ton of the rose-print items (like one of the bags and the silk scarf) and nabbing a clearance wristlet. I love wristlets to throw in my bag for work- easier to run to the cafeteria without pockets if I can keep the hands free to bring lunch back!
Windie says
February 23rd, 2016 at 2:54 pmMajor score! Kinda wishing I never came across this post. Now I’ll be hunting for a new wristlet.
Shelley says
February 23rd, 2016 at 3:35 pmUgh, it’s been such a struggle finding wristlets that fit the ginormous iPhone 6+! Coincidentally I finally managed to find one from Kate Spade as well. w00t!
anusha says
February 23rd, 2016 at 5:22 pmMy baby is now 7months old and i got a hot pink crossbody bag from Michael Michael kors for my phone and money.. because i tend to leave the diaper bag everywhere unattended and there’s a chance of it getting stolen wen i’m out and about..
Love the wristlet though.. i bought one each for my most favourite aunts in the world.. they love it too..
Tatiana says
February 23rd, 2016 at 8:38 pmKate Spade!! What a functional wallet/wristlet. Wish I had seen these sooner. Oh well. I’m sure there will be others after this. I still have an iPhone 5s. I tried out Dear Husbands 6, but it just didn’t fit comfortably in my blue jeans front pocket. I have a burgundy phone/wristlet by Tory Burch. It’s big enough for my 5s, but I have fold my dollar bills and it gets bulky because of that, so I rarely use it. If it was long enough to put bills in it so that they were straight, like this one from Kate Spade, I’d use it more.
Love the color and fabric of that dress!
breyerchic04 says
February 23rd, 2016 at 9:08 pmThat’s so much cooler than the Coach wristlet I have! My favorite bags are black kate spades, a crossbody and a huge zip top overnighter. Love them!
jaz says
February 23rd, 2016 at 10:23 pmI love wristlets, especially since I can get away with having that in my pocket at work- I dont like the idea of habing an emergency and not having at least my id on me. I have bigger ones that fit my phone(Note 4 , so I feel your pain) for when I’m going out to dinner – I typically use these as clutches lol. I also have smaller ones that I use everyday. My current wristlet is Navy with a cute J charm on it. Hmm maybe I will start to give my bigger ones some love too. I have a great cream one that is a great place to start.
Rachel R. says
February 23rd, 2016 at 11:27 pmNice! I like wristlets when I’m going out and don’t want to haul around a huge purse. They’re a nice change of pace.
OT, but I got an email from PlasticLand about their Cat Lady Collection, and it made me think of you:
http://www.shopplasticland.com/fashion/c/Cat-Collection.html?utm_campaign=email_16-02-23&utm_medium=email&utm_source=mailing-list
Kiss & Make-up says
February 24th, 2016 at 4:05 amCute! I like it! That said, I’m all for practicality, so a wristlet isn’t really my thing.
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Michelle ComesLast says
February 24th, 2016 at 10:26 amtoo cute! I love wristlets and crossbody bags. I do find crossbody bags more secure as there isn’t a tendency to put them down. I also love purses. I keep a purse organizer in it, so switching back and forth isn’t an issue. I threw my wallet in my son’s diaper bag, back in the day, but sometimes needed something out of it for him. So that didn’t work for me. However, I had purchased a twin stroller. My mom thought I was nuts at first since we knew I wasn’t having twins. But I do have a bad back, so I used the back seat for the diaper bag, purse, and shopping bags. After the first shopping trip, mom didn’t think I was crazy for wanting a twin stroller.
India says
February 24th, 2016 at 2:43 pmI use Kate Spade wristlets exclusively, before I discovered them I used the coach wristlets! As you may be able to tell, I love wristlets
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Kim says
February 25th, 2016 at 6:40 amThat is one super deal! I’m glad you found the perfect size to fit all your stuff (but still be fairly small). I’d be terrible with a wristlet, like any other purse, because I hate carrying anything. That’s why I like to have the Hubs around – he is a man of many pockets. HAHA!
PS You’re in the home stretch. See what I did there? 🙂
Kelly says
March 22nd, 2016 at 1:49 pmIf you need another one of the wristlets, the hot pink and green colored ones are in stock at surprise.katespade.com ! Hope all is well!