5 Things to Know Before Buying leather mobile phone bags

Whereas the micro bag trend had us perplexed about where to stash our phones, these dedicated purses actually highlight the phone instead. A phone purse serves as a wallet bag with just the essentials — think credit cards, identification, and lip balm. Whether you’re traveling or needing something for running errands day to day, a phone purse is a non-cumbersome option, and we’ve rounded up the best of the best here.

Let’s face it, cellphones are ubiquitous. But there’s nothing more annoying than sifting through your bag looking for your device. Luckily for all of us, phone purses have recently crossed over from being woefully practical-looking to downright stylish, with everyone from athletic brands to luxury fashion houses offering their design takes.

Best Overall

J.Crew Gracie phone bag

View On Jcrew.com

Why We Love It

• The metallic color and structural design makes this a great evening bag.

What to Consider

• With just one slit inside and a pocket on the outside, this isn’t the best bag for organizing several cards.

This sleek crossbody is an eye-catching statement bag in the tiny bag era. With enough room for just the essentials, like a large phone, lip gloss, and cards, it’s a compact and lightweight dream. The matching detachable pouch that comes with this bag is the perfect size for the little extras, like earbuds or keys. The metallic silver or gold styles of the Gracie bag really pop, making it the perfect evening bag, and you can even add a monogram for an additional $10.

The Details: 7.25 x 4 x 1 inches | Leather shell, cotton lining

Best Style

Bandolier Billie Utility Crossbody With Case

View On Bandolierstyle.com

Why We Love It

• The utilitarian style really maintains the minimalist, phone-only look.

What to Consider

• This is fitted primarily for iPhones.

The Bandolier Billie Utility bag is a showstopper. We love the ivory and gold combo that’s versatile for both the summer and winter months. The utility pockets offer three distinct pebbled leather compartments along the nylon strap and an envelope style compartment on the back. The open face attachment for your iPhone makes it perfect for use on the go, as it prevents you from needing to fish around for your phone in a compartment. Need room for extra accessories? Bandolier offers a matching stylish earbud pouch, too. Custom fitted for iPhones, you can choose your model to ensure a perfect fit — though we admit, that’s not such a great thing in terms of the inevitable upgrade. Still, this is a great stylish travel companion.

The Details: 2.5 x 5 x 1 inches | Genuine pebble leather

Best Durable

MZ Wallace Micro Crosby Crossbody Bag

View On Nordstrom

$145

View On Mzwallace.com

View On Bloomingdales

$145

Why We Love It

• The quilted nylon is both stylish and easy to clean.

What to Consider

• The optional chain shoulder strap is a fashionable touch, but does add a little weight to the bag.

I have an MZ Wallace quilted camera bag, and it’s gone everywhere with me, including three continents and countless countries and cities. And despite having sat on airport floors and gone through airport security, the bag still looks great. While wearing this bag crossbody is the easiest option, MZ Wallace’s signature detachable chain link provides another handle option for a more stylish look. For some extra security on the go, the interior lining and three card slots are made with RFID protection, so no one can read your cards.

The Details: 5 x 7 x 2 inches | Nylon, lamb leather

The 20 Best Protective Phone Cases of 2024

Best Splurge

Ferragamo Hug Smartphone Leather Crossbody Bag

View On Nordstrom

$1,090

View On Neiman Marcus

$1,090

View On Bloomingdales

$1,090

Why We Love It

• It’s a luxurious, timeless shape that is a great addition to any wardrobe, smartphone or not.

What to Consider

• It requires special care to continue looking nice.

Phone purses have become so popular, almost every major luxury brand now has one in their collection. The Ferragamo Hug Smartphone Leather Crossbody revamps a classic Ferragamo shape to make it smaller (but no less elegant) for your smartphone. A magnetic closure is secured by the iconic Ferrgamo Gancio flip lock to protect three interior card slots. Paired with a trench coat and chic flats, this smartphone bag would look just as impeccable on Audrey Hepburn (Ferragamo was one of her favorite brands, after all) as it would on you.

The Details: 6.7 x 5.5 x 2.6 inches | Calfskin

Best Budget

Cooking Coll Cell Phone Purse Wallet

View On Amazon

$17

Why We Love It

• At such an affordable price, it’s an easy way to try out the cell phone purse style.

What to Consider

• The zipper is a little finicky.

This phone bag with a clear back for touchscreen phones comes at a great price — so if you’re not quite sure the phone purse style is for you, this is a great option to test the waters. Built to allow for easy access to your phone, this purse has two compartments and four slots to store multiple cards, a passport, and even the little extras. It’s available in a variety of color options, so you’re sure to find one that matches your outfit.

The Details: 7.4 x 4.4 x 1.6 inches | PU faux leather

Best Colors

Cotopaxi Hip Pack

View On Amazon

$43

View On REI

$28

View On Cotopaxi.com

Why We Love It

• The fun colorways of Cotopaxi bags add whimsical style to your outfit.

What to Consider

• It’s on the sportier side, so this look may not be for everyone.

Sustainable retailer Cotopaxi is known for its fun color combinations. That said, this tiny Cotopaxi Kapai 1.5L crossbody packs a lot of vibrant color into a small space. The large main compartment is perfect for storing your cell phone, while a zippered front pocket is great for stowing extra accessories. The top handle offers another convenient carrying option if not slung crossbody or worn as a belt bag. The Cotopaxi brand is geared toward travelers and the repurposed fabric is super easy to clean, so you’re sure to get plenty of use out of it. Not sure about the “surprise” aspect that allows Cotopaxi to customize the colors of this bag for you? Opt instead for the warm color drop — it’s beautiful and reminiscent of a desert sunset, plus you’ll have a better idea of what you’re receiving.

The Details: 7 x 4 x 4 inches | 100 percent repurposed fabric

Best Oversized

Athleta Revive Modular Crossbody Bag

View On Gap.com

Why We Love It

• Equipped with special pouches for sunglasses and earphones in addition to ample room in the body, we love the amount of storage this bag offers.

What to Consider

• Because it’s so spacious, it tends to get heavy when filled to the brim.

Sometimes you just need a little bit more space. Itching to bring along a hand cream, pack of tissues, or smart reader? A minimalist phone bag just won’t do! The Athleta Revive Modular crossbody is perfect for travel days or weekends on the go. We love that this bag has a sunglass pouch built right into the strap and plenty of extra space in the main compartment for more accessories. The bag is a little on the heavy side, but that weight is functional: it keeps the bag from sliding around while you have it on.

The Details: 9.5 x 6.5 inches | Yulex, recycled polyester

The 6 Best Waterproof Phone Cases of 2024

Best With Built-in Charger

Skyborne iTravel Folio 4.0

View On Skyborne.co

Why We Love It

• It’s made for business travelers, so there’s a space for everything.

What to Consider

• It’s a wristlet, so it lacks a shoulder strap.

This is the ideal phone purse crafted with travel in mind. Boasting both a built-in 8000 mAh power bank and a wireless charging pad, the Skyborne has enough power for up to three full charges, so you’ll never be stranded with a dead phone. Plus, this purse has room for it all — earbuds, luggage receipts, cash, coins, two passports, a pen, you name it. If you’re a frequent business traveler, or even if you simply like to keep your things extremely organized, the Skyborne is for you.

The Details:  7.56 x 4.4 x 0.7 inches | Full grain calf leather

Best Leather

Vanessa Bruno Lou Phone Pouch

View On Vanessabruno.com

View On 24s.com

Why We Love It

• The chic saddle stitching on this leather phone pouch elevates it to a fashion statement item.

What to Consider

• Featuring just one compartment and one slip pocket, it’s very minimalist.

Whether you snag this bag in tan or dark green, the Lou Phone Pouch by Vanessa Bruno brings traditional leather craftsmanship to a modern phone purse. The elegant saddle stitching and flap closure make this tech piece timeless, and we love the use of suede and polished leather. The flap closure is magnetic, making for easy opening and closing. The back features one small patch pocket with a cutout inset for quick card removal and an overall clean look. Because the long strap is detachable, the strap hooks can instead be easily attached to a belt or larger bag for a whole new look.

The Details: 4.3 x 6.7 inches | Calfskin, cowhide leather

Best Organization

Anya Hindmarch Everything Pouch

View On Net-a-Porter

$395

View On Anyahindmarch.com

Why We Love It

• The tongue-in-cheek gold-lettered labels on each pocket makes organizing this purse a cinch.

What to Consider

• It’s definitely a splurge for a primarily TPU bag.

This Anya Hindmarch Everything Pouch is a super chic way to store, well, everything. Stamped gold lettering (featuring words like “glasses” and “everything”) on the leather trim helps you organize your everyday essentials beautifully. A front slip pocket stows your glasses, and there’s an internal key ring and detachable strap in case you want to slip this purse into a larger travel bag. The clear look makes organizing even easier because you have to keep it tidy. Designed with clear TPU and finished with luxurious leather trim, this is the kind of phone bag you’ll want to wear to see your favorite act’s stadium tour.

The Details: 0.8 x 7.7 x 4.7 inches | TPU, leather

Best Waterproof

Booe Waterproof Belt Bag

View On Booe.com

Why We Love It

• You can stash your phone in this bag and remain worry-free even when snorkeling or kayaking.

What to Consider

• It’s not as stylish as some other options on our list.

Versatile enough to be worn as a belt bag, crossbody, or neck bag, this is a great waterproof phone case to have on hand for water activities. It’s 100 percent waterproof and airtight thanks to 6-millimeter Tru Zip waterproof zippers with ergonomic pull rings and watertight welded seams. It can be submerged up to one meter underwater for 30 minutes. While the clear back panel is ideal for your phone, the interior pocket is great for all your essentials. The bag also floats, so it’s easy to locate if it gets away from you.

The Details: 7.5 x 4.7 x 1.5 inches | TPU, tarpaulin

Best Sustainable

Dagne Dover Mara Air Mesh Phone Sling

View On Nordstrom

$75

View On Dagnedover.com

Why We Love It

• It’s sustainable, durable, and easy-to-clean.

What to Consider

• It’s definitely a sportier bag, so it may not work for every situation.

Designed to be worn across the chest, Dagne Dover’s Mara Air Mesh Phone Sling is well-constructed and made with women on the go in mind. It perfectly fits your phone, cards (there are three card slots), lip balm, and even a passport, so this is the perfect bag for exploration during your travels. It’s also 100 percent vegan, as its fabrics are made of recycled plastic bottles. The sustainable and easy-to-clean materials make it a trusted option on the go.

The Details: 7.5 x 1.5 x 4.5 inches | Air Mesh, recycled poly

Step one: Acquire an iPhone X or similarly expensive, common phone. Note that you probably want to protect it in some way. Understand that although it feels really good without a case, it’s really better if you use one for reasons that will become clear in later steps in this guide. Besides, that camera bump really is something, isn’t it? You can accept it, but honestly, you’ll never love it. So you might as well put a case around it.

Step two: Decide on a case you’d like to use. This is the most important step. It’s also a complicated process. I wish I could recommend that you do what I did in the above video and speak with Ashley Carman about her phone case series. You see, she regularly uses cases that many (aka a repressed person like me) might consider outrageously ostentatious — cases shaped like hot dogs, stuffed bunnies, or giant cherry pom-poms. I got lots of useful tactics from our conversation, but you’ll have to settle for cribbing off my notes here:

• In America, the trend is generally to get plain black cases, emphasizing protection.
• That’s a shame because a case is a relatively inexpensive way to personalize your phone. Did you know that there are fashion trends in cases? There are! They are super weird and interesting, and I won’t blow up Ashley’s spot by talking about them too much here. But later on, she’ll write about it for you.
• While you ponder phone case fashion trends, think about the objects that are on your body literally every day: clothes, your phone, and maybe a wallet and keys. You know your clothes express something to the wider world. Why not have your phone do the same?
• Plus, that case could be a great conversation starter, just like a cool jacket or shoes.
• Phone cases and fashion aren’t just about the image you project to the world. They are also a way for you to communicate with yourself. Different clothing makes you feel more comfortable or bolder or avant-garde or whatever. Next to clothing, your phone is the thing you have around you the most. It’s a missed opportunity not to do something with that.

Photo by Vjeran Pavic / The Verge

• While you’re at it, think about how your phone is an object in your personal orbit, like your coffee table and your coffee mugs. You have some preferences about those things; you want them to be comfortable or cool. These objects say something about you. They make you feel something when you see them or hold them.
• Realize that, as humans, we see signs in everything no matter what. Everything is communication. You could consult an expert on that issue to verify my claim, but that expert would end up talking about semiotics, and nobody really wants that.
• Besides, the smartphone is a super weird object relative to other mass-produced objects. Not everybody has the same watch or T-shirt or coffee mug. They have a mix of new stuff, heirlooms that get passed down, and stuff they made themselves. Most of our stuff has a cultural resonance that speaks to its time and place and history, even if it’s mass-produced.
• Except smartphones: they’re all basically the same, and they all basically get replaced every few years. They store our most intimate details, but they’re monolithic slabs that exist out of time and context, completely divorced from all the personality inside them. An iPhone is an iPhone, and a Galaxy is a Galaxy. Even if you go for some weirdo Android phone, it’s still hard to express your identity through a smartphone. (Well, okay. It’s not hard to express your personality through a smartphone at all, but it’s not a great or particularly interesting identity to express, so don’t pin who you are on what phone you buy.)
• So think through all of this when you decide on a case — or don’t, honestly. If you tried to think about the cultural significance of every object in your life, you wouldn’t get anything done, and people would call you a semiotician behind your back, and nobody really wants that.
• The point is: you shouldn’t feel bad for investing some care and thought into deciding which case to buy because it really does matter more than you give it credit for.

Step three: Having reviewed many of the existing leather cases for the iPhone X, decide on the one Apple sells, even though it’s kind of pricey. You will have made this choice because you want something simple, protective, and of decent quality.

Apple iPhone X saddle brown leather case: before and after. Photo by Dieter Bohn / The Verge

Step four: Realize that the “saddle brown” color is actually kind of gross. The shade is way more yellow than you imagined. Look sideways at your friend who has had the case for a while, and note what a lovely patina it has. Ask how it got that way, and learn that his method was to “just use it for a long time, and it gets that way.” Decide that you will not wait “a long time,” but instead, you will jump-start this process.

Step five: Research methodology for tanning the leather on your phone. Or maybe “tanning” is not the right term. Kick some other search terms around. Watch some awkward YouTube videos. Stumble upon the most inadvertently heartwarming forum posts on the internet: the Patina Proud Photos thread on MacRumors. Here, people earnestly talk about their strategies for creating and maintaining the perfect patina on their iPhone cases. They are kind to each other, helpful, and supportive of each others’ efforts and methodologies. Please feel free to spend as much time as possible during this step; it is in these little corners of the internet where you are reminded of one of the reasons why you loved this online thing so much.

Step six: Realize there is no single, best method for getting a patina on your phone case. Also realize that it’s just a phone case, and it’s not that big of a risk to do some weird, DIY stuff to it. Resolve not to spend too much money (or any, if possible) on materials because you already overpaid for the case itself. Instead, you’re going to just muddle your way through this and accept two immutable truths:

• When you’re done, you’ll have a case that you put some effort into. When you hold your phone or just see it sitting on the table, somewhere in your mind you’ll know: “I did that thing. That is the result of work that I did.” This is the feeling that craftspeople have all the time, and it is not a feeling you normally get from your phone. It is the feeling of pride from making something. This good feeling is not, to be clear, as strongly felt with a phone case as when you make something more ambitious like a chair or a meal or a Lego Millennium Falcon. However, though it is a smaller feeling, you will feel it more often because good lord you use your phone a lot.
• Whatever method you choose, people who actually know a little something about leatherworking are going to be kind of horrified by what you chose to do. That is fine. This is not about Doing It Right. It is about Making It Yours.

Step seven: Remove the thin, protective coating on the iPhone X saddle brown leather case. I used sand paper. I also paid special attention to wear away the Apple logo on the case because, you know what, it’s my case now. Don’t overdo the edges of the case, as that’s where your hand’s natural oils are going to darken it more anyway.

Photo by Vjeran Pavic / The Verge

Photo by Dieter Bohn / The Verge

Step eight: Darken the leather. You can use pretty much any oil here. Some people pour espresso on theirs. Others spit on the leather. (Yes, it’s a thing. Don’t be squeamish.) Others use shoe polish. I used olive oil (it’s what I had) the first time, and coconut oil the second time (for the video above). It all works fine if you work it into the leather with a paper towel or something. You might have to do multiple coats. Try not to get too much on the felt lining of the case because it’s easier to wreck than the leather on the outside. Note that, as mentioned in step six, there is lots of advice about what is right or wrong here. Be confident and unapologetic in whatever method you choose, especially if it’s weird. It makes for a better story if anybody ever asks you about your case.

Step nine: Let it sit a while, preferably outside in the sun. The sun may help accelerate the patina process. Anyway, whatever method you used in step eight probably smells a bit, so leaving it outside helps to air it out.

Step 10: Put it on your phone and use it. You’ll notice that it feels weird and different, maybe too rough in some places and maybe the color is off in others. Let it ride. It will settle down over a week or so of use. You can accelerate that process by worrying the leather with your thumb. Just idly rub at the weird parts on the case while you’re zoning out at a meeting or in class.

That’s how to get a great patina on your iPhone X leather case.

Photo by Vjeran Pavic / The Verge