Content written by Forbes Vetted Contributors is assigned, reviewed and edited by Forbes Staff
I'm a writer and editor who covers fashion and lifestyle topics.
When you’re dashing out to the store to pick up milk, taking the dog for a walk or going out at night, you don’t want to lug around your whole wallet. You just need a place to stash your ID and a credit card or two. That’s where cardholders come in. The best cardholders for women are slim enough to slip discretely into your back pocket (or into a clutch), yet have enough slots to hold your essentials. Cardholders tend to be less expensive than traditional wallets, so you can get one from a luxury brand like Saint Laurent or Bottega Veneta without breaking the bank.
The best cardholders for women have enough slots to hold your credit cards, but are slim enough to slip into your pocket.
ILLUSTRATION: FORBES/IMAGES: RETAILERS
Some have handy features like keychains and zip pockets—the Sodsay Card Case has both (and only costs $8)—while others like Quince’s Italian Leather Card Case Wristlet can even be worn around your wrist for hands-free convenience. Here, we rounded up the most stylish and functional cardholders for women, at every price point.
Saint Laurent Cassandre Matelassé Leather Cardholder
Like a mini version of their Monogram Large Wallet, Saint Laurent’s Cassandre Matelassé Leather Cardholder is made from Italian matelassé leather and sports a shiny gold YSL logo. It has four card slots, and comes in four chic colors (in addition to Gray, shown above, there is Green, Black and Red). Slip the cardholder in your clutch and you’re ready for a night out.
Small Cardholder That Makes A Big Statement
Saks Fifth Avenue
Maison de Sabré Leather Card Holder
Crafted from premium pebbled leather, the slim Maison de Sabré Leather Card Holder has four credit card slots plus a contrast leather middle slip pocket to hold a few bills. And while it makes quite a style statement, it’s also built for durability: The hand-finished edges are split-resistant to prevent fraying or unraveling. If you find the Shibuya Fuchsia shade (shown above) too bold, the cardholder also comes in five other colors, ranging from Black Caviar to Emerald Green.
Extra Slots Allow You To Carry More Cards
Net A Porter
Bottega Veneta Intrecciato Leather Cardholder
Bottega Veneta’s best known feature is its Intrecciato weave, which is both stylish and durable. This cardholder combines the signature weave with eight card slots, and there is a zippered compartment in the back to hold coins. The cardholder is on the larger side, but is still slim enough to slip into a small purse.
An ID Window Plus A Handy Keychain
MOST POPULAR
Amazon
Sodsay Card Case with Keychain
This cardholder has a lot going for it: In addition to the pretty hue (there are 18 colors including the pale blue shade shown above), it has a zippered pocket, six card slots, an ID window on the back (so you don’t have to go fishing around for your license at the airport)—plus a keychain ring which allows you to attach the cardholder to your keys. It’s made of synthetic leather, but then again, it’s only $8.
Classic Look With Modern Conveniences
Net A Porter
Gucci Ophidia Textured Leather-Trimmed Cardholder
This Gucci cardholder has all the hallmarks of a Gucci classic: “GG Supreme” coated-canvas and textured-leather material, the iconic red and green ribbon stripe and a golden interlocking-Gs logo. It has room for three credit cards, there’s a zippered coin compartment, and instead of a keychain, there is a clip on the back.
Just Like A Wallet, But Smaller
Neiman Marcus
Royce New York Zip Leather Card Case
You may not be as familiar with Royce as you are with say, Saint Laurent or Gucci, but Royce is a heritage brand that’s been making high-quality leather goods since the 1880s. Their pebbled leather card case has six credit card slots and an interior zip-top compartment to hold cash and coins. It’s a little longer in length than some of the others on this list, yet still compact, and it’s available in 10 colors, including Light Pink (shown above).
Optional RFID Blocking Protects Your Personal Information
Leatherology
Leatherology Slim Card Case
Leatherology is all about options. You can order this leather card case in one of their 10 standard colors (including pretty shades like Deep Plum, shown above). Or you can choose a premium leather, like Black Croc (for an extra $20). For an additional $15, you can get RFID blocking, which protects your personal information from being stolen, and monogramming is available (which starts at $15). But even without all of that stuff, the Slim Case is perfectly practical and functional with four credit card slots and a center pocket.
Wristlet Design Makes It Easy To Carry
Quince
Quince Italian Leather Card Case Wristlet
Like most things at Quince, the Italian Leather Card Case Wristlet is high-quality and low-priced. It has eight card slots and a center zip compartment—plenty of room to carry everything you need—and the strap allows you to slide it over your wrist and wear it as a bracelet for hands-free convenience. Quince also sneaks in a key ring so you can attach your keys right to your cardholder.
Preppy Plaid Styling In A Durable Material
Bergdorf Goodman
Burberry Sandon Check Card Holder
For those who love Burberry’s signature plaid but find a whole wallet (or purse of it) to be a little much, try this slim card holder. You don’t need to worry about it getting dirty—the plaid front is made of durable faux leather (polyurethane)—and it’s lined with viscose, which is a type of rayon. The four cards pockets and interior slot pocket are made from supple brown leather that complements the plaid front pocket.
Chic Curved Card Slots
Shopbop
Tory Burch Robinson Card Case
This Tory Burch card case has elegantly arched slots—two in the front and two in the back—plus a center pocket, all of which are lined in fabric. The gold hardware logo is understated, the cowhide leather is gorgeous and the diminutive size means it can slip into the smallest of pockets.
Luxe Leather And Clever Embroidery
Shopbop
Marni Card Holder
This chic cardholder is made from sumptuous black pebbled leather, but what makes it stand out is the embroidered beige logo cleverly hidden in the zig-zig trim. There are three card slots in the front, and the center compartment can hold a few more cards, plus some cash. This cardholder makes a statement anytime you pull it out to pay.
Keeps Credit Cards Concealed
Clare V
Clare V Greenlake Mino Croco Card Case
Clare V’s take on the classic cardholder is refreshingly unique. The croco-embossed Italian cowhide holder opens up like a book to reveal a baby blue interior with three slots that can hold a surprising amount of cards and cash. Those who like to travel light but keep their cards and ID concealed will appreciate this “book” style—and the case comes in two additional colors (Cuoio with Green Stripe and Cuoio with Neon Pink Stripe) if the green doesn’t appeal to you.
For Tennis Players To Stash Their Stuff
Mark & Graham
Mark & Graham Keychain Card Holder
This mini cardholder can attach to your keys—or even your tennis or golf bag so you don’t have to worry about losing your essentials while you play. Made of sturdy polyurethane and featuring tennis or golf motifs (tennis comes in Navy or Light Pink and golf is available in Sky Blue), the cardholder can be personalized for no extra charge. The reasonable price point makes it the perfect gift for someone on your tennis team or in your golf group—or to buy for yourself.
Sweet Raffia-Inspired Styling
J.Crew Factory
J.Crew Woven Scalloped Wallet With Metallic Trim
We love the scallop detail and gold trim on this little cardholder. Made of durable polypropylene and polyurethane woven to resemble raffia, it’s the perfect size and shape to stick into your beach bag or summer clutch. It doesn’t hold as many cards as others on this list, but there is enough room for two or three credit cards plus a little cash—all you need on easy-breezy summer days.
Easy To Attach With A Clip
Macy's
Lauren Ralph Lauren Women's Full-Grain Leather Key-Ring Small Zip Card Case
At first glance, this full-grain leather case looks like your average coin purse. But flip it over, and you’ll find four card slots and a slip pocket for cash. The gold hardware adds a bit of luxury, and the key ring with dog clip allows you to easily attach the case to your keys, or snap it onto the handle of a bag—or even your belt loop.
Understated And Elegant
Neiman Marcus
Loewe Anagram Leather Card Case
This Spanish brand’s origins date back to 1846, when a cooperative of leather artisans in Madrid started making leather goods. Today, Loewe is one of the hottest and most recognized labels in the world. Their leather card case is marked with their Anagram logo (which whispers “Loewe” as opposed to screaming it) and the Light Ghost color is elegant and goes with everything. This card case is on the small side, but it has four slots for your ID and credit cards.
Why Trust Forbes Vetted
We research and thoroughly analyze all of the products we recommend, and consider both well-known and up-and-coming brands when selecting products to feature.
The publication of this article was overseen by Forbes Vetted deputy editor Kari Molvar, who has written and edited lifestyle content for more than 20 years.
This article was written by Forbes Vetted contributing fashion writer Lesley Rotchford, who has covered women’s and men’s fashion for nearly 25 years.
We tap our internal expert sources to gain firsthand insight on the products we feature.
To ensure our reviews match up with customer comments, we scrutinize reviews and consider customers’ experiences before recommending any products, including the cardholders on the list.
We regularly update our stories to make sure prices are accurate and products are available. This story was most recently updated in September 2024.
How We Chose The Best Cardholders For Women
Forbes Vetted contributing writer Lesley Rotchford first compiled a master list of best-selling and well-reviewed cardholders.
Next, we rated the cardholders based on style, function, quality, material, price and special features.
We sifted through consumer reviews to ensure our picks matched up with customer ratings and comments.
Forbes Vetted deputy editor Kari Molvar vetted the final list to ensure these are the best cardholders on the market.