Cross my heart, this phone case is a game changer
It’s not often you wear something that everyone stops to comment on but my cross-body-phone-case has caused quite a sensation this past week. I thought wearing my phone slung across my jumpers and jackets might mark me out as The Forgetful One, or The Saddo Who Can’t be Parted From Her Phone For More Than A Nano Second. Both true, as it happens, and not anything to which it seemed wise to draw attention. But in fact, comments have ranged to “Oh my God, I love it” to “Oh my God, where can I buy it?”, with the occasional “Is it Valentino?” thrown in. It’s not Valentino, although it does have Valentino-esque metal studs on the strap. (There’s a leather and metal Chanelesque option as
well.) It’s also a rather chic bottle green textured leather and the straps can be removed should you ever take leave of your senses and decide to use it as a conventional case. It gets better. There’s a slim pocket at the back for your cards.
Admittedly, this is fairly basic stuff compared with the phone it houses, but it only goes to show that genius doesn’t always have to be complex. Personally, I’d like to suggest that if there were a second, cylindrical compartment for some lip balm, it would be 360-degree perfection. Then again, that might make it a bit bulky,
In the meantime, this current incarnation has proved a game changer. I haven’t lost my phone once this week. It’s easily accessible when I need it to pay for items and the strap encourages you not to use it next to your ear, but to use headphones (a good thing: when I interviewed Sir Jony Ive, chief design officer of Apple, he told me he avoids holding his phone directly against his head for long conversations. Bottom line: if the phone gets hot, don’t keep it pressed to your ear).
This case could mean the end of stuffing your phone in your back pocket – with all the calamities that can ensue, including seeing it bend, crack or fall in the loo.
I’m now so smug about the credit card slot that I’m tempted to abandon my proper handbag. The lip balm will just have to go in a pocket somewhere… with my headphones. And the rest of my make-up and my gloves and umbrella… maybe this bag-free project isn’t going to work.
At £69, there are cheaper ones but they’re not as nice and don’t look as well made. Alternatively, you can go more luxe and opt for a customisable cross-body or wristlet phone case from Anya Hindmarch.
Hours of fun customising can be yours. And with it, years of hands-freedom.