How to Pick the Right Business Card Holder

Business cards are a snapshot of the way you conduct your affairs. Do you want to be perceived as one of the wacky characters from TV shows like The Office, or Parks & Recreation, or would you rather be compared to one of the chic professionals on Mad Men—or even to the most dapper of gentlemen, James Bond?
Succeeding in today’s economy means always putting your best foot forward, and guarding your business cards in pristine shape helps you stay on the right path.

1 The executive character.

While technically a credit card holder, this vegetable-tanned, embossed double sleeve in cowhide by Jack Spade, $80, portrays subtle humor yet keeps cards easily sorted in its two pockets. jackspade.com

2 The dealmaker.

Nothing says “business” like this traditionally designed Bohème calf leather business card holder, $150, by Montblanc. It holds plenty of cards from all your business travel and jetsetting, and it closes neatly and elegantly. montblanc.com

3 The serious contender.

This Avio crocodile business card case, $425, at Barneys New York, is packed with personality because of its blue hue, but it’s serious enough for executive use. The flap protects the contents of its roomy interior. barneys.com

4 The minimalist manager.

Easy to keep organized and simple to slip in your pocket, this Portage Italian vaschetta business card carrier, $50, by Cole Haan, keeps cards sorted with multiple openings in an understated yet sophisticated presentation. colehaan.com

5 The card collector.

Selected for its attractive price and all-around function, this Kenneth Cole New York leather business card case, $40, is a stylish workhorse for practically every businessperson. kennethcole.com

STAN WILLIAMS is a New York-based style journalist. His vintage-decorating book, The Find (Clarkson Potter, 2009), recently hit the bookshelves.