When was the last time you carried a big bag around all day? It was probably the last time you went to the gym in the morning, dropped your kids off at school, perhaps, then went to an actual office, followed by a post-work dinner or event. Throughout the course of the pandemic, the need for a large carryall has largely gone out the window. Coronavirus has slowed our lives and confined us, mostly, to our homes. There aren’t even too many occasions in which we’d wear a clutch or a cute vintage-style top handle mini bag unless you’re getting dressed for a dinner outside that will begin at 5:30 and end promptly at 7:30. 

I, for one, have not been feeling the need to bring all my belongings with me on my daily constitutionals or my thrilling trips to the grocery store. In truth, I have always been a bit of a minimalist when it comes to curating the content of my handbags—as long as there is room for my wallet, phone, and lip balm, I’m good. 

During the last few months, I’ve been searching for some sort of happy medium between an easy, nearly hands-free way to carry my necessities and a smaller, more streamlined holder that is as fashionable as it is functional. For those like me who prefer to travel light, Apple has answered our prayers. Available for pre-order this week and officially launching on November 12, the same date as the iPhone 12 Pro, the company has released a new magnetic cardholder collection called MagSafe Accessories (MagSafe is the new technology that enables wireless charging for the iPhone 12 Pro) that stick to the back of your phone with or without a case. The sleek leather and silicone cases come in an array of earthy colors like mustard yellow and hunter green. The case also has a protective coating to protect your credit cards. It is, in a nutshell, a fashion minimalist’s dream, fashion being the operative word: the new designs are a far cry from the older phone cardholder models made of plastic and available only in bland hues. 

The idea falls somewhere between the It girls and celebrities who’ve pulled off those impossibly teeny tiny Jacquemus bags and the way that Aretha Franklin brought her fabulous purses, filled with cash, with her on stage and never let them out of her sight. I think the new MagSafe case might just be my golden ticket to minimizing my daily accessories and ending my on-and-off relationship with big old carryalls. Simplicity really can be the key to happiness. 

When you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.