Sometimes a card case is not enough. You carry a phone, a lip balm, keys and a receipt you forgot to throw away, and you want one place for cash, cards and a coin pocket. This is where the zip and bifold styles earn their keep, and they all behave differently once they are inside a bag.

The MARC JACOBS The Top Pebbled Leather style is the one I would pick for a daily bag: pebbled grain hides scuffs, and the shape is square enough to stand upright in a tote. The MICHAEL Jet Set Travel Continental and the Bryant Large Slim Snap cover the long, roomy end, with a continental shape that holds a passport-sized stack of papers and a slim snap style for people who dislike bulk.

The two MAISON de SABRÉ pieces, the Small Leather Bifold and the Long Leather Flap, are a lesson in proportion. One folds small enough for a coat pocket, the other lies flat in a larger bag. I would choose by what you carry, not by how it looks in a photo.

Saint Laurent comes back with the Small Monogram envelope, which closes like a letter and keeps the three-initial monogram front and center. Coach brings the Essential Crystal Signature Jacquard Slim style, a textile take that feels lighter in the hand than a plain grain. The ALLSAINTS Small Leather Travel style is a good one for anyone who packs light and wants documents and cards in one place.

Marni offers the Saffiano leather bifold. Prada says its Saffiano leather was patented by the brand's founder and has a crosshatch texture and waxed finish, and I like that texture because it looks neat after a month in a bag. The Lauren Ralph Lauren Crosshatch Leather Slim Snap Closure has a similar texture feel. The Tory Burch Small Kira Diamond Quilt Zip Around is a zip one for those who want everything shut in, and the Polo Ralph Lauren Logo-buckle style is the casual pick for jeans and a white shirt.

A quick test before you commit: close it with a phone and your keys in the same bag, and see whether it still snaps shut. A bulging one will wear its corners down far faster.

Here is where this edit gets a little playful. A small chain bag that holds cards and a phone lets you leave the tote at home, which is the whole point on a dinner night or a weekend of errands. I like to think of these as a small bag that happens to have card slots, and a long strap that moves with you.

The Fendi Tube Continental logo chain piece is the dressy one, and it looks good against a plain black dress or a pair of tailored trousers. The Valentino Garavani VLogo Signature grainy calfskin style with chain has a clean hardware line, so it reads easily with jeans and a blazer. The Roberto Cavalli Croc-effect tiger-head chain piece is the loudest in the group, and I would let it be the only loud thing in the outfit.

Coach has two good ones for daily use: the Essential Signature Canvas Chain Card Case is light and small, and the MARC JACOBS Scene Leather Crossbody gives you a strap that sits across the body so your hands stay free. The Prada Saffiano-leather card holder with shoulder strap is the tidiest of all, with that crosshatch texture and a slim shape that does not bulge under a coat. Betsey Johnson's Skull Boss on a chain is a cheeky pick for anyone who wants a bit of attitude, and the Tory Burch Fleming Mini Leather Chain style is the easy, neutral way to start.

What I would skip: anything with a chain so long that it bounces at your hip while you walk, and anything you plan to stuff with more than cards and a phone. These are small by design. If you also carry a full-size lipstick, a water bottle and a charger, you want a real bag, not a strap on a card case.

Try one on in front of a mirror with your coat on. The strap should sit flat on your shoulder, and the case should close without a fight. If it twists or slips, try a shorter drop or another shape.

To choose, start from what you carry on a normal Tuesday. If it is cards and a key, go with a case. If it is cash, a few receipts and a pen, go with a bifold or a zip one. If your hands are always full, go for a chain style.

Do a small routine at home: empty your current one onto a table, throw out the receipts, and keep only what you used this week. You will likely need fewer slots than you think. Then check the closing: a snap should click, a zip should run smoothly, and a flap should lie flat.

As for protection from card theft, AARP reports that the Identity Theft Resource Center's COO says RFID theft from payment cards is not a real risk, and AARP explains that cards use near field communication, which only works at close range of usually a few centimeters. So I would pick by shape and feel, not by a label on the inside.

Vogue reports contactless payments rose 172 percent between 2019 and 2020, which is why a slim piece makes sense now. Choose the one that closes cleanly, sits in your bag without a bulge, and that you actually like to take out.