Phones: The Greatest Accessory, The Extension of Vanity

For a really long time now, I have been using my phone case as a card holder. I can’t even remember the last time I used cash: and I don’t mean just because of the pandemic, but every single store seems to accept card payment now. Or maybe even I‘m old-fashioned and you’re all exclusively using Apple Pay. Regardless, I was storing my cards in a stick-on card holder on the back of my phone case, but it was made of cheap, thin silicone and the sides would start to split after only a few days. I purchased a case that had an actual sewn-on card holder, on top of a soft leather panel; made to endure and to last. Made for function. It was delivered. And I decided that this item, which I had bought for how much easier it would make my life, is ugly. So, so ugly.

This Apple advert does not even picture the phone itself. Image via

Why are phones marketed so heavily for their utility and not for their appearance? I thought about this after I had wallowed in self-pity for having a sad, gross phone case. I should feel satisfied with the utility, not the look, of my phone case, just like I am satisfied with the utility, not the look, of my phone. So why does the case matter if my phone works brilliantly?

I’m not the only person who cares about whether their phone looks pretty — or perhaps, more importantly, if their phone shows everyone else how cool and trendy they are. As a devoted Instagram and TikTok peruser, there are some things that I have noticed…

Phones are held, but never really seen: they help you to be seen.

Consider the selfie, where the subject’s hand grasps their phone (and their hand just looks so weird, they point out in their caption, unfunnily). We see their nails, their rings, their bracelets. Even the action that allows them to show off their beauty is, itself, beautiful and curated. Who cares about my phone case when I’m in the photo? The plain case, or even, the no-case look, serves to draw attention away; focus instead on my fresh manicure, marvel at my beauty.

The black case serves as a perfectly contrasting background for the white nails. Image via

Another option is to be more overt with where you want the eye to go… or not? Image via

Phones are an extension of yourself, and thus, heavily accessorized.

In contrast to the plain or no-case look, phones are sometimes deliberately shown off. They are made to look so beautiful, perhaps to suggest that their owner must just be so stylish that they’re able to make even their mobile phone, the most mundane object, cute.

First, we look at the case. Devon Lee Carlson and her sister Sydney are not just influencers; they are the founders of Wildflower Cases, which is a HUGE business that deals in gorgeous phone cases. There are so many designs, surely one of them will appeal to every type of cool girl out there (or guy; I hate to generalise).

Image via

Take, for instance, this phone case designed by Salem Mitchell and Wildflower Cases in collaboration. In the photoshoot for the collab, Salem’s makeup and nails imitate the phone case itself, which obscures part of her face; it’s clear that Wildflower are confidently marketing their phone cases as being reflective of you, even going as far as to suggest that you take your style from your phone case.

No wonder they’re so popular, then. It wouldn’t take very long scrolling through Pinterest to find a girl holding a phone with a Wildflower case. Even the one Addison Rae is holding in the previous photo is from Wildflower.

Devon, selfie-ing with one of her cases. Image via

Second, we look at… the strap? The leash? I really don’t know what to call this but I’ve seen a few female celebrities and influencers attaching these beaded lanyard-things to their phones. They’re from the brand “String Ting”, the apparent innovators. And, pictured below, they’re not even being worn around their wrist…!!! Clearly, the Wii taught no one.

Beaded accessories are no longer just cute for the neck or wrists, it seems; like another limb, your phone can now also share in this trend. Fair enough, since people perpetually walk around holding their phones in their hand, whether they’re looking at it or not.

Vogue deemed the wristlet a “bizarre standout accessory”. Image via

Devon again, this time with her boyfriend Jesse Rutherford, the singer of The Neighbourhood. Image via

So, I’m left still wondering why the closest Apple ever got to marketing their phones as facets of your individuality was their release of the iPhone 5C. A pair of model sisters in LA are capitalising on what they missed, big time! All in all, I want my phone to be pretty and I’m not convinced that the reason is just because it will show everyone how fabulous I am. But I’m also not sure if I’m just doing it for myself. Whatever… I will be asking for a real card holder for Christmas this year. And yeah, I’m waiting for my Wildflower case to be delivered; what about it?

Featured image via