We found 10 stylish ways to outsmart a phone thief

Let’s be honest, we all wish we were less dependent on our phones. But with banking, maps, social media and emails all in one convenient and immediate place, smartphones have become an integral part of our lives. So, the thought of having our phones lost, broken or stolen isn’t a mere inconvenience but a complete halt to our daily life.

Predominantly a city problem, ‘snatch thefts’ have risen by 150% in London in the last year – making city dwellers and visitors alike easy targets for this type of crime. But how do you help reduce this risk? Well, that’s where Good Housekeeping comes in.

Our chic and sleek solution is the cross-body phone bag. Essentially, it’s a more compact version of the much-beloved cross-body bag that carries your essentials: a phone, a few cards/cash and maybe a lip gloss tube, too.

Cross-body phone bags have become so popular, accessory brands such as Aspinal of London and Radley have their own dedicated pages for cross-body phone bags.

Trust me when I say that this is guaranteed to be your new good-time accessory – it’s trending online and is being seen everywhere. As festival season has begun, I easily spied more than 100+ phone bags and phone straps at a day festival I went to. It’s a trend that doesn’t discriminate on age either – Gen Xs to Gen Zs are all wearing some iteration of phone bags and straps for their fun-going summer plans.

Flower beads and garish prints aside, I’ve found the sleekest and fashion-forward cross-body phone bags that won’t just go with any outfit you pair them with, but also won’t date.

Arket’s sleek leather option in burgundy makes checking your phone a breeze when layered over the top of your trench coat. Meanwhile Phase Eight’s woven bag would be perfect for a wedding day; with quick access to snap the bride and groom, its minimal design won’t clash with any wedding guest outfit either.

These bags will carry everything you need for any event where bringing a lot of items would be a hassle – think music gigs, day events, Ascot and Wimbledon. We’ve picked the buys that will ensure you have the best time you can, stylishly and safely. You’re welcome.

Here are our 10 favourite cross-body phone bags to buy now: