I bought a designer iPod nano case for my nano 3G yesterday, and chances are you’ve been thinking about designer cases too. If you’re only going to use your 3G nano in an armband at the gym, stop reading now. Designer cases aren’t going to make sense for you.

The rest of us worry about getting our nano wet, or banged up, or just plain feeling overly geeky walking to school or work. There has to be a better way to carry it around, preferably with a little style.

Until recently I’d never thought of it as a fashion statement. Two weeks ago I saw my friend’s leather flip case and had an ‘aha’ moment. Time to search for options.

Reasonably Priced:

The easy path is (of course) a simple, “leather look” flip case. You can get one for under $10. A quick search found them in black, brown, pink, and blue colors. No doubt there’s more. There’s also another model that opens from the side (wallet-like) instead of the top.

A small step up is the Kroo Manhattan faux leather. It has red topstitching to make it a little more memorable. Still, not the statement I was looking for when I was shopping.

Next step up: The Cloe Dao. The skull and crossbones version wasn’t quite the image I wanted for my iPod nano- though maybe it’d be perfect for a young guy. The pinstripe colored one actually looked pretty cool for weekends-I may still go back and buy it. I was looking for something a little more reserved for work.

Middle-of-the-Road:

For a great mid-range price, try the Sena Pullino case. The leather on this one is real and the velvet lining protects against scratches. I like the fact that the case fits the nano snugly — some cases are just too loose. It’s simple, elegant, and well-made.

Two other mid-price designers to consider are Marware and Pacific Designs. They both make a good variety of multi-purposes cases. Marware even has a leather flipcase that’s reasonably priced.

Serious Style:

Want something special and girly? The Gilty Cotour 3G nano case fits the bill. The metal case is either silver or gold plated, with crystal accents. The Swarovski Crystals surround the nano’s Click Wheel and display screen. The model I looked at had a silver body and pink crystals — really cute.

My favorite for the work week is the Difusi case with snakeskin and napa leather. I also like the magnetic clasp. Also a plus: the price is around $40.

I was hoping to find something by Coach, Dior, or Prada to review. Coach has one for the 2G version of the nano, but they haven’t built one for 3G yet. Basically I was out of luck.

What did I decide on? The Difusi holder filled the bill. It’s stylish but still conservative enough for walking to work. I’ll probably buy a Cloe Dao soon to showcase my fun side — we can’t let work run our lives, can we?

You have a lot of options for finding your own special 3G iPod nano designer case. Enjoy, and express your own style.

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