Low Take on High Tech

You may not always want to show the world that you’ve shelled out $500-plus on the latest technological wonder—in some cases, you may even want to appear perfectly old school by carrying around those archaic things called books. In an attempt to understate the “IT” tech gadget of the year, designers are creating sheath cases that make the iPad look more like its nearly antiquated predecessor. Take, for example, Dunhill designer Kim Jones’ cream leather cover: it offers the feel of a gentleman’s folio, complete with a trompe l’oeil addressed letter tucked into printed-on elastic bands; or look to the Dodocase, whose black notebook-like cover, inspired by the journals of Van Gogh and Picasso, add a moody bent. Downplaying highbrow is tech-savvy this year.