10 Ways To Hide Your Handset

I just read the news tidbit about the 10,000 Microsoft workers who are secret iPhone users. Crazy stuff. Turns out, many of them feel they have to hide them at the office.

Seems like there are lots of reasons to hide an iPhone these days, whether from irate bosses, potential muggers, or even teachers, who forbid them at school. (Don’t worry, I won’t tell…) There are likewise plenty of ways to tote an iPhone without anyone being the wiser.

Some of them take the art of disguise to a whole new level. For others, actually hiding the device may not even be the point. Regardless, I came up with a quick list of some of my favorites below.

Feel free to add to the bunch if you’ve got some faves of your own. Enjoy!

For the “Stoner”

How in the world would this fit in your skinny pants? No idea. And yet, I can’t take my eyes off this iPhone case. Sadly, Hong Kong-based fashion company JOYCE, which offers iPhone case designs created by designers from Rick Owens, Dries Van Noten, Marni, Etro, Bless and Anna Sui, are only for sale in Hong Kong, China, and Taiwan. This limited-edition line of cases is headed there for the Spring 2010 fashion season.

For Serious iPhotogs Only

Okay, so the Owle Bubo isn’t so much a case as a full-out accessory for serious iPhone photographers who want the ability to attach gear, like wide-angle lenses and flash components, onto their smartphones. But I defy you to find anyone who doesn’t think this is a wicked dSLR from an alternate reality.

Chocoholics Beware

Is there synergy between chocolate and iPhones? I guess, since each can afford a guilty pleasure to the most addicted of us. There are various chocolate-themed cases, like this Homade Chococase sold by GizFever and USB Fever.

Some Steam Punkery

At first look, this Exo Case definitely doesn’t scream Apple. After all, most of us iPhone lovers treasure the slim lines and thin form factor of our devices. So who’d imagine we’d stash it in such a boxy shape? But while it may not look too sleek or comfortable for toting around town, I still think this brass and wood case is gorgeous.

And if it’s as heavy as it looks, consider it a security measure: If anyone tries to grab your phone and stomp on it, you can smack them in the head with this for a quick knock out. (Yeah, I’m talking about you, Ballmer!)

Wood Nymphs Rejoice

Got a liking for natural material? This Urban Outfitters product may have what you need. The only giveaway here are the holes in the front and back, for the familiar digital clock font or Apple logo.

But while other wood cases can run up to hundreds of dollars, you may just want to make do with this $36.00 Vers Wood iPhone Case. (For that price, you could always block those holes if complete concealment is paramount.) But in most situations, this will offer a decent amount of coverage.

For Foodies

There are a ton of iPhone sleeves that take their cues from other objects. But most notably and bizarrely for me, there’s a particular food trend out there.

It’s not like people are actually going to think you pulled a real can of Spam or a sushi bento box out of your pocket, right? But I guess cute trumps clever in this case, and the total coverage these pouches provide do have the secrecy factor.

PLUS, a few DIY faves:

The Gameboy

Several different sites covered the story of how one crafty dude printed out a custom skin of a gameboy, then slapped that on a hard back that covers his device. Talk about a fast and easy iPhone costume. Very impressive.

The Moleskine iPhone Book

Did you ever see those classic movies where the crusty old man pulls a book off the shelf, and there’s a flask of whiskey in it? Or a hidden key to some far-off treasure? This little DIY project sort of harks back to that. Given the size of the handset, a smaller notebook seems pretty fitting and keeps up the portability factor nicely.

Freshen Your iPhoning

Does it get simpler than this? I don’t think so. So easy, so brilliant. My fave of the lot.

Got a favorite way to hide your iPhone? Let us know in the comments.