I Thought This Accessory Trend Looked Cheap—Lily Allen Just Changed My Mind
After several seasons dominated by "quiet luxury" and "clean girl" aesthetics, 2024 is set to see the reins loosened and the rule book discarded. Creeping in with the re-emergence of micro shorts and gladiator sandals is an accessory trend I always thought cheapened my look, but in actual fact, now I think it can give our outfits much more personality.
Ushered in by the Y2K and '10s nostalgia trends that fashion people are embracing this spring, we're starting to spot bag charms latched onto the handbags of some of the most stylish this season.
Offering a playful update on day-to-day styling, the bag-charm trend was rife across the early '10s as fashion people adorned their most prized possessions with fuzzy Fendi monsters and other such kitsch accoutrements. Falling out of favour by the latter half of the decade when pared-back styling took hold, unadorned bags then went on to enjoy their time in the sun.
However, it now seems that bag charms are back, and some of our favourite celebrities have been the first to embrace their return. Lily Allen and Dua Lipa have both been spotted adorning their Hermès Birkin bags with an array of charms and scarves within days of each other. Giving their pricey bags a relaxed and laidback dressing down, the embellishments juxtapose the elegance of the Hermès Birkin in a way that many of us mightn't dare compromise.
It's not just celebrities who have fallen for the trend. Bag charms were spotted up and down the runways this past season; woven into Balenciaga's S/S 24 collection and scattered across Simone Rocha's presentation, big-name designers are backing the growing trend, too. Made popular by model and actor Jane Birkin who frequently styled her namesake Hermès bag with a varying array of charms, this season, we expect to see the small but mighty trend adopted en masse.
To get ahead of the crowd, read on to shop our edit of the best bag charms to add to your arm candy—be it Hermès or H&M—below.
SHOP OUR BAG CHARM EDIT:
Loop this around your bag or use it as a keyring.
Even if you can't quite afford a Birkin, you can still have a slice of Hermès.
Clip this on to your favourite basket bag this summer.
Loewe has so many fun bag charms to choose from.
This origami elephant is crafted from vegan leather.
Natalie Munro is Who What Wear UK’s news writer. Having worked in the fashion industry since her time at university—where she obtained a BA in Journalism from University of the Arts London, Natalie's experience spans journalistic and styling roles. In the early stages of her career Natalie predominately worked on editorial shoots for fashion publications such as British Vogue, Vogue Ukraine, AnOther Magazine and Elle UK, before moving into journalism roles.
On completion of her degree she interned in the editorial team at British Vogue and later went on to freelance for the publication. Here, she developed her interest in reporting on the latest fashion news and trends. Inspired by the dynamic nature of the industry, Natalie went on to write for other lifestyle and fashion brands and publications before taking on the role as News Writer for Who What Wear.
With an interest in uncovering the latest fashion trends, Natalie takes a leading role in identifying news for Who What Wear UK. Focusing on trends on and off the runway, as well as street style and celebrity fashion, Natalie reports on a daily basis, ensuring that she remains ahead of the trends. Natalie also creates content for Who What Wear’s social channels including TikTok and Instagram on a weekly basis.
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