Bags with Charm
Accessorizing an accessory!
I have long been obsessed with bags and accessories (both as a designer and as a consumer), and I get even more excited when it comes to accessorizing an accessory itself. I’ve always had a special place in my heart for bag customization, adding a personal touch to something to really make it feel like your own. Any and all of it: monograms, personalization, hand painting, adding bag charms. I remember painting my bags as a child when I couldn’t find one interesting enough, polka dotting a Louis Vuitton duffle, and more recently stenciling custom boat totes for friends.
Although bag charms (some may call them keychains), have been all over the runways and on the streets for a while, let’s remember that Jane Birkin was the OG. Her well-loved Birkin bag was adorned with jewelry, scarves, patches, her watch, and keychains.
And as much as I enjoy the beauty of understated, beautifully crafted, leather bags, I welcome the re-discovery of the bag charm. I love it when utility meets a touch of whimsy, and becomes a blank canvas for personalization.
I love how classic these bags and the colors are, and that they are adorned with touches of metal, jewelry, small pouches, and touches of color.
Here’s a more minimal bag charm moment - just tying something textural to hang off of a strap, adding in a functional metal accessory or a keychain, keeping it subtle but still fun.
All the fun and playful charms and accessories really take me back to the days when I was a kid collecting all the colorful charms for my plastic charm necklace. My daughter has this lip balm charm necklace that feels nostalgic but is also practical and fun, and it would double as a great bag charm. My son has all these cute Jellycat keychains, and I smile every time I see the croissant. Miu Miu came to the table with all sorts of whimsical but elevated trinkets that look so fun piled onto the bags. Anya Hindmarch has always had a great mix of cheeky charms and accessories to add to bags - the Carmex especially speaks to me.
All the New York vibes from Coach. It’s actually very practical to attach a drinking vessel to your bag. I love
’s zip-tie hack, a simple way to attach any and all things you need onto your bag. I personally love all sizes of bags, and when they are mini, I can’t resist. Piggybacking a mini bag to a large bag is a genius way to put that little bag to good use too!
Beads, necklaces, beaded charms galore. Don’t Let Disco does it best. I adore the special beads that Ashley Harris sources for her collection. The colors, the shapes, the limitless combinations. I loved getting to create my own charms at an event last year, and if you can make it to one of her beading bars, it’s DIY heaven.
Here are some of the bags I’ve been playing with - lots of pouches, my sunglass holder, some old jewelry, my vintage key holder, my daughter’s Summer camp beaded lizard, and my Don’t Let Disco charm I made.
Another simple way to add something fun to a bag is with a silk scarf or bandana (I love this one by Ozma). I love how it brings in some texture and color to an otherwise classic bag. You can play around with twisting it all the way around the straps, or even just tie it onto the handle.
I wanted to pull together some charms and ideas that I love - from actual bag charms to jewelry charms, to kids plush toys and then to functional items like a leather eyeglass holder or airpods pouch. If you’re inspired to jazz up your bag, there are likely plenty of things laying around your home that you can use: think carabiners, souvenirs, ribbons, bandanas, jewelry, kids jewelry, found objects, rope, mini bags, hand sanitizer, water bottles, lip gloss. The options are endless - and more is more if that’s what you’re into.
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I loved this Joyce! My son made me a colorful plastic beaded necklace at summer camp last year as a gift and I immediately thought to throw it on my bag - every time he sees it he asks if mommy still loves his necklace. 😊 it’s such a fun way to add some personality and meaning to our everyday workhorse!