Are We Bag-Charmed Out?
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At the Strategist, we engage in vigorous debates on big issues: Do youturn on the Big Light?Are benefits of linen sheets overhyped? This week, our attention turned tobag charms, which have become ubiquitous enough to be polarizing. (“It seems like everyone in New York City has a dog-shaped leather bag charm on aPolène Cyme bag,” Strategist junior writer Bella Druckmanwrote recently.) Based on a non-scientific poll, 70 percent of Strategist staffers are bag-charm skeptics versus a 30 percent minority of bag-charm fans — but even the skeptics had to admit that some of them are really cute.
Bella Druckman, junior writer:Idon’t think we’vereached peak bag charm, but Idothink it is a bit overdone, especially when it comes toLabubus. It’s about ratio — I feel like Labubus and the Jellycat bag charms are too big, and they look a bit silly next to a nice bag. I have a Maison de Sabre one that’s the perfect size, in my opinion: a couple inches. I’m into people using silk scarves to personalize their bags, too.
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Ambar Pardilla, writer:The minute we started putting Labubus on Hermès bags, it was over.
Jen Trolio, senior editor:I mostly love bag charms for other people. Love looking at them, but they feel like too muchworksomehow, at least for me. One less thing to worry about getting dirty or stolen or lost. Also, I’m too cheap to spend such big money on them.
Najwa Jamal, updates coordinator:My friend has recently gotten into Labubus, and I couldn’t be more of a hater about it, but then there’s some Coach-adjacent charms that feel cute. There’s the high end of bag charms and tags, like Miu Miu, Loewe, and Hermès.
Lauren Ro, senior writer:I don’t like bag charms — too juvenile! If a handbag company makes its own charms that feel like they belong on the bag, I can get behind that.
AP:But some of the designer bag charms are literally the price of the designer bags.
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Liza Corsillo, senior writer:I think bag charms are best on kid or teen backpacks or as a suitcase accessory. I also like bag charms that look more like jewelry than stuffed animals.
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Kelsie Schrader, managing editor:I don’t think I’ll ever own bag charms, but this morning on the subway I saw a woman who had a trio of sweaters (like these but not exact) and I did think it was cute.
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Erin Schwartz, writer:I love this Gsongim lighter holder, but at $145, it’s too expensive for me. I clip this carabiner to my bag and hang a baseball cap on it, which isn’t necessarily a bag charm, but it is a useful way to carry a hat.
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LR:I hated it when people clipped their hand sanitizers to their bags, but I just bought a couple of the Touchland Crocs holders for the kids and one for myself. I dunno if I’ll actually clip it to my bag or keep it on the inside.
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BD:What does everyone think of bag charms shaped like mini-bags?
AP:Itdepends on the bag for me, TBH. The mini L.L.Bean Boat and Tote works; thebaby Baggussometimes.
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ES:I like the mini L.L.Bean tote. It’s genuinely difficult and impressive to make a miniature, so it’s almost like bragging about your construction. “We’re so good at making this tote that we can make it at 1/10 scale.”
AP:I’m not a purist by any means, but there was something really fun about bag charms when they felt curated as opposed to something you buy while waiting on a checkout line. I think of the beads wrapped aroundJane Birkin’s Birkin.
ES:It feels like two things are happening. One, the human zeal for adornment is a beautiful thing about our species. Two, collectibles are a money printer, and this is a way for inexpensive and designer brands alike to mint endless collectibles.
That being said, I went on aforaging tour of Prospect Park, and someone had a little forager outfit for her Labubu. That won me over.
Amelia Jerden, sleep writer:It’s hard for me to not see Labubus and other collectible bag charms as future landfill. What is the longevity of these products?! But I do like cute/kitschy things, so I get it.
NJ:I’m obsessed with the maximalism of theHirshleifer sisters, and some of their charms (the bear ones, maybemonogrammed dog-tag leather types) feel timeless, something to stick around.
Kathy Li, social-media editor:I feel like bag charms occupy the space keychains used to. It used to be that if you had a cute souvenir or stuffed animal, it would go on your keys, not your bag, but a lot of people don’t carry keys anymore because of keyless entry.
NJ:Honestly, all around, these charms are so pricey!
AJ:The markup on calling something a “bag charm” instead of just a keychain.
ES:I wonder if you could just look forold keychains on Etsyand change out the keychain ring for a clasp.
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JT:I also have a gut feeling that Labubus are about to be banned from my kids’ school. Another parent told me that her daughter came home upset because kids told her there is a demon inside hers. It’s a matter of time before the principal shuts it down.
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