Bag trinkets can transform your purse or backpack into an extension of self-expression.

Purses today are not the same as purses ten years ago. Chanel is selling $7,000 faux fur purses that have been seen falling apart. Prada is selling $2,000 raffia bags that could be purchased for $10 on Canal Street. Scarcity and quality were the basis of the appeal of designer purses, but “dupe” culture has made consumers question whether luxury prices still reflect either.

With designer purses becoming more accessible, the bag itself is no longer the ultimate expression of individuality — the charms you add make it personal. Fashion has always been a form of self-expression, and the purse charm is the latest way to make something feel entirely your own.

In these trend cycles, it is impossible not to switch up your style, but there is no reason to completely gut your closet. Transforming a piece is easy — it just takes some vision. By attaching something as simple as two chains that lay over the bag, a whole different purse is born. Bag charms are all about creativity.

The best part about this trend is that there is no playbook. Some people attach ribbons to their bags, some attach chains, pins or even stuffed animals. There are no rules when it comes to the personality one can impose on their bag.

These charms have the ability to share who you are before even saying a word. Through a pin expressing an inside joke, a keychain from your recent vacation or even a pin of your favorite band, there are so many possibilities for decoration. After all, the bag may come from a store, but the collection of trinkets hanging from it belongs entirely to its owner.

From Coach to Balenciaga to Hermès, brands across the designer market are catching on to the trend and selling purse add-ons to their consumers. What is unique about bag charms is that they are not inherently status symbols; instead, they signal that someone’s style has spunk and personality. That is not to discredit designer charms, because there is nothing better than a Birkin with a miniature Birkin charm or a Labubu hanging from an airport bag, but the charm’s price matters far less than the personality it adds.

The rise of purse charms is to show your own personality on your purse. Whether that be through a key chain found at the gas station, a repurposed chunky chain from Michaels Craft Store or even a cherry keychain from Coach, they all serve as a way to make something you carry every day feel distinctly your own.

words_birdie church. photo_ruby tavano. design_grace zimmerman & cayla quintero.

This article was published in Distraction’s Fall 2026 print issue.

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