Charming Bags
Personalize your power tool of a purse so that the pendants twinkle with self-expression as you stroll down grey streets. But why has personalization become so important to us?
Gigi's Miu Miu Arcadie Matelassé bag was photographed by Michael Loccisano for GA/Getty Images and featured in Vogue.
If you haven’t noticed, all the girlies, the gays, the theys—and, well, every purse-wearer—are now decorating their bags. Bedazzled and sparkly keychains, fluffy and cute key rings, edgy metal chains, bows, fruits, and charms. The variations of these decorations are endless, and so are the possibilities. More than just aesthetically pleasing, this personalization is a cry for individuality in our modern, categorized aesthetics. But how are these seemingly innocent acts of decoration actually significant in our culture?
Let’s dive into it. The meteoric rise in popularity of these bag charms can, quite simply, be attributed to their unique object affordances. These affordances refer to the potential actions or uses suggested by an object’s design. An umbrella is designed to shield us from the rain, while a door handle allows us to open a door. You get the idea. When it comes to these charms, their affordances vary individually. Keychains, gadgets, and charms are specifically designed as decorative pieces, but how people use them differs. Some attach a keychain to their keys for easy identification, while others take full advantage of these affordances, using them as tools of self-expression. This is why the collection of trinkets, carefully adorning purses and bags, is so meaningful. It goes beyond decoration and beautification—it's about expressing identity.
Amidst the seeming chaos of trinkets, you might think they’re randomly placed. If so, you couldn’t be more wrong. Each charm attached to a bag tells a story, both individually and as part of a larger narrative. Every charm is carefully chosen by its owner, allowing them to convey their identity in intricate detail while presenting a coherent picture. The exact stories these charms tell may only be known to the person wearing them, but the signals they send are universally recognized. Whether the charms are predominantly cute, edgy, or a mix of both, they communicate something about the wearer. These charms are tools of identity expression. Thoughtfully picked and placed, they tell countless stories. Simply put, they allow the wearer to customize their aesthetic and project it to the world. But this trend isn’t confined to bags—charm necklaces and bracelets have seen similar success. These pieces of jewelry offer the same level of customization, allowing for a unique form of self-expression and making them an ideal, personalized gift. Because when you give a charm that perfectly aligns with someone’s personality, now that shows how well you truly know them. So, yes, these bag charms are important. They enable creative expression and personalization. And that’s pretty cool.
What’s less cool, however, is the underlying reason behind all this. For some, decorating a bag may be just that—decoration. But for many, there’s a deeper, unconscious motivation. This high level of personalization and customization is a form of rebellion, pushing back against being categorized. Media and social media increasingly seek to pigeonhole us, making it easier for algorithms to feed us targeted content and advertisements. Even the content on social media enforces rigid, hyper-specific aesthetics, forcing consumers into neatly defined, sellable categories. This trend, along with other personalization-focused movements, can be seen as a response to that. We’re trying to create our own unique and personal aesthetics rather than conform to those dictated by social media. The wave of maximalism we’ve seen is part of this—people are trading minimalism for more vibrant colors and bolder expressions. Maximalism allows for greater self-expression. In a world where our identities feel like they’re slipping, the ability to signal who we are has become more important than ever. Decorating your bag might seem like a small, insignificant act, but in reality, it’s a powerful statement of reclaiming control over our self-expression.
So, are bag charms merely fun and decorative, or is there more beneath the surface? Personally, I believe there is. These desires for self-expression and individuality reflect a broader societal shift. How this continues to evolve and manifest in the smallest or largest ways will be interesting to see. In the meantime, I’ll be decorating my bag with the most personal charms I can find. Will you also be jumping on this wave of self-expression, allowing your inner creativity to shine through your charming bags?
