Charm Offensive On Your Handbag

Bag charms have begun to rival holiday ornaments in their variety and as a form of self-expression

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NEW YORK - It is easy enough to picture a blue button-up shirt, a pleated miniskirt and ballet flats on a person. Now, imagine the outfit on a bag.

That ensemble is one of the many ways people can dress up a handbag with bag charms, items used to accessorize another accessory. As they have proliferated, charms have started to rival holiday ornaments in their variety and availability.

The dangly products are sold at a range of retailers, including mall chains such as Claire's and luxury department stores like Bergdorf Goodman. They take the forms of fruit, vegetables, animals, robots, shopping bags and even handbags.

For example, Louis Vuitton's Speedy Monogram charm is a 6cm-wide version of the brand's popular Speedy bag. At US$815 (S$1,100), it is one of many charms that cost more than some handbags themselves.

Others include Miu Miu's leather charms resembling a shirt, a micromini and ballet flats (all US$625 each), as well as the label's cord-and-nylon charm (US$440), which, as noted in several TikTok videos, evokes a lanyard made at summer camp.

Loewe also sells charms like a fluffy felt corgi (US$550), a leather pea pod containing resin peas (US$490) and a bundle of asparagus made with beaded felt (US$790).

"All the brands seem to be jumping on it," said Ms Lori Hirshleifer, 65, whose family has owned and operated the store Hirshleifers in Manhasset, New York, for several generations.