It’s no secret that charms and bows have overtaken the women’s fashion world. The girlies are all about personalisation in all forms; whether it’s revamping sneakers with lace and ribbons or adding stickers to your AirPods Max, 2024 is all about individuality, and the ‘Jane Birkinifying’ trend is taking it to new heights.
What is ‘Jane Birkinifying’? The idea lies in the name itself, in the inspiration taken from trendsetter, British actress, and singer Jane Birkin and Hermès. Birkin was a pioneer in the fashion world in many ways. However, effortlessly stylish French bangs aside, her obsession with big purses, especially huge wicker baskets that she carried about as handbags, helped define her reputation in the ’70s.
The actress looked for the following elements that were essential for her ideal bag: ample room, a versatile silhouette, and a bohemian-chic style. Soon after the Hermès Birkin bag was spoken into existence.
Once Birkin started carrying her Hermès handbag basically everywhere, people spotted her sporting accessories like silk scarves, jewellery, charms, and patches on the sides of her purse, giving them instant style inspiration and a fresh, fashionable way to personalise their handbags. Thus, the term ‘Jane Birkinifying’ was born. As she famously stated: “I always hang things on my bags because I don’t like them looking like everyone else’s.”
“Thanks to the playful, individualised nature of this trend, there’s no wrong way to approach it,” says Nia Davis, a designer for the handbag brand Fiorelli. “You don’t need a real designer bag to participate and can use any of your favourite leather or faux leather bags. As a nod to Jane Birkin, a tote bag is a great option, but shoulder bags and grab bags are also good choices.”
“There are plenty of ways to customise your bag, attaching your chosen accessories and trinkets to the handles, straps, and zippers,” she says. “Play around with items you already have at home such as key chains, charms, badges, and pins. You can also add some beads, pearls, and chains, or, to align with the coquette aesthetic, incorporate ribbons and lace materials tied into bows.”
Not only has this trend got the public going wild, but luxury brands have hopped on the bandwagon too. Social media feeds have been flooded with pictures of such bags, from the Hermès Kelly to the timeless Chanel classic flap, all decked out with scarves, keychains, jewellery, and beyond. It’s a frenzied case of creativity and individuality gone wild.
Picture plush toys and memento keychains that perfectly match your personality, and are also a low-cost option to keep spicing up your outfit constantly.
What makes this trend so exciting? The rules are that there are no rules! Let your imagination run wild by mixing and matching brands, interlacing charms, and embracing the freedom to mix and match.
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