the bizarre fashion of stuffing as many charms into one’s bag as possible
Jane Birkin, a chanteuse, actress, and symbol of both French and Swinging London style, passed away on a hot Sunday in Paris. It is difficult to notice and fall in love with someone who is attractive, talented, clever, and endowed with that elusive je ne sais quoi. The uncanny charmer who in the 1970s practically made an entire generation sigh remains and will always serve as a source of fashion inspiration. Just a quick glance at a few of her photos will have you smitten with her fringe, the flared jeans she wore with a plain white t-shirt, the wicker basket, the sheer dresses, the crocheted items, the sheer dresses,… Throughout her life, she maintained a casually elegant, bohemian aesthetic that was evident in everything she wore, even the way she adorned her Hermès Birkin bag with pendants, gems, and stickers. The creators of TikTok were likewise persuaded by this method of personalizing and enhancing a pricey cult item.
You only need to open TikTok to learn about the Jane Birkin Effect if you’re not already familiar with the viral fad of accessorizing purses with jewelry, ribbons, keychains, and other accessories. The craze, which is all about adorning your bag with as many charms as possible, was inspired by the French actress’ destructive use of the Maison Hermès model named after her. Of course, you do not need to own a Birkin to participate. To duplicate the “Messy Birkin” allure, a black tote bag from ThredUp or Poshmark plus trinkets from Etsy, Fossil, or even Amazon are more than plenty.
A $10,000 bag that is overstuffed like a suitcase and handled with the same care as a cheap item like a wicker basket on a French Riviera beach exudes an alluring charm of its own, the charm of someone who can not only afford a four-figure accessory but also has the power to destroy it. Cuts, discolored leather in several places, charms and pendants hanging from the handle, and even a photo taped on the front. In a different CBS interview, Jane Birkin remarked, “I thought it was more fun to have something hanging on it, so I hang my watch on it and all my bangles, and when I walk, they jingle. From French icons to the Olsen sisters, via Lindsay Lohan and Marc Jacobs, celebrity obsession with the “messy Birkin” is undoubtedly nothing new. However, helped along by a popular TikTok video featuring Julia Fox and a renewed love for everything simply elegant, Gen Z has taken back the disordered luxury handbags, adding this (already well-known) interest to the list of countless anecdotes surrounding Hermès and its most iconic pieces.
The best part about this new fashion is how many different methods there are to personalize your own bag. From vintage-inspired ornaments like hearts, crosses, rosaries, scarves, or votives to coquette-inspired ribbons in pastel colors, bows, or even plush materials. Trinkets, such as necklaces, bracelets, lockets, and strands of beads swinging from handles, are some of the most stylish ornaments. Naturally, there is a risk of stumbling into kitsch, but if Gen Z has taught us anything, it is that you can also express yourself through the types of pendants you put on your backpack.
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