You may be bored of me saying this by now, but noughties fashion is still firmly in the limelight. Why? Well, fashion psychologists seem to think it has something to do with nostalgia and our longing for the past. And as someone currently sat in a dress and jeans combo, it seems I have to agree. Wasn’t the world just a little more fun back when we listened to our favourite albums on our Walkmans and sequins always seemed like a good idea?

Well, at least we can now relive the glory days when it comes to fashion. Capri pants, kitten heels and layered tops are all leading the way as some of this season’s most in-demand retro styles. But, if the thought of trying any of these seems too much like trawling through your secondary school wardrobe, there’s now another very tiny trend starting to seep through: bag charms.

Yes, really. The days of tying strings, Tamagotchi’s and most likely cringe-worthy keyrings to your tote are back. Although, of course, they’ve seen a significant upgrade. In fact, even luxury labels such as Burberry, Loewe and Anya Hindmarch are getting in on the action, and they’re definitely an easy way to inject some fun and personality back into your wardrobe. 

To make sure you’re making a chic fashion statement rather than reviving your school days, Stylist spoke to Anya Hindmarch, bag designer extraordinaire, to find out just how to do it.

Bag charms, by design, are made to have fun with, so use them to lean into the look and inject some colour and personality into your everyday style. “‘I love the way a charm messes up a beautiful bag and makes it your own,” shares Hindmarch. “My inspiration was a friend who always wore her grandfather’s old watch but had a Mickey Mouse charm tied onto it on a ribbon. Somehow it was irreverent and individual. The fun messed with the old school, in a good way, making it not about luxury or status but about a story.”

Of course, the whole point of bag charms is for them to be fun. But now we’re no longer counting our pocket money to purchase them, it may be time to invest in something that offers higher quality than the ones from school. Anya Hindmarch’s are handcrafted from leather, Loewe’s are the same yet add a fun, sequin spin and Coach has opted for recycled plastic that actually looks like a much more expensive metal. 

The bag charm trend definitely adopts a ‘the bigger the better’ mentality. While one will add an element of interest, there seems to be something quite exciting about curating your own mini collection. “People collect them, and they are great to bunch together as a talking point,” shares Hindmarch. Fun fashion finds do draw attention, so use it to your advantage by curating an edit of charms that reflects your personality, or perhaps some sentimental finds that you’ll be excited to chat about. Throw any concerns over clashing colours out the window. 

Images: Courtesy of Getty and Anya Hindmarch.