The New Status Symbol: From Karlito to Labubu and Crybaby. Why Fashion Fell for Charms Again
In the grand carousel of fashion nostalgia, where icons and ideas are forever being reimagined, one unexpected accessory has quietly returned to the spotlight: the bag charm. Not just as decoration, but as declaration. What once dangled with irony beneath Cara Delevingne’s Fendi Karlito now swings with playful defiance on the arms of modern muses from Copenhagen to Singapore. What was once a quirky wink has become a social signal part sentimental relic, part sartorial branding.
Louis Vuitton
Karlito Walked So Labubu Could Run
The resurrection began with Karl Lagerfeld’s Karlito; a miniature effigy that blurred the lines between collectible, commentary, and companion. It wasn’t just an accessory. It was fashion’s self-referential nod, a totem of luxury’s irreverent side. Fast-forward to Copenhagen Fashion Week, where cool girls clutching Loewe and Miu Miu let plush figures peek from pebbled leather. The aesthetic? Gen Z meets grown-up gloss.
One of the earliest tastemakers to elevate this trend was Singaporean fashion collector and actress Willabelle Ong (@Willamazing), whose pairing of Pop Mart’s Labubu character with her enviable array of Hermès Kelly bags offered a compelling juxtaposition: structured sophistication softened by whimsy.
The Rise of Kidult Culture in Fashion's Elite Circles
The emotional core of this trend rests in its embrace of “kidult” culture; grown-ups reclaiming childhood aesthetics not as regression, but as resistance. Crybaby by Pop Mart, chosen by many discerning insiders including myself, channels a kind of raw vulnerability often sanitized from traditional fashion narratives. Plush yet potent, these charms become symbolic emotional support pendants.
But kidult fashion isn't mere novelty. It's fashion's answer to the polished perfection fatigue. A charm says: I’m serious enough to not take things too seriously.
The ‘Labubu’ and ‘Crybaby’ charms
Shifting Codes: Designer Charms as Elevated Identity
As the trend matures, we witness a shift from plush chaos to curated elegance. Willabelle, once an advocate of Labubu's storytelling, now reserves her bags for designer-exclusive charms. This evolution mirrors the industry's balance between playful intimacy and aspirational polish. My personal choice to retire Crybaby in favour of a Chanel Coco Mademoiselle fragrance charm, suspended from a double pearl chain, signals this transformation beautifully. No longer merely cute, it’s couture and practical offering on-the-go access to fragrance, just like my lip gloss housed in the Rhode phone case.
In a landscape saturated with luxury, it’s these micro-accessories that offer individuality. They are attachments in every sense emotional, personal, and stylistic. Whether it's a crying rabbit, a cartoonish figure, or a miniature bottle of scent, the message is clear: fashion is once again flirting with intimacy.
What's Next?
As the fashion pack cycles from plush to pearl, we may soon see charms evolve beyond bags onto belts, onto blazer pockets, onto fragrance atomizers that double as pendants. Yet the essence remains: a charm is no longer a dangling trinket. It’s a ministory. And the best-dressed are choosing theirs with intention.
In the ever-evolving orbit of luxury accessories, charms have spun back into focus not as novelty, but as narrative. What once hung playfully on bag handles is now a microsculpture of identity, emotion, and storytelling.
Prada, always ahead of the curve, treats its charms like wearable objets d’art. Bold and architectural, their charm collections speak the language of modern design with the spirit of collectible culture. It’s not hyperbole to say Prada’s offering deserves a gallery of its own each piece a masterclass in proportion and personality.
Miu Miu, the perennial provocateur of messy-chic fashion, continues to weave whimsy into sophistication. Their current must-have: the hobo bag, now arriving preembellished with removable character tricks. Equal parts playful and polished, it’s a seamless translation of runway eccentricity into real-world charm.
And then there’s Louis Vuitton, where mascot mythology meets maison heritage. Vivienne Fashionista, the House’s beloved character, has ascended to icon status. For collectors who covet more than charm who crave ritual and rarity Louis Vuitton offers a bespoke, made-to-order trunk designed specifically to house Vivienne. It’s not just storage; it’s ceremony.
