By now, you should have heard the treasured story of a young Jane Birkin who haphazardly found herself sitting beside Jean-Louis Dumas of Hermès on a flight—by chance, of course. As it goes, the idea for the Birkin was born because of her belongings spilling out of the pocketless tote bag she had been lugging. Famously, Jane filled her bag with items for real life, stuffing them to the brim with notebooks, newspapers, flowers, and day-to-day belongings. It was never tidy, never perfect, never to be left on a shelf as an untouchable fortune. It was a lived-in, practical accessory above all.
Although we’ve had season after season of minimalist bag trends, the overstuffed, used, and personalized bag is making waves on the runway (think of Miu Miu, Balenciaga, and Prada). The trend is being coined as Jane Birkinifying your bag—where personality can shine through customization.
Vogue’s Essentials for a Jane Birkin-like Bag:
While the goal of personal style is to embrace what makes you, you, it can be just as fun to abandon strict fashion rules and experiment a little. After all, eccentric and maximalist style is rearing its head yet again. To start, look through your wardrobe and bedside drawers for treasured items you may already own—that can be a childhood keychain, brooch, or necklace. Then, pick out a bowling bag (one with long shoulder straps) to easily clip, clasp, and loop accessories through. For luxurious options spotted on the street style scene, look to Balenciaga’s Rodeo bag, Prada’s belted bag, and The Row’s India bag, in white. There are more affordable iterations, too, from Tory Burch to Coach and Marge Sherwood.
Next, amplify your look with layered textures and prints, from Mango’s leopard scarf to a patterned silk style from Dries Van Noten. Then, layer on the charm with a neon elephant from Loewe, or a classic bead situation (a la summer camp style) from Madewell. If you’d prefer to pack on the nostalgia, Maison Irem has a dangling Monchhichi that’ll take you right back to your middle school classroom. If you’d like a more subdued, and mature accessory, Miu Miu’s leather blooms should do the trick. Before you head out, don’t forget to stuff your favorites inside! Herd up your train reads, hand cream, magazines (print is not dead!), and more, below.
Find the perfect bag
If you already tote around a vintage bowling bag silhouette, you’re in luck. The Y2K style came back with a bang last year and brands from the high street to the high end have offerings we’re still yearning for. Tip: the longer the handle the easier to accessorize.
Add a silk scarf
Using a silk scarf as an embellishment is an easy way to elevate your day-to-day look. Wrap it around the handle, or tie it in a bow (or knot) for added color, texture, and prints.
Accessorize with a charm
Take inspiration from the spring/summer 2025 collections with the star of the show: bag charms. Embrace childlike wonder, add pizzaz to a pared-back tote, or let your personality shine through with beads, baubles, and animal shapes.
Layer on the keychains
You have your purse ready and armed with silky scarves, and playful charms—now, it’s time to take it a step further by clipping on a keychain. There are funky shapes, like a mushroom or a clam, and abstract silhouettes, like Bottega Veneta’s nappa leather key ring.
Stuff it with the essentials
It wouldn’t be a Jane Birkin-style bag without an overflow of daily goodies. Take your latest novel, favorite hand cream, and a pair of gloves with you on the go. If you’re a smart enough packer, you may be able to fit a small toy poodle, umbrella, and Stanely cup in there.
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