The first time I stepped outside with a freaky little stuffed gremlin on my Louis Vuitton Speedy handbag, I got a double take from my millennial sister. She was already on board with two other oddball Gen Z trends I introduced her to a few months back—Sonny Angel and Miffy—but she couldn't fully understand why I, a 26-year-old teenage girl, chose to willingly put a Pop Mart Labubu on my bag.
Enter, the newest fashion litmus test dividing Gen Zers and millennials: handbag plushie charms. Thanks to TikTok, these nostalgic, furry creatures are being clipped onto the designer bags of nearly every sub-27 stylish person you know. From Khaite to Prada, no bag is too fancy for Labubu, Monchhichi, and Sanrio characters. Unlike funky, eclectic bag charms, handbag plushies are rooted in childlike wonder rather than a desire to be individualistic. Granted, Gen Z might have a slight superiority complex (guilty as charged!) when it comes to their hot fashion takes, but plushie charms are the one collective accessory we can all get behind. Frankly, they're cute and make us feel like kids again. No need to be an adult and do taxes—just throw a Hello Kitty plushie bag charm on your tote bag and head out the door.
Plushies aren't just a Gen Z thing. Our favorite celebrities are buying into the hype too. Style mogul and multi-hyphenate Rihanna stepped out to run some errands while wearing a Labubu bag charm, and Ayo Edebiri posted her full 'fit featuring a black designer bucket bag and a clip-on plushie of a dog in a hat. Who can forget BlackPink singer Lisa, who's been vocal about her love of plushies for a minute, pairing her Labubu bag charms with her Khaite Elena Bag and Louis Vuitton Speedy Monogram. Celebs, they're just like us.
The plushie charm trend isn't just about adding a little quirk to your bag; it's about leaning into the nostalgia of simpler times. For Gen Z—who grew up surrounded by the early days of the internet, cartoons, and plenty of oversize and colorful stuffed animals—these plushie charms hit all the right notes. It's like wearing a badge of innocence in a world that often feels too serious. Whether it's the familiar face of a Sanrio character or the slightly sinister grin of a Pop Mart Labubu, these mini creatures are a tongue-in-cheek reminder of the days when our biggest decision was which cartoon character we'd try to be for Halloween. Suddenly, in the midst of deadlines and existential crises, that playful whimsy feels like a welcome escape.
There's something about the juxtaposition of high fashion and plushie innocence that just works. These charms on luxury bags are not only a way to make a statement—they also soften the edgier, more polished sides of luxury fashion. It's almost as if, by adding a little plushie friend, your bag becomes a bit more approachable, a little less intimidating. You don't have to take yourself so seriously when you've got a tiny, cheerful Labubu dangling from your arm. This trend proves that sometimes the best way to look stylish is by having fun with your accessories. Who doesn't want to carry a little joy with them, one plushie at a time?
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