How Everyone Is Birkin-ifying Their Bags

Bags are entering their messy era as they become “Birkin-ified” both on and off the runway. Essentially, the overstuffed, tchotchke-covered totes we are seeing in 2024 are an ode to Jane Birkin. The actress inspired the Hermès Birkin when it was introduced in 1984 and famously covered her iconic designer leather totes with beads and watches, stuffing them to the brim with notebooks and day-to-day belongings. (Specifically, items like French pharmacy products and an extra pair of glasses, according to an interview where she shares exactly what’s in her bag.)

Flash forward to the spring/summer 2024 collections where Jane Birkin’s legendary overstuffed, messy bags were a major point of inspiration. On the Miu Miu runway, models carried top-handle bags with lanyards and leather buckles tied to them, while swimsuit briefs and heels overflowed to the outside. Balenciaga similarly showcased big leather totes with keys, padlocks, and other trinkets affixed to the outside.

Naturally, this has moved off of the runways, and fashion insiders have adopted the Birkin-fied bags into their wardrobes. It’s not just charms and scarves and keychains that are adding personality to bags, though. The actual contents of the bags are supposed to spill out of them, too. Things like wired headphones, baseball caps, baby bottles, and clothing pieces are also on display. Just as fashion is entering a space of elegance and opulence (and the rise of sophisticated bags from brands including Hermès has never been higher), style is rebelling against itself yet again. Or perhaps it’s simply moving to a place where unique personalities can shine on everyday accessories through customization. Regardless, in terms of accessorizing your bag, more is more.

Jane Birkin is the namesake of the iconic Hermès Birkin bag, and photos of the singer-actress wearing the designer totes with personal trinkets are serving as inspiration for how fashion insiders are adorning their bags with accessories in 2024.

The messy-bag trend went viral on the internet when Miu Miu showed its spring/summer 2024 collection on the runway in October 2023. What began as heavily shared memes has now translated into a fresh way to wear bags in 2024.

In its spring/summer 2024 collection, Balenciaga debuted its Rodeo bag—a leather flap tote with metal hardware that had everything from tassels to carabiner clips attached to it.

One thing is clear: The practical-meets-chic tote bags arriving on the market are meant to carry everything you need to get you through the day.

Tie a scarf around the handle of your bag to inject personality and color.

While we have seen plenty of bags with layers and layers of key chains and souvenir shop mementos, you can also keep it simple with just a couple of bag charms.

So what if your travel slippers and wired headphones are spilling out of your tote bag?

From ultra-messy to just a bit overstuffed, it’s clear that Birkin-ified bags are dominating the fashion space this season.