Cute bag charms: A Plush Parade for Your Handbag

In March 2025, London hosted a signing event for Labubu creator Kasing Lung, with Labubu pieces signed at an art trail for the characters he created. Cute bag charms have an odd little power: they make even a composed handbag look as if it has a sense of humor.

 

Vogue reported that Labubu charms followed Lisa from Blackpink, Rihanna, and Dua Lipa as bag charms surged in 2024. I like the contrast of a fairly serious handbag with one soft, slightly strange companion. The plush phase is less about matching a bag to a collector’s shelf than giving it a small personal aside.

 

The white Fuzzy Bear has a two-tone scarf and metal clip, a quieter accent against a navy tote. Miffy’s rabbit in a burgundy plaid dress adds pattern without taking much room. Jellycat’s Thistlepop Blossom Bunny has floral ears and a silver lobster clasp, so it is the more overtly plush choice. The Barbour pheasant mixes patterned fabric with shaggy trim, while the beige bunny’s gingham bow already brings its own decoration.

 

I would compare the clasp with the bag hardware and make sure the plush does not lever a narrow strap sideways. A charm should hang, not pull the handle out of line.

Food reads quickly on a bag, so I would let one piece be the punchline. Vogue’s 2025 Australian Fashion Week report called the charm-covered tote the hottest accessory and Labubu the most wanted bag charm.

 

The Briny Baby Olive is three glossy olives on a gold toothpick, while Bring the Heat is a bright red pepper. Solar Eclipse’s hand-painted orange slice is acetate and carries both a key ring and carabiner. Jellycat’s Amuseables Peach is the soft answer, with a smile and lobster clasp. Chelsea28’s glittery cherries add crystal-studded leaves, and the LIKHA NYC Pretzel brings handwoven raffia when the bag itself is plain.

 

I would pair one red or orange accent with a neutral canvas tote, or keep the colors close and let the shape do the talking. Before clipping it on, I would check whether the attachment is a lobster clasp, carabiner, or snap post, then see if the metal finish competes with the bag. What I would skip: I would not hang the pretzel and several glossy pieces from one narrow handle. One food joke is enough.

Vogue was already describing a Fendi collection in 2013 as “small, colorful fur lucky charms,” so this playful note on a bag is not new. A bow is useful when you want softness without a plush silhouette.

 

The polished gold Bow is crisp; the purple faux-leather Garden Florals bouquet does the softer thing. A pearl-and-heart bow chain is more decorative, while Solar Eclipse’s hand-painted, double-sided acetate Coquette Bow keeps the shape clean. Chelsea28’s red Heart Cluster has faceted hearts and a translucent chain, and the brown leather flower wraps around an AirTag rather than simply hanging beside it.

 

These pieces make sense on a structured shoulder bag or a plain backpack. I would compare each clasp and metal finish with the bag hardware, then check that the flower or bow sits flat instead of twisting against the strap. One clear shape reads better than a tangle of competing details.

Character charms can carry more volume than a small metal token, so I would start with the strap width, not the character. The V&A catalogs a Monchhichi made in Japan by Sekiguchi around 1974, with a fur-fabric body and soft-vinyl face.

 

The deep-blue Nina crystal star is the dressier choice; the Snoopy and Woodstock cluster brings a red heart and silver-tone clip. Solar Eclipse’s cream acetate maneki-neko is hand-painted, while the aqua FANCII smiley mirror adds an LED light and 1X and 10X magnification. The Monchhichi in a Kuromi costume and Chimutan in a My Melody costume bring the plush characters, and the pale green Smiski hangs from a carabiner.

 

I would check each clip type, the charm’s length against the bag, and whether its hardware belongs with the bag’s finish. What I would skip: I would not stack both plush costumes and the mirror on one thin strap, where their different attachments could twist together.

I would decide in this order: bag first, clip second, then the joke. A thin strap gets one light piece with a small attachment; a roomy tote can take a plush rabbit or a little constellation of characters. I would match the metal finish to the bag’s hardware unless the contrast is deliberate.

 

Fruit and acetate read graphic, plush reads tender, and a bow is quick punctuation. I would leave the handle clear enough to grab. A charm should join the bag, not take it over.