The Perfect Holiday Handbag Upgrade? Ornaments as Bag Charms

The holiday season always ushers in a few things: Jubilant soirées galore, hectic travel plans, and an array of style choices that balance festive, chaotic, and opulent energy to match the season’s tone. And while few experiences are as joyful as a little retail therapy to refresh your wardrobe ahead of end-of-year events, our calendars tend to fill up remarkably fast this time of year. Thus, a smart little strategy for reworking your favorite pieces can go a long way.

If you’re looking to spruce up your favorite handbag for an upcoming party—or strategizing how to style a new find for multiple events on your agenda—bag charms are one of the most on-trend, effortless, and individualistic ways to do this. But might we suggest adding an extra dose of holiday cheer by swapping your everyday charms for an ornament or two? Ahead, we make the case for carrying around a bit of sparkly decor with you this season, from how it fits within the trend landscape to six potential ways to style your favorite It bags in festive fashion.

About the Bag Charm Trend

While 2023 was the year of all things quiet luxury (with a healthy dose of event-oriented playfulness), the fashion climate took a decidedly maximalist turn in 2024. It all started with the viral mob wife aesthetic last winter, which offered decadent, The Sopranos-oriented takes on outerwear, leopard print, and black and red palettes. Similarly playful trends like office siren style and Palm Beach chic soon followed, paving the way for an anything-goes environment that welcomed Brat summer in tandem with other chaotic pop star aesthetics.

Amid all this more-is-more sensibility, it’s no wonder that even our accessories have accessories now. Whether you gravitate toward adorned sneakers, phone cases that double as lip gloss holders, or a collection of fun bag charms, there’s truly something for everyone to upgrade their styling game—and the latter has quickly become one of the most popular ways to achieve a personalized result. It seems that everyone has been embracing their inner Jane Birkin by hanging countless curated baubles on their favorite purses and totes, be they chains and pearl strings, high-fashion sweetness (think Coach’s popular cherries), or nostalgia-fueled plush moments.

The unapologetically kitschy trend is one of the fastest tracks to making a unique statement, and its infinite possibilities mean it seems likely that we’ll keep decking out our bags even as the trends evolve. Similarly to “earscaping” and viral hacks like outfit sandwiching and the “wrong shoe theory,” the bag charm trend is more of a styling tool than a specific aesthetic, so it has boundless potential to match the energy of almost any look on the horizon.

The Case for Decking Out Your Bag with Holiday Ornaments

Dedicated charms may be the most straightforward way to elevate your favorite handbag, but you can also tie or attach almost any item for a similar effect—and that’s where holiday ornaments find new life. Typically reserved for display on a tree or other decor, some of these sparkly creations have the potential to shine even brighter as part of your festive ensemble, so don’t be afraid to repurpose them.

Hanging an ornament or two on a bag creates a nod to the season’s whimsical nature while maintaining a luxe feel overall. It spreads instant cheer, and you have countless options spanning every aesthetic, meaning this styling technique has massive versatility that outranks classic holiday favorites like ugly sweaters (love them as we do). Spark a funny conversation at your friend’s party with a referential or cheeky design or wow a sophisticated crowd with a sparkling, jewelry-adjacent bauble: No matter what you do, you’ll be crafting an original look that simultaneously feels right on trend.

How to Turn Ornaments Into Bag Charms

The traditional way to hang ornaments is with tiny wire hooks, and while those work great for decor purposes, we wouldn’t recommend them for your bags. This option isn’t the most secure (no one wants a beautiful piece to come crashing to the ground mid-party), but luckily, we have a couple of different solutions for making your ornament work as a bag charm with minimal stress.

The first and simplest method of attaching a holiday bauble to your bag is via the ribbon that comes with most ornaments already. To do this, simply untie the knot at the end, then re-tie it around the handle, zipper, or wherever you want your new “charm” to hang. Be sure to do this securely so you don’t accidentally lose the ornament.

For a more secure and easily maneuverable solution, attach a metal clip or keychain to your ornament so it functions like a traditional bag charm. Lobster clasps are good for this, but you also can opt for an o-ring shape or whichever you prefer. Depending on the pieces’ construction and your plans for future use, you can tie the two together with ribbon or string, attach them with an adhesive, or feed the clasp or chain through the top loop of the ornament if it fits. From there, simply attach the ornament to your bag as you would any other charm and enjoy the new look.

Six Festive Ways to Decorate Your Bag This Season

Je Ne Sais Quoi

Can’t get enough of effortless Parisian street style? Start with a trending It bag (Marge Sherwood’s outer-pocket designs feel straight out of an indie sleaze dream), and then accessorize with ornaments that pay tribute to French favorites. It’s your choice whether you show off the ever-so-chic Celine set above all at once or switch the luxe charms based on the day’s vibe—but the MoMA baguette adds a conversation-starting element no matter what you do.

Life of the Party

If you prefer to spend your holiday gatherings sipping on a festive cocktail while you flirt or gossip with whoever you meet, tap into that energy with your bag this season. A deep green handbag like this one from Brandon Blackwood serves as a tree-inspired base for some of the cheekiest additions we could find: an artful pair of lips and a dry martini with an olive. Impossibly chic leather gloves not included but very much encouraged.

Festive Opulence

Rich shades of oxblood, burgundy, and pomegranate are this season’s answer to last fall’s sea of scarlet red handbags—and the palette’s sophisticated energy makes it the ideal backdrop for your most luxurious selections. Lean into decadence with a classic Versace Medusa motif or a romantic glass heart from Tiffany—who needs logomania when you can nod to your penchant for high fashion in this way instead?

New York or Nowhere

Few places are as magical as New York during the holidays, whether you live here, are traveling in for dinner and a festive show, or love watching movies set in the iconic locale. Start with an all-black base as any New Yorker would, and then get sentimental with tributes to city signatures like the skyline, the Big Apple, and the Statue of Liberty.

Skincare Enthusiast

For the partygoer who wants to ensure the conversation topic winds up on their skincare routine, we’ve found some playful charms that give an extra personality boost to an on-trend silver handbag. Whether you actually get Botox or not, the above ornament is too fun to resist—especially in combination with a decorative face roller. To take things to the next level, make a DIY lip gloss keychain for a functional element.

Written in the Stars

Who says you can’t turn your astrology obsession into a holiday-ready look? Start with a bag in a dreamy pastel (this shearling-trimmed baby blue feels especially timely), and then add charms that lean into celestial themes and/or your specific sign. As someone who’s so forward about being a Scorpio sun and rising that I got the constellation tattooed, I’m definitely putting the bedazzled scorpion above on my wish list this season.