The Trinkets Are Talking

Once dismissed as childhood clutter and a waste of money, knick-knacks, figurines, and keychains have infiltrated the most exclusive spaces of high fashion. From eerie-eyed Blythe dolls at Bottega Veneta to felt animals swinging from Loewe purses, the playful hyperfixation showcases what is important to the consumer right now. In a time of distressing politics and seriousness, fashion is leaning into personable and childlike fun. Cute is no longer kitsch, but fashionable. 

At the heart of this trend is a sense of nostalgia. It’s about reintroducing the childhood joy of collecting tiny treasures and implementing them into your everyday life. Bottega Veneta is a prime example of tapping into this market, as early as 2014, with their Spring/Summer collection. The campaign used Blythe dolls as miniature avatars of the collection’s romanticism, even displaying larger-than-life figurines in window displays and photographs.  

Bottega Veneta’s window display in Milan for the S/S14 collection, featuring their life-size blythe doll campaign. Image courtesy of Vogue Italia Press Office, made available via Vogue Italia. © All rights belong to their respective owners. No copyright infringement intended. 

But Blythe dolls have been cultural icons long before their feature with Bottega. Central to the aesthetics of Tumblr in the early 2010s, these images appeared on moodboards alongside Lana Del Rey lyrics, porcelain teacups, Japanese street fashion, and faded filters. But that legacy hasn’t faded. Today’s resurgence of hyper-feminine fashion, with brands like Simone Rocha, draws from the same child-like visuals that Bythle helped to define. The doll’s stylized proportions are reflected in Gen-Z’s obsession with exaggerated silhouettes, short shorts, and platform Mary Janes and loafers In an interview with Vogue, trend forecaster Agustina Panzoni has stated, this “feminine maximalism” highlights rebellion against the sterile minimalism and seriousness commonly seen on today’s runways, returning to the era of 2010 Tumblr.  

A collage featuring the highlights of Tumblr during its peak with platform shoes and grunge filters, accompanied by icons of the Tumblr resurgence: Addison Rae and Kylie Jenner. Created by Meredith Clark, March 2024. Available via The Independent. © All rights belong to their respective owners. No copyright infringement intended. 

To make this playful trend accessible to everyday life, charms have become the medium of nostalgia. Luxury houses are pouring creativity into the smallest accessories, creating intricate objects of whimsy and joy. Miu Miu, for example, has adopted the charm trend with paracord knotted keychains, evoking memories of summer camp crafts. Although these charms are clipped onto bags that already cost thousands, they aren’t just embellishments, but conversation starters designed to stand out in the luxury market. 

One of Loewe’s highly sought after animal bag charms. Here, the felt elephant is dangling from a Loewe handbag, juxtaposed by Loewe work pants and Loewe chelsea boots. Image courtesy of Loewe, made available via Loewe. © All rights belong to their respective owners. No copyright infringement intended. 

Equally adorable and enchanting are Loewe’s line of felt animal keychains. The range of options, spanning from seals to donkeys, is crafted from wool felt, bringing the collector a sense of joy reminiscent of a storybook. These keychains serve as a juxtaposition to Loewe’s other minimalist leather goods, highlighting the warmth a keychain can bring. Loewe’s charms elevate cuteness to be on par with luxury craftsmanship, demonstrating that whimsy deserves a place on the runway. 

Kasing Lang, the creator of Labubu, photographed with his creations. Labubu, inspired by folklore, was created by Lang as part of a story series. Photographed by Tianwei Zhang, May 2025. Available via Vogue. © All rights belong to their respective owners. No copyright infringement intended. 

But, the most telling of the joy of a trinket is Labubu. Produced by PopMart, Labubu was created by Kasing Lang, who drew inspiration from Nordic folklore to develop a story series called The Monsters, Vogue explains. In 2019, Labubu was then made into collectible toys, with the famous keyring collection, “Exciting Macaron”, debuting in 2023. Once the domain of niche “in-the-know” collectors, Labubu has broken into the mainstream market, taking over every social media feed possible. 

Spotted hanging from handbags on the arms of celebrities such as Emma Roberts, Rihanna, and Lisa, Labubu has evolved from a toy to a high fashion mascot. These plush keychains can even be dressed up as if they were on the runway themselves, with influencers adorning them in high end jewelry like Dior J’adore friendship bracelets and Van Cleef necklaces. Limited edition and “secret” figurines have only fueled the frenzy, making collectors treat them like archival fashion finds. 

Dua Lipa, spotted in the airport with a Labubu hanging from her Birkin. She finishes off the look with black sweats, GCDS sunglasses, a Gucci robe coat, and Puma sneakers. Photography by Backgrid, January 2025. Available via W Magazine. © All rights belong to their respective owners. No copyright infringement intended.  

The appeal of Labubu lies in its balance of weird whimsy with inspiring artistry. Its large eyes and toothy grin make it feel ironic but cute, and its unique backstory and inspiration allow collectors to feel unique and connected to their creative aspirations. Each of Labubu’s features make it irresistible in a world where fashion is personal, but also for the masses. 

What brings together all of these kitschy and cutesy objects is their power to tell stories - whether that be the collector’s, the brand’s, or the viewer’s. In a world dominated by quiet luxury and seriousness, these accessories spark curiosity and creativity. A Loewe giraffe is only decoration, but a disruption to luxury’s usual polish. Charms and figurines emit a sense of curation that feels personal and moves style away from corporate sterileness and politics, with Ruby Redstone writing for Vogue, “it does seem very apparent that the deeper the world falls into political chaos, the greater the cultural appetite becomes for cute little tchotchkes.” These accessories allow the consumer to construct their own persona or character for the day, tapping into the childhood pastime of dressup and imaginary friends. Whether it's a Labubu dangling from a designer purse or a life-size Blythe doll in the pages of Vogue, fashion insiders are realizing children have been right all along; trinkets and toys tell stories too.