Okay, so I’ve been obsessed with the whole Jane Birkin bag vibe lately. You know, the effortlessly chic, slightly messy, totally personalized look? I decided, “Why not try to do this myself?” So I grabbed one of my old, plain handbags – it’s nothing fancy, just a simple leather tote I got years ago. I figured it would be perfect for this little project. I set it out, it’s simple, I thought I can make it better.
First thing, I needed to gather my supplies. I raided my old travel souvenirs box. I found some old keychains, a couple of beaded necklaces I picked up at a market in Thailand, and a few fabric patches I had lying around. I also dug through my jewelry box and found some old charms and brooches that I never wear anymore.
I started by attaching the keychains. I hung them from the handles of the bag, letting them dangle and clink together. It instantly gave the bag a more casual, lived-in feel. Then I took the beaded necklaces and wrapped them around one of the handles, securing them with a knot. It added a nice pop of color and texture.
Next up were the patches. I picked a few that I thought represented my style – a mix of vintage and quirky. I ironed them onto the front of the bag, making sure to arrange them in a way that looked balanced but not too symmetrical. You know, trying to keep that “I just threw this together” look, even though I was definitely overthinking it!
After that, I added the charms and brooches. I pinned a couple of vintage brooches onto one of the patches, and I attached some smaller charms to the zipper pulls and the ends of the necklaces wrapped around the handle. I tried to pick pieces that had some meaning to me, like a little silver bird charm I got from my grandma, or a tiny Eiffel Tower I bought when I visited Paris. I pinned them all on my bag.
I spent a good few hours doing all this, moving things around, adding stuff, taking stuff off. It was actually pretty fun, like a little arts and crafts project. And you know what? It totally changed the look of the bag! It went from being just a plain, boring tote to something that feels really personal and unique. I added, added, and added, it looked a lot better now!
Here are a few tips if you want to try this yourself:
- Don’t be afraid to experiment! There’s no right or wrong way to do this. Just play around with different items and arrangements until you find something you like.
- Use things that have meaning to you. The best part about decorating your bag like this is that it’s a reflection of your personality and experiences. So choose items that tell a story or remind you of something special. I use the things I like the best.
- Don’t overdo it. It’s easy to get carried away and add too much stuff to your bag. Try to keep it balanced and avoid making it look too cluttered. I tried not to add too much.
I’m really happy with how my bag turned out. It’s definitely got that Jane Birkin vibe now, and it’s become my go-to bag for everyday use. Plus, it’s a great conversation starter! People are always asking me about it, and I love telling them the stories behind all the different trinkets and charms. I feel so good using it. It’s a plain bag no more! I use it everyday now!
So yeah, that’s my little DIY adventure. If you’re looking for a fun and easy way to personalize your bag, I highly recommend giving this a try. It’s a great way to express your creativity and make something truly your own. And all my friends ask me where I got this bag, you should have seen their faces when I told them I did it myself. LOL!
