7 Alternative Accessories to the "Labubu" Creature Craze

A peculiar little creature has taken over the bags of influencers and fashion girls alike: Labubu. With wild hair, googly eyes, and a mischievous smirk, this fuzzy figure—born from the Chinese toy brand Pop Mart—has become the accessory du jour. Once reserved for toy collectors, Labubu is now clipped to luxury handbags, juxtaposed with Chanel quilting or the clean lines of a Celine tote. What was once a childhood collectible is now being marketed as ironic charm, personality, or fashion playfulness for a $40 minimum.

But what does this really say about us?

From a classically feminine perspective, Labubu may not just be a harmless trend. While some are startled by the creature's devious smirk, Labubu is at root a small but telling example of the regression we’re witnessing in culture—where womanhood is increasingly defined not by grace or discernment but by performative quirkiness, infantilization, and a pursuit of novelty over beauty. As we move through an age of irony and aesthetic overload, the Labubu craze presents an opportunity to pause and reconsider not just what we use to define our personal identities, but why.

Your Accessories Say Something Without Speaking

In the classical approach, every outward adornment carries an inward implication. The way we dress, the items we carry, and even how we style our spaces are reflections of our internal order (or disorder). When women chose brooches in the 1950s or silk scarves in the 1960s, those weren’t just ornamental but expressed dignity, taste, occasion, and refinement.

Fast forward to 2025, and the modern woman is encouraged to slap a goblin-like doll onto her $4,000 handbag to make a statement. But what is the statement? Irony? Disruption? A rejection of “trying too hard”? Unfortunately, the impact is less charming than it is chaotic. And for women who want to cultivate beauty, grace, and meaning in their daily lives, the Labubu trend simply doesn’t align.

There is nothing inherently wrong with playfulness or personality. But classical femininity teaches us that order is the foundation of beauty. Accessories shouldn’t merely be eye-catching—they should be reflective of our values. The goal isn’t to impress everyone around us but to inspire with elegance.

Part of what makes the Labubu trend uncomfortable from a classically feminine lens is its subtle regression into childhood. As we've seen over the last several years in multiple trends, grown women are adopting toys as fashion statements—not only as a nod to nostalgia, but as a form of self-expression that often mocks seriousness or maturity. It’s an odd form of resistance that is against adulthood, against elegance, and against the traditional idea that style should be meaningful.

This isn’t new. We’ve seen versions of this in Hello Kitty fashion, Lisa Frank accessories, and more recently, the "weird girl aesthetic." But Labubu is different in that it actively contrasts against luxury. It’s not just childish—it’s shockingly childish. And many of the women attaching these to their bags are doing so not in ignorance, but as a conscious form of rebellion against mature womanhood.

Rebellion for rebellion’s sake, as we discuss on The Swish often, rarely leads to anything lasting. Classical femininity, by contrast, invites us into something ancient and timeless; the art of restraint, the practice of beauty, and the joy of thoughtful living.

What’s the Alternative?

If Labubu is off the list, what should you attach to your bag instead? Here are several refined, classically feminine alternatives that still allow for personal expression but don't sacrifice elegance:

1. A Monogrammed Leather Tag A simple, high-quality leather tag with your initials embossed in gold or blind debossing adds polish. It nods to tradition and personalizes your accessories.

2. A Silk Scarf A printed silk scarf tied around your bag handle is a timeless look—pioneered by brands like Hermès—that is both chic and personal. Try to choose prints that reflect your heritage, favorite colors, or meaningful symbols.

3. A Vintage Brooch Attach a vintage brooch to the strap of your bag. This small touch brings old-world charm into your modern routine and often sparks conversation. Look for cameos, florals, or classic filigree.

4. A Miniature Book or Clock Keychain If you want whimsy, consider a small leather-bound copy of a classic novel or a miniature clock. It adds character, reflects your mind, and stays aligned with classical styles.

5. A Pearl or Gold Charm One elegant bead or charm—perhaps in pearl, crystal, or gold—can add a feminine detail without turning your bag into a costume.

6. A Scented Sachet or Dried Flower More common in vintage traditions, a small sachet of lavender or rose tucked inside your bag (or hung subtly) adds sensory beauty and a nod to the past.

7. A Heritage Locket A tiny locket containing a loved one’s photo or a favorite verse can clip to your zipper pull or bag hardware.

Ultimately, this trend reminds us that femininity—true, classical femininity—isn’t about collecting random objects or chasing quirkiness. Rather, it’s about the stewardship of beauty and the cultivation of self. When we choose to elevate the ordinary moments of our lives, even something as simple as what we clip onto our bag becomes intentional.

Remember, a classically feminine woman doesn’t follow trends to keep up; she evaluates them to determine if they’re worthy of her time. Labubu may be trending now... but purposeful beauty never goes out of style.

While the world tells us to decorate our lives with noisy, ironic and devilish creatures, we can quietly choose something better: a life marked by elegance, discernment, and grace.

How we adorn our handbags may seem small, but we can't forget that how we live is shaped by the small details in life.

Labubu will likely disappear as quickly as it arrived in our world of micro-trends, but what won’t go out of fashion is the enduring impact of thoughtful choices-- and classical femininity invites you to choose more than just what’s popular. Choose what is beautiful, what uplifts and what tells the Truth, even even when it comes to something as small as your bag charm!