According to Fast Company, on 26/2, actress Elle Fanning appeared at New York fashion week with a bag adorned with a charm: Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility. The Lit Girl Instagram account later posted a video of her on the subway, reading a miniature version of the book after the event. The video garnered many positive comments and inquiries about purchasing the charm. In addition to Elle Fanning, Stranger Things star Caleb McLaughlin also attended the event, decorating his bag with two different book charms.

Elle Fanning reads a miniature book on the subway as part of Coach's promotional campaign. Photo: Instagram Lit Girl

This trend originated from Coach's "explore your story" fashion campaign. The brand collaborated with Penguin Random House publishing house and various book retailers in Trung Quoc, Japan, and Korea to launch a line of miniature book charms, featuring full content like the original versions. The product is expected to be sold on the brand's website for 95 USD.

The manufacturer selected books of various themes and styles, catering to different reader groups. The design team prioritized striking colors and visual elements for appeal. The book spines are wrapped in colorful leather, embossed with the logo, and feature a gold-plated metal chain to attach the charm to handbags or backpacks.

Miniature book charms are sought after by many Gen Z youth. Photo: Coach

According to a press release, marketing director Joon Silverstein stated that the idea for book charms stemmed from the observation that many Gen Z youth tend to seek out novels amidst the fast-paced information age. Speaking with Fast Company, he mentioned shaping the idea, building the narrative, selecting core titles, and developing a communication campaign linked to reading culture. The product is represented by prominent Gen Z figures such as WNBA athlete Paige Bueckers, actresses Elle Fanning and Storm Reid, and Trung Quoc pop singer Shan Yichun.

Reading books has now also become a form of "fashion flex." Many stars, including Dakota Johnson, Dua Lipa, Kaia Gerber, and Natalie Portman, have clubs to introduce their favorite books to fans. Dua Lipa and Kaia Gerber even organize meetings, combining book introductions with designs from Gucci and Schiaparelli.

Marie Claire noted that the relationship between fashion and reading culture is growing stronger. Since 2009, the French brand Olympia Le-Tan has created embroidered clutch bags shaped like book covers. In 2024, YSL opened the Saint Laurent Babylone bookstore in Paris. This is considered a new cultural space, with a design that strongly bears the brand's distinct mark through a collection of rare books, out-of-print records, and artworks. In the Spring/Summer 2026 collection, Dior's best-selling tote bag, designed by Jonathan Anderson, replaced its Toile de Jouy pattern with the names of Western classics such as In Cold Blood (Truman Capote) and Madame Bovary (Gustave Flaubert).

Chau Anh (according to Fast Company, Marie Claire)