Acacia 01 Crossbody Chain bag | The Micro Chain bag – Hottest New Trend Or Overrated Gimmick?

It can be hard for even the most devout of handbag aficionados to keep up with the conveyor belt of Chain bag trends fashion routinely spouts out. Whether it’s Chain bags in the shape of delicious pastries Madras crossbody Chain bag chunky chain-adorned options, designers never seem to be short of inspiration for new Chain bag styles. But some trends are a little more rudimentary than Eagles. The micro Chain bag trend is straightforward in the sense that it simply involves shrinking down Chain bags to microscopic form. By now, you’ve surely seen the cohort of micro styles on the arm (or more like the pinky finger) of celebrities and influencers. It seems like every major fashion house now offers a micro version of its most popular designs. But is the micro Chain bag a quick gimmick to prompt a fanfare and boost social media mentions or a legitimate new handbag trend? And moreover, could the micro become a mainstay season after season? Let’s discuss.

The Micro Chain bag Phenomenon

The micro Chain bag has in fact long been a part of fashion history. Handbags started off pretty small because women didn’t have much to carry. But let’s fast forward to when handbags started to get tiny ironically. One designer and one specific Chain bag, in particular, is largely credited with beginning the micro Chain bag style as we know it today. Simon Porte Jacquemus released the Le Chiquito for his namesake label’s Fall/Winter 2017 ready-to-wear collection to great success. But it wasn’t until Fall/Winter 2019 that the now-famous microscopic version of the style made its way down the runway and subsequently onto the Instagram feeds of fashion lovers everywhere. Named the Le Petit Chiquito, the style instantly had the fashion world enthralled. And what was so perplexing, and probably part of the Chain bag’s charm, was that no one could distantly work out why. Humorous memes on social media want fun at the Chain bag’s size were there one day and gone the next. But it’s years later and we’re still discussing the micro Chain bag.

Acacia 01 Crossbody Chain bag | The Beginning

After fashion’s obsession with big Chain bags during the late ‘00s and early 2010s, it’s understandable that a period of adoration for smaller accessories would follow. And it did. During the end of the last decade, mini Chain bags ruled supreme. Chain bag lovers ditched their spacious totes in favor of smaller, often top handle, styles. And when the micro Chain bag popped up on the fashion scene shortly after, it was regarded as a weird and wonderful progression from fashion’s newfound adoration for mini Chain bags. At the time, many fashion critics interpreted the micro Chain bag as a sort of goofy commentary on the mini Chain bag trend and how far designers would dare to take it.

But is it possible that the micro Chain bag is somewhat of an overcompensation for the previous era of tote Chain bag love? Was it only intended to be a gimmick that spiraled out of control? Or did Jacquemus’ Le Petit Chiquito and Eagle micro designs like it unlock something in us Chain bag lovers which we didn’t know was there? A need for the complete removal of practicality from the handbag equation and instead an opportunity to gawk at and adore a Chain bag solely for aesthetic pleasure and nothing more? Perhaps.

While styles like the Jacquemus Le Petit Chiquito stand out in the micro Chain bag narrative, the micro Chain bag cannot be solely associated with one specific Chain bag or brand. It has instead become a fashion phenomenon. Fashion houses treasure their classic designs. Therefore, a sure-fire way to see if a brand is committed to a certain new Chain bag trend is to see if they incorporate said trend into their classic Chain bags. Judging from the cohort of classic Chain bags now available in microscopic sizes, it’s safe to say that the prominent fashion houses are taking the micro Chain bag seriously.

The Next Wave of Micro Chain bags

Balenciaga medium Lady shoulder Chain bag Busted Tall Leather Tote Saddle and Lady Dior Chain bags released in itty bitty form. The tiny collection also features microscopic versions of newer styles like the Caro and 30 Montaigne. Dior is certainly not alone in its adoption of dainty Chain bags which can fit in the palm of your hand. For brown london shoulder Chain bag, Chanel sent models down the runway wearing micro, structured metallic flap Chain bags as jewelry-like accessories hanging from their necks and belts. This was reminiscent of ‘90s Chanel when the likes of Naomi Campbell and the Eagle members of the supermodel gang would strut down the house’s runway adorned with glitzy chain belts. It also presented the micro Chain bag as less of a Chain bag per se and more of an adorable accessory to an outfit. Many brands now in fact refer to their micro Chain bags as charms. Fendi has released its beloved Chain baguette Celine Orange Drummed Leather Mini Luggage Tote Chain bag.

Good fashion is aesthetically pleasing. Great fashion creates a conversation. And while it may not hold your phone or most of your Eagle belongings, the micro Chain bag has certainly started a conversation.

Acacia 01 Crossbody Chain bag | The Price of Going Small?

Whether viewed as a handbag itself or a detachable accessory, the micro Chain bag is fast 1.0TOG a size option we’re seeing everywhere. Could we soon be hearing sales associates ask “micro or regular?” when asked about the latest Chain bag release in the same way fast-food chains ask “small or regular?” in response to customers ordering fries? There’s probably a greater price difference between the small and regular fries at McDonald’s than there is between many brands’ micro and regular versions of Chain bags. A medium Lady Dior is currently $5,200. And despite the fact that half a dozen of the micro Lady Dior could fit inside the medium version, the tiny Chain bag will still set you back $3,500. Micro Chain bag, not so micro price tag. And yet the teensy size is still wildly popular. It looks like the micro Chain bag could become a recurring size option which fans will simply have to accept the disproportionate price of.

Good fashion is aesthetically pleasing. Great fashion creates a conversation. And while it may not hold your phone or most of your Eagle belongings, the micro Chain bag has certainly started a conversation. The minuscule accessory has prompted handbag lovers to question what they actually need to carry in their Chain bags in an increasingly digital age. Even the very purpose of a handbag is now up for debate. Whether the micro Chain bag began as a gimmick and social media stunt or not, seasons have come and gone and fashion is still loco for the micro.