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“Reviving Vintage Travel Style: Dua Lipa and Callum Turner Embrace Iconic Luggage Stickers”
Apr
“Reviving Vintage Travel Style: Dua Lipa and Callum Turner Embrace Iconic Luggage Stickers”
Romance filled the atmosphere at London’s iconic St. Pancras station on a recent Tuesday, as the eyes of onlookers couldn’t help but follow the movements of burgeoning power couple Dua Lipa and actor Callum Turner upon their return from a trip to Paris.
Their attire spoke volumes beyond the matching leather jackets they sported, evoking a sense of nostalgia and sentimentality. Lipa, clutching a black Hermés bag adorned with a myriad of keychains, a checkerboard claw hair clip, and a Hermès Twilly scarf, seemed to draw inspiration from the iconic clutter connoisseur, the late Jane Birkin.
Meanwhile, Turner wheeled a silver Rimowa cabin case embellished with an array of luggage stickers. From a distance, the duo could easily be mistaken for travelers from the 1960s, collecting keepsakes and mementos from their journeys abroad, though Lipa’s cherry Coke-colored tresses and Puma sneakers hinted at a more contemporary twist.
The luggage patches reminiscent of those on Turner’s case trace their origins back to the 1900s when they were commonly offered by prestigious hotels such as the Hotel Sole in Palermo, Italy, or the Hotel Europa in Costa Rica. Inspired by the travel posters of the era, these artfully designed stickers served as free advertising for establishments and allowed travelers to flaunt their refined holidaying tastes.
Reflecting on the enduring appeal of travel stickers, the New York Times advocated for their revival in 1971, asserting that these colorful adornments are instrumental in evoking fond memories and setting individuals apart. Birkin herself acknowledged the significance of personal expression through accessories, declaring her penchant for embellishing her bags with stickers and beads sourced from around the globe. “There’s no fun in a bag if it’s not kicked around,” she quipped in a 2011 interview with Vogue, emphasizing her disdain for conformity.
In an era increasingly dominated by digital experiences, tangible objects are experiencing a resurgence in significance. Last December, UK vinyl record sales reached their highest point since 1990, underscoring a renewed appreciation for physical artifacts. Similarly, during Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour in 2023, fans eschewed digital connections in favor of exchanging handmade friendship bracelets.
It’s conceivable that Lipa, who has been steadily expanding her collection of quirky bag charms since November, is also drawn to the allure of physical mementos. In doing so, she echoes Birkin’s ethos of embracing individuality through personal adornment, a sentiment that undoubtedly resonates across generations.
