Small Pleasures: Finding Personal Style in Trinket Collecting

Whether it's the Miffy keychain swinging from my purse or the monchhichi residing on my nightstand, trinkets have taken up the majority of my personal style. Though these objects are able to rest in the palm of my hand their sentimental value is quite heavy. Acting as a form of self-expression, I rush towards the next small item I can pin value onto. 

Why do we collect trinkets? 

There is a straightforward answer for why we collect anything; because we enjoy it, but why are we drawn to little things that hold no use? Well, a lot of it boils down to self-identity and sentimentality. When looking down at a porcelain cat and getting that swell in your chest over its beauty, a part of yourself becomes connected to it. Maybe it reminds you of a summer afternoon with your grandma who collected cat memorabilia or maybe its fur color matches your childhood pet. Regardless of why, it's in our human nature to seek out parts of the past. Trinkets are a perfect way to do so. 

Sentimental Maximalism 

In a society that often relies on conformation and uniformity, sentimental maximalism allows those participating to bask in their individuality. Offering a form of self-expression, being a maximalist is more than cluttering your shelf with figurines; it displays parts of you to anyone who enters your space. Rooms transform into exhibits of one’s self-expression filled with pieces that reflect their tastes, loves, and hobbies. Maximalism makes it possible to break the confinements of minimalism and present places that cannot be replicated or commercialized because it is all your own. 

Cluttercore

Various aesthetics have found success through Tiktok, but one that correlates directly with trinket collecting is cluttercore. With over 49.6 million views on the app videos under the hashtag highlights creators displaying their smallest possessions clustered up on walls and shelves. Creators such as Desiree Eaton have garnered millions of views showcasing their bedroom where no wall or shelf is left undecorated. Although often described as chaotic this aesthetic shows that even the tiniest of decor can be a staple in a room.

Collect, Collect, Collect

I’m not asking you to immediately hang everything you own on your walls or go out and collect every little memento you find. Instead, you should allow yourself not to feel silly the next time you leave a store with only a tiny figurine of your favorite animal. Attaching sentimental value will enable us to preserve and connect with significant memories. You're not going to be the same person you were when you bought a book or a blind-box ever again, so grant yourself the memory. Think of yourself as holding tangible memories of loved ones, experiences, and growth all in the palm of your hand. So, buy that figure, hang that poster, and put that book on your self because they’re all a depiction of you.