There is another bonus to using the twillies, especially if (like me) you like to wear color, and/or your bag is not a neutral color with the many design options for twillies available, you can coordinate your bag to whatever you are wearing. Once you start using the twillies, however, you’re bound to get a little addicted and even creative with them. I say this as someone whose mother (in her early seventies) loves the rodeo bag charms and is quite the enabler! Further, while some may find twillies to perhaps be a bit too whimsical, it really is just a matter of personal preference, and one’s individual taste and style. Tied to any strap or loop, the twilly adds a bit of color and liveliness – and let’s face it, as much as we love our bags, we carry them every single day, so sometimes adding something just a bit different can be very welcome. While many people may find a twilly to be fussy or feminine, they can also be pretty and whimsical. What, however, if you don’t have a light-colored bag, or even a top handle? Well, of course you can still use them to decorate your bag.
The twilly can protect your bag handles from the natural oils on your hands (and the dirt and color fade that come from those oils), as well as anything else that may be on them. As much as we try to keep our hands clean, there will always be a certain amount of natural oils on them this is great for, say, rubbing out a scratch from box leather, but it’s not so good for keeping bag handles clean, especially on the lighter-colored bags. Now, of course, while a certain amount of wear and tear is inevitable (and in some circles, even desired), there is something to be said for avoiding as much dirt as possible, to prolong the time one can enjoy the bag before it has to be taken in to the “Hermès spa” for repair and/or cleaning, and for this the twilly is key. With the ever-growing increase in the popularity of Birkins and Kellys, and the concomitant ever-rising prices for them, many customers have become increasingly concerned with protecting their bags from unnecessary wear and tear. That’s certainly a very popular choice, but as mentioned, these twillies can sometimes serve a useful purpose. While many people do enjoy using their twillies on their bags, many others prefer their bags to go au naturel.
Twillies were initially marketed to be worn like a scarf in the catalog, it was shown on the head, hair, neck and wrist.