Shopping Bag Challenge: What is the Instagram craze and how can I take part?

A new viral craze has hit Instagram, and you don’t need much to participate: just a bag, any bag, will do.

What is the Shopping Bag Challenge?

Much like the #pillowchallenge, which saw users share snaps of themselves wearing pimped-out and fully accessorised pillowcases, the #shoppingbagchallenge entails donning a bag in as stylish a manner as possible. The hashtags #paperbagchallenge, #paperbagdress and #bagchallenge have all also been used to describe the trend.

How can I take part?

While some followers of fashion are using the challenge to show off their Louis Vuitton and Balenciaga branded shopping bags, there’s no elitism at play. Others have gone for Primark bags, bags for life and even plain brown paper bags.

The range of outfits varies from those who’ve chosen to simply hang a designer tote around their neck to more creative interpretations, such as fashioning an actual dress out of a paper bag.

One even uses the iconic blue Ikea bag, transformed into a halter top and cinched in at the waist with a belt.

Another sees a little girl decked out in a Dior bag and oversized sunglasses.

“How do you like my new dress?” wrote Instagram model Lily Ermak, who shared a picture of herself wearing a brown paper bag with her 1.7 million followers.

You get the picture: all you have to do to take part is find a shopping bag – be it plastic, paper or other – and make yourself an outfit.

What else can I do on Instagram?

The Shopping Bag Challenge isn’t the only way Instagram is giving people something to do during lockdown.

Last week Nando’s announced it would be hosting an Instagram Live cook-along featuring a star-studded line-up.

Each week, head chef Tim will be joined by a famous face to cook a classic Nando’s recipe from their respective kitchens.

The series is airing on Thursday nights from 7pm until 7 May.