$1,790 for a shopper? Chinese actress has the internet buzzing with her red carpet look

Chinese actress Zhang Jingyi stepped onto the red carpet at the Beijing International Film Festival 2026, and no, it wasn’t her gown stealing the spotlight—it was the $1,790 “Trash Pouch” by Balenciaga she carried. Yes, a bag that looked like a crumpled kitchen bin shopper.

Within hours, social media was on fire. Memes, jokes, and disbelief flooded platforms as fans and fashion critics debated whether Zhang was making a bold fashion statement or accidentally carrying her garbage. The bag, known as Balenciaga’s infamous Trash Pouch, has become the ultimate symbol of “luxury meets absurdity.”

Zhang Jingyi, usually the picture of red-carpet elegance in flowing gowns and delicate accessories, paired the bag with a black floral-embellished evening dress. The contrast? Stunningly ridiculous. People couldn’t decide if they should laugh, cry, or bow down to avant-garde fashion.

This isn’t just about one actress and a weird purse—it’s part of a trend in high fashion turning ordinary, everyday objects into high-priced, attention-grabbing statements. Balenciaga has perfected the art of making fans question their taste and their wallets simultaneously.

Love it or hate it, Zhang Jingyi just gave the internet another reason to talk about luxury fashion’s most controversial accessory of 2026.