At the news of her passing, today we remember Jane Birkin fashion icon and forever hair muse.
Jane Birkin is undoubtedly one of the most incredible fashion icons of all time. Is there anyone else who so ceremoniously had a bag named after her and lived up to the hype decades later? We think not. And while the actress, model and songstress was known for far more than her image, today we look back and celebrate it in honor of her passing.
Jane Birkin as a fashion icon will forever stand unquestionably as the reigning queen of French girl style, with personality. While she epitomized that cool sort of je ne sais quoi that you can still see when you visit Paris or in the closets of French girls everywhere, she did it with a rare sort of panache and epic coolness spiced with individuality. The biggest example of this is how she carried and decorated her Birkin bag.
Rather than babying it, protecting it, or treating it like a museum-like object not meant to be touched, she covered in in colorful cords, chains, and let her cat put bite marks in it. She dinged it up and my favorite part–overstuffed it and often carried it from the bottom rather than using the little handles.
It was a strong demonstration of personal style and honestly, the blueprint for people like Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen and the new wave of fashion influencers on TikTok. If you haven’t noticed–there’s been an influx of people tacking keychains, necklaces and more onto their bags lately. So much so that I wrote a story about it for Vogue.
Jane Birkin’s fashion influence didn’t end there, though. Her affinity for denim and gauzy sheer dresses meant most of her outfits had a rare sort of timelessness that transcended decades.
Even if Jane Birkin’s fashion choices don’t align with your personal aesthetics, what I love about her is that she was true to herself–and that’s real personal style. She was a rule breaker, if there ever was one. Not just because of the way she wore Birkin bags, but also because she had conviction to stick to what she loved. Sometimes, that meant white year-round, wicker baskets for every occasion, dark leather belts with all-white looks, a brooch smack dab in the middle of an incredibly low V-neck crochet dress, and multiple gossamer-thin dainty necklaces that were layered one on top of the other.
She is also the rare sort of hair icon that will forever live on, too. I can only think of about ten other people that fall into this category–who have redefined hair and made it an extension of perfected personal style. The bangs! The shagginess! The imperfection of it all!
It’s no wonder she became most associated with the Birkin bag which was named after her, because she truly knew how to take accessories and use them in a low-key but still super impactful ways. She wore a belt like nobody’s business, using it to anchor low-slung trousers with trim little sweaters.
And who could forget the way she wore little mary jane heels? Jane Birkin, fashion icon, will live on as one of the most influential style setters globally. Let’s let the messy, lived-in Birkin bag reign forever.
Images sourced via Vogue, Getty
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