deconstructing cool: jane birkin

breaking down the allure of fashion icon Jane Birkin

Before her slouchy, lived-in, stuffed full namesake Birkin bag became her signature arm candy, Jane Birkin much preferred to carry her essentials in a wicker basket. Her laissez-faire look often featured simple yet eye-catching silhouettes, loose yet flattering cuts, and statement-making accessories. The English musician was known to exude a level of openness that was at times unsettling to the public. Her trademark choppy bangs and doe eyes, accentuated with wispy lashes, were key elements of her timeless look.

Jane Birkin was unafraid of explicitness, as demonstrated by her boundary-pushing collaborations with her partner Serge Gainsbourg on the song and film "Je T'aime… Moi Non Plus."

Unafraid of controversy, she approached life and relationships with candid honesty. Whether discussing divorce, heartache, or her passionate romance with her co-star and colleague Serge Gainsbourg, Jane Birkin laid it all on the table. Her willingness to share her personal experiences made her a captivating figure for decades.

Birkin passed away this past Monday, July 16 at age 76. Her legacy lives on and continues to inspire modern fashion and it-girls in the making.

Simplicity

Birkin’s coolness comes in part from her ability to do a lot with what seems like a little. Good style has more to do with how a piece fits, sits, and shapes your body. The effortlessly chic look comes from  a delicate balance of proportion and shape. Jeans and a white tee can look lazy and boring without consideration of these components. Take this picture of Birkin, the straight fitting, mid/low rise denim with intricate detailing on the leg, paired with the fitted white tee shirt with a chunky ribbed neckline with a hemline that sits right at the waist, pop of red on the open toed shoes, and of course the wicker basket bag elevate a basic look and create an effortlessly put together outfit.

An eye for detail 

The idea of putting stickers and hanging mismatched keychains on a $40,000 bag would seem ridiculous to most, Birkin sees the beauty in the small things. Her namesake tote was slouchy, worn, covered in dangling gems, keychains and decals. These tiny details transform the luxury piece into an exciting statement, challenging traditional perceptions of luxury and high fashion. The juxtaposition of expensive items adorned with inexpensive and frilly trinkets not only captures attention but also breaks conventional notions of elegance.

Sheer tights under shorts, straw baskets, wide-leg cuffed trousers, oversized belts, colorful mules, and men’s button-ups color Birkin's nonchalant style adding unexpected flares to the classic French look. 

Candid, at times controversial character 

Coolness has less to do with how you look and more to do with how you act. What made Birkin an icon and a muse was the leisure which she carried herself with. She fearlessly auditioned for a French film despite not speaking a word of French and landed the role. Her music faced bans in numerous European countries and was publicly condemned by the Vatican, yet she remained unapologetic. Her spirited actions, such as throwing a pie at her boyfriend in a Paris restaurant and then jumping into the Seine, embody her brutally candid nature. Birkin never hid her true self or tailored her life to fit the comfort of others, that’s what makes her so cool.

May she Rest Peacefully.