Jane Birkin
Jane Birkin
Her name is synonymous with one of the world’s most covetable handbags, but Jane Birkin is more than just a purse. She’s been cited as muse to many, Hermès included. The ’60s songstress, actress and fashion plate was most recently credited with inspiring stylist-cum-designer Rachel Zoe’s Spring 2013 collection, which blended Southern California casual (Zoe is a transplanted Angeleno, after all) with Birkin’s signature easygoing style.
As the tale goes, the now-iconic Birkin bag was born when Birkin boarded a plane and her straw tote emptied itself in an overhead bin. Seeing her scramble for all her belongings, then-Hermès chief executive Jean-Louis Dumas worked to create a leather tote for the actress. (Where are you Jean-Louis when we are trying to shove everything into our carry on?!) The bag debuted in 1984, long after Birkin’s heyday as a style icon, but it is still seen as the crown jewel of any handbag aficionado’s collection.
Pre-Birkin bag, Jane Birkin was known as much for her romance with French crooner Serge Gainsbourg as her acting career. She was photographed in everything from floppy hats and big sunglasses to long, languid tank dresses and mens’ shirts, and became the poster-girl for nonchalant fashion with her effortless, Bohemian style.
Rachel Zoe Spring 2013
Rachel Zoe Spring 2013
From the models’ soft bangs (Zoe sported a freshly shorn fringe, too, courtesy of Kérestase’s Odile Gilbert) to their slouchy, borrowed-from-the-boys styling, the models walking down Zoe’s runway looked like mirror images of Birkin’s most iconic style statements. Big, bold jewelry? Check. Classics such as tank dresses and men’s shirts, done up in luxe sequins and light-as-air silks? Double check. A few models who wore Zoe’s signature pantsuit even came down the catwalk wearing flats — a Birkin staple.
And while there were plenty of covetable leather bags in the show, it’s hard to match the magic of a Birkin. But for fashion fans looking for that perfect blend of Francophilia and California sunshine, it was a collection of pieces that could fit into any woman’s closet. And just as Jane Birkin ushered in a new look for girls who were moving away from the structure and ladylike shapes of the ’50s, Zoe’s unmistakeable styling is sure to be a touchstone for future generations.
Photos courtesy Style.com and JaneBirkin.com
