Is there a day that goes by when we don’t come across some effortlessly chic photograph of Jane Birkin on Instagram? Not in my hemisphere at least. And who can resist the girl we all desperately want to be? The gap-tooth smile that looks irrepressibly cool, the messy fringe, the long stringbean legs, the ability to elegantly wear denim for any and every situation, the reason she made a lowly wicker basket her bag of choice all year long. We may never know why, but honestly it’s not worth questioning at this point because it was so seriously chic (are we allowed to say the word chic again?—when it comes to Birkin, it’s a word that bears repeating). She is the consummate in contrasts—an icon of French style despite the fact she was born in England; the inspiration for the penultimate It bag by Hermès after all those years of basket carrying.
Sometimes in the fashion world we forget to focus on the fact that Birkin is also a noted actress and singer or that we’ve been lucky to have her irreverent influence for so many years: Today, astoundingly, is her 70th birthday. So in honor of celebrating all things Birkin, we bring you six iconic fashion moments when she swept us off our feet and the stylish lessons we will carry with us now and forevermore.
1. White works all year round, and a tracksuit zip-up will always look sporty and cool.
2. A T-shirt and flared trousers are always appropriate and look great. Just add a basket bag.
3. There is a time and place to wear a lace crop top—just don’t be afraid to show a little midriff.
4. When wearing a sheer knit dress, lose the bra, but a sturdy pair of briefs is always a good idea. So is a Mary Jane heel.
5. When in doubt, throw on a belt.
6. There’s no such thing as a too-deep V-neck—especially when donning an ultra-chic summery crocheted number.
