A random photo that just popped up on an unrelated search. Jane Birkin with George Harrison.
Jane Birkin
- Thread starter carrie8
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Harrison scored Wonderwall, which Birkin starred in. This looks like a promo photo from that.
Personally I don't see it as an awww shucks move. Jane Birkin knew what she was doing. She was being compensated for her name (albeit to charity) by Hermes.
She had years to change her mind, she didn't. She liked the notoriety, point blank. I certainly wouldn't have known who she was if a straw tote was her namesake bag. She wasn't that famous an actress.
She had years to change her mind, she didn't. She liked the notoriety, point blank. I certainly wouldn't have known who she was if a straw tote was her namesake bag. She wasn't that famous an actress.
What a fantastic article.
Thank you for posting.
I especially love this quote
"Birkin the woman appeared to care about style, but not affluence or wealth — and certainly not status symbols. “If I wanted to be barefoot and wear a mackintosh, I would do it. I didn’t give a hoot,”
I really identify with her sentiment here which on a personal level was what initially made me desire a Birkin in the late 80's (yes I'm old!!) I was just starting out as a stylist then and needed to carry lots of 'stuff' for work, Filofax (remember them???), portfolio, A to Z (yes this was the days before mobile phones with maps on!) etc etc ...I think they were around £3000 which was more than I could afford on a bag back then.
I desired a work tote that was chic and practical and different because back when it launched it was different...The padlock to my eyes gave it a slightly punk aesthetic .
instead of a Birkin I used to carry a big black tote basket I brought in Tokyo.
almost 40 years later I own Kelly's and other H bags but weirdly not a Birkin..
Why?
Because in my mind they have become a status symbol (dont ask me why I see Kelly's as less of one
maybe it feels less hyped)I do still dream of finding a beater Birkin my JB Birkin.
I hope this isn't off topic but for me the most beautiful Birkin is and has always been those carried by Jane because they are full of personality used to carry stuff, a bit battered and very very 'her'
She was in a lot of films (filmography) and made quite a few recordings (discography) and was even more famous for being a muse.
In a way, the Birkin bag gave her a notoriety all of her own. It also made her and her name relevant throughout the decades following it's conception. I mean basically, it's an HAC Elan. Serge Gainsbourg owned an HAC in the 1960s and was frequently pictured with it. Jane already know the bag (I think his was a 50cm). I know they were both already Hermes customers. I think it was an honour they called it a Birkin.
Catherine Deneuve famously spent her first acting pay packet on an Hermes bag (I think a Kelly) and it's thanks to her we have the Plume in handbag (28) size (hers was/is black crocodile) and Hermes never called it a 'Deneuve'.
What a fantastic article.
Thank you for posting.
I especially love this quote
"Birkin the woman appeared to care about style, but not affluence or wealth — and certainly not status symbols. “If I wanted to be barefoot and wear a mackintosh, I would do it. I didn’t give a hoot,”
I really identify with her sentiment here which on a personal level was what initially made me desire a Birkin in the late 80's (yes I'm old!!) I was just starting out as a stylist then and needed to carry lots of 'stuff' for work, Filofax (remember them???), portfolio, A to Z (yes this was the days before mobile phones with maps on!) etc etc ...I think they were around £3000 which was more than I could afford on a bag back then.
I desired a work tote that was chic and practical and different because back when it launched it was different...The padlock to my eyes gave it a slightly punk aesthetic .
instead of a Birkin I used to carry a big black tote basket I brought in Tokyo.
almost 40 years later I own Kelly's and other H bags but weirdly not a Birkin..
Why?
Because in my mind they have become a status symbol (dont ask me why I see Kelly's as less of one
I do still dream of finding a beater Birkin my JB Birkin.
I hope this isn't off topic but for me the most beautiful Birkin is and has always been those carried by Jane because they are full of personality used to carry stuff, a bit battered and very very 'her'
Firstly, you’re not old. You’re experienced.
Second, while I agree about all the negatives of the Birkin, the ones that I think look the best are the ones that are all beat up. They’re meant to be used and should show some life lived. Besides, according to Dumas’ grandfather, “luxury is that which you can repair”. Use them, and send them to H to be repaired. They’re built better than most bags on the market, and can take it.
They are definitely full of personality. I think the nonchalant and distinctive way she accessorised them with stickers and trinkets makes the modern H bag charms, by contrast, look repetitive and self-conscious.
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Picked this up at the Relay in Charles de Gaulle.
I totally agree with you!What a fantastic article.
Thank you for posting.
I especially love this quote
"Birkin the woman appeared to care about style, but not affluence or wealth — and certainly not status symbols. “If I wanted to be barefoot and wear a mackintosh, I would do it. I didn’t give a hoot,”
I really identify with her sentiment here which on a personal level was what initially made me desire a Birkin in the late 80's (yes I'm old!!) I was just starting out as a stylist then and needed to carry lots of 'stuff' for work, Filofax (remember them???), portfolio, A to Z (yes this was the days before mobile phones with maps on!) etc etc ...I think they were around £3000 which was more than I could afford on a bag back then.
I desired a work tote that was chic and practical and different because back when it launched it was different...The padlock to my eyes gave it a slightly punk aesthetic .
instead of a Birkin I used to carry a big black tote basket I brought in Tokyo.
almost 40 years later I own Kelly's and other H bags but weirdly not a Birkin..
Why?
Because in my mind they have become a status symbol (dont ask me why I see Kelly's as less of one
I do still dream of finding a beater Birkin my JB Birkin.
I hope this isn't off topic but for me the most beautiful Birkin is and has always been those carried by Jane because they are full of personality used to carry stuff, a bit battered and very very 'her'
I already had a Kelly, bought in 1980, but when the Birkin turned up I immediately wanted one. I bought my first B in 1997, a size 40
yep, that was the most popular size at the time. The year after I bought another one, always a 40. Fast forward around 2006 I bought my first B 35. Since then I have stuck to 35s only. I would love mine to look like Jane's but, maybe, I don't use them enough. I used to use them much more but in the last 5 years I use them less. As you say there are too many around!By the way, I still use a Filofax, actually I have 2, a bigger one and a smaller one!