STYLE LESSONS: JANE BIRKIN
150+ pieces to get the Birkin look – effortless, timeless, iconic.
Dear friends,
She didn’t follow trends. She rarely wore makeup. And yet, Jane Birkin became a global style icon – almost by accident. Born in London and embraced by Paris, she came to define *the* French girl aesthetic: cool, effortless, instinctive. Her wardrobe was built on simplicity – white shirts, denim, basket bags – and yet it never felt ordinary. There’s just something about her way of dressing that feels timeless. Oh, and yes – the Birkin bag by Hermès? Also named after her. An icon inspiring an icon.
So in this piece, I’m deep-diving into the nitty-gritty: the building blocks of her wardrobe, the signature elements, the recurring ingredients – and how to recreate the Birkin look today with outfits layed out for you.
Lots of love,
Franzi
WHO WAS JANE BIRKIN?
Jane Birkin was a British-born actress, singer, and style icon whose influence shaped the way I – and so many others – think about fashion. After moving to Paris in the late 1960s, she became known not just for her music and her relationship with Serge Gainsbourg, but for a kind of effortless cool that felt entirely her own. She starred in cult films like “La Piscine”, and “Je t’aime moi non plus”. Iconic! Her signature look – simple tees, denim, basket bags, and that perfectly messy fringe – defined what we now call “French girl style,” even though she wasn’t French at all.
THE BIRKIN ESSENTIALS
The more I revisit Jane Birkin’s style, the more I realise how much it’s quietly shaped my own – not in a curated, Pinterest-board kind of way, but in the little choices: a white tee over something fussy (also, my main references in my 20s were heavily inspired by Birkin too: Alexa Chung, Caroline de Maigret... you name it). Jeans that just feel right. Flat shoes because I want to walk – and get shit done. A linen mini dress on hot summer days. Her wardrobe wasn’t complicated, and that’s exactly the point. If you’ve ever stared at your closet and thought, I just want to feel like myself in this, Jane Birkin might be your answer. So let’s break it down – the key pieces, the styling formulas, and the little details that made her look iconic without even trying. Let’s get into it – and build a uniform Jane would definitely approve of.
ESSENTIALS: THE DENIM
Jane Birkin’s jeans were as iconic as the woman herself – simple, and high-waisted. She favoured denim that looked lived-in, never over-styled: straight-leg cuts or flared, the kind of jeans you’d throw on without thinking and somehow look incredible in. Often paired with a white or Breton tee or an unbuttoned shirt, her denim was the quiet foundation of her wardrobe. Whether barefoot in Saint-Tropez or strolling through Paris in ballet flats, her denim always felt relaxed – proof that the right pair of jeans doesn’t need to shout to make a statement.