One of the biggest trends this past year has been the Jane Birkin bag trend. Following the ‘60s French actress with her unique bag decorations, the trend includes adding charms and chains to a large leather bag, just like how Birkin draped necklaces and tied scarves to hers.
Vogue, W Magazine and many other fashion blogs and websites have since written articles, such as “5 Easy Ways to Jane Birkin-ify Your Bag,” and “Why Bag Charms Are Everywhere This Season”. Of course, there isn’t anything wrong with taking inspiration from style icons such as Birkin, yet there seems to be something ironic in commodifying and making a trend out of such a distinct personal style.
These articles and blogs end up selling their readers certain bag charms and knick knacks to hang on to your bag, as well as items to put in your “Jane Birkinified bag” like lipstick and books. Through this commodification, Birkin’s style is becoming a trend, a digestible illusion of personal style. Buyers of the trend may continue to think what they are doing is unique and personal, but that doesn’t become the case anymore when you buy all of the “essential Jane Birkin items” from a style guide.
In a broader sense, I believe that all of this personalization, whether it’s more manufactured or not, reveals a societal craving for authenticity. The fact that the Jane Birkin bag trend, and even the revitalization of patterns such as bows and polka dots show that we may be moving away from the stark minimalism of the past few years. Instead of styling with Aritzia basics, there is a push for eccentricity.
Whether it’s for the sake of following a trend or out of true personal expression, I am still a firm believer in wearing whatever you want. For example, some say that skinny jeans are back, some are completely against that, but I really don’t think any of this matters.
Whether it’s skinny jeans or not, minimalism or maximalism, what we can learn from style icons such as Jane Birkin is wearing what you want to wear, and embracing your style for what it is. I don’t think Birkin really cared when she stuffed her bag to the brim, and even carried around baskets as bags. Your style, your authenticity, is truly what you make of it.
