Jane Birkin: "My beauty...it's gone"
A friend recently asked me to explain this thing I have about Jane Birkin; this is not about her early, willowy, gamine beauty. It is Jane from mid-life on.
A list includes: survival, artistic expression, humanitarian contribution, forthrightness, a realistic level of modesty. She refused the Légion d'honneur, saying the honour should not be given to mere entertainers, but to "real heros", such as her father, David, who received it in 1985 for his wartime work with the French Resistance.
A friend who met her in Paris calls her "sane, very warm, and grateful to others."
She refuses to be, in terms of her appearance, hyper-supported, a term my friend Dorothy uses to describe the strenuously-preserved facade of not only celebrities, but those determined to cling to their past, or a facsimile. When Birkin turned 70, just over a year ago, The Daily Mail ran a comparison between her and Cher, who inhabits some surreal planet beyond hyper-supported.
You can see her age in Birkin's face and body. She wears a uniform—jeans or trousers and cashmere jerseys or tees—except for evening and the occasional photo shoot. No one says "Jane Birkin is wearing that again", though not all women would want to borrow it.
She keeps her chestnut hair colour, loves fragrance (made for her, by Miller Harris), takes calcium supplements. I see any number of women who have chosen that simple, grounded approach, regardless of the exact pieces; they have found what provides ease and pleasure.
Reader Susan D. kindly contacted me to say that while at the hairdressers, she had read a piece about Jane in the February Harper's Bazaar. Within a half-hour, I beetled to the newsstand to buy a copy, but instead stood on the spot and read it. It was not worth buying the issue; it cost nearly $15, with the first thirty-some pages filled by ads and less editorial content than on a cereal box. (Shouldn't they be paying us?)
I found the interview online (a two-minute read) so am pleased to share the link.
I shop with WWJD? as my mantra: What Would Jane Do? Speaking of mourning the loss of her beauty, she notes, "I've adjusted my thinking a bit since then...the essential thing I think, now, is a sense of humour."
And yet, she must carry her history's burden, as well as its joys (in her Birkin?) In a New York Times article, published shortly before her performance tonight at Carnegie Hall, the paper ran but one current photo, and five of the young Jane with Serge Gainsbourg. Disappointing display of ageism from the paper known as "The Gray Lady".
A list includes: survival, artistic expression, humanitarian contribution, forthrightness, a realistic level of modesty. She refused the Légion d'honneur, saying the honour should not be given to mere entertainers, but to "real heros", such as her father, David, who received it in 1985 for his wartime work with the French Resistance.
A friend who met her in Paris calls her "sane, very warm, and grateful to others."
She refuses to be, in terms of her appearance, hyper-supported, a term my friend Dorothy uses to describe the strenuously-preserved facade of not only celebrities, but those determined to cling to their past, or a facsimile. When Birkin turned 70, just over a year ago, The Daily Mail ran a comparison between her and Cher, who inhabits some surreal planet beyond hyper-supported.
You can see her age in Birkin's face and body. She wears a uniform—jeans or trousers and cashmere jerseys or tees—except for evening and the occasional photo shoot. No one says "Jane Birkin is wearing that again", though not all women would want to borrow it.
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| Photo: Smythson "Traveling with..." series |
She keeps her chestnut hair colour, loves fragrance (made for her, by Miller Harris), takes calcium supplements. I see any number of women who have chosen that simple, grounded approach, regardless of the exact pieces; they have found what provides ease and pleasure.
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| Jane Birkin, 2017 |
Reader Susan D. kindly contacted me to say that while at the hairdressers, she had read a piece about Jane in the February Harper's Bazaar. Within a half-hour, I beetled to the newsstand to buy a copy, but instead stood on the spot and read it. It was not worth buying the issue; it cost nearly $15, with the first thirty-some pages filled by ads and less editorial content than on a cereal box. (Shouldn't they be paying us?)
I found the interview online (a two-minute read) so am pleased to share the link.
I shop with WWJD? as my mantra: What Would Jane Do? Speaking of mourning the loss of her beauty, she notes, "I've adjusted my thinking a bit since then...the essential thing I think, now, is a sense of humour."
And yet, she must carry her history's burden, as well as its joys (in her Birkin?) In a New York Times article, published shortly before her performance tonight at Carnegie Hall, the paper ran but one current photo, and five of the young Jane with Serge Gainsbourg. Disappointing display of ageism from the paper known as "The Gray Lady".
Comments
There are some things that I would like to improve about my physical appearance but don’t really want to invest the time, money and effort...I much prefer looking at other things in life than going off on a self improvement tangent. I must be either accepting my looks as they are or completely letting myself go!!!
It’s liberating
And OH the idea of a uniform... I wish to embrace that too. So much to think about from so few words. Thanks for sharing with us all.
hugs,
Janice
Elisa! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-HmGa2AigJA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lxf2u--tf08&t=534s
LauraH: Kind of, but there is a byline for an 'as told to' writer.
Susan: In your reading, you have no doubt seen that Birkin is appreciated in France, especially and it has been fun to see a number of Millennials discover and embrace her breezy, informal style.
If you have not read, I find the book "Face It: What Women Really Feel As Their Looks Change" by Vivian Diller PhD.and Michele Willens worthwhile; you can get used copies on Amazon- and of course the classic and excellent "The Beauty Myth" by Naomi Wolf.
I admire her for showing up at the Film Festival Cannes in 2017. Due to health issues she appeared a bit round, especially her face. How mean from the Media to name her as "almost unrecognizable".
Not sure, how many celebrities would have had Birkin's courage.
I dress myself in a very similar style, Cashmere and Jeans in winter, T-shirt an Jeans in summer. Except I don't shop at Hermès ;-)
I've been very busy working, so haven't found the time to view her entire documentary. One client said very lovely things about me - "a writer, not just a translator".
I love that style but it is not ideal on small plumpish women. I lost a fair bit of weight recently so I'm very happy in my jeans, but I also look good in skirts, worn in boho style with tights or leggings. (Welcome) weight loss or not, I still have a bum. Indeed, I found two very nice jeans from Reitmans (low to medium chain - I hate their synthetic-heavy tops but am very happy with their jeans, though they won't last as long as those with almost no lycra). They were described as "petite leggings", which brings to mind the horror of jeggings, and they are nothing like that. Just jeans narrow in the hem, and as I didn't buy them small,not clingy at all.
The way the female body is put far more on display than the male in that doc is upsetting now. But what I've viewed of the documentary does explain how Jane could be so taken by Serge, who got so toxic towards the end of his life.
Jane is also very serious about being a humanitarian - unlike many entertainers, it isn't a pose - and in showcasing musicians from the world over. Who knows, perhaps I'll meet her some day over coffee or tea. I have met Danielle Mitterand... at la Maison de l'Amérique latine.
I came late to the Empty Nest Syndrome.
I had my first daughter 3 days after my 21st birthday & imagined that when she'd flown the coop that I'd still be a fit 40 with my whole life in front for me!
After divorcing & spending 8 happy single years, for some inexplicable reason I remarried, at 35. 3 more daughters somehow appeared when I was 38, 41 & 43.
My knack was enjoying raising my daughters, alone. What I didn't have was the knack of choosing good husbands.
My 'career' took second place & I thought I'd NEVER be one of those women who lost their identity, but I did.
That's why I look to Jane. Jane who has kept her identity, in spades! She is my go-to person when I need inspiration from a peer. Who else is there? Someone who faces life As It Is and moves onwards with grace & quiet confidence. Someone who truly appears comfortable in their own skin, as nature intended.
Is there a woman or man who does it better?