One of the more iconic names in fashion from across the pond has passed away.
Jane Birkin, a well-known British singer, actress, and fashion icon, died at the age of 76 in Paris, reports the New York Times.
Birkin, as our female readers probably already know, was the namesake behind the Hermès Birkin bag, reports Fox News.
She's Gone
The French Culture Ministry broke the news on Sunday that Birkin had passed away.
France's Minister of Culture, Rima Abdul Malak, called Birkin a "timeless Francophone icon."
She continued, "Jane B was mischief, impertinent elegance, the never-outdated emblem of an entire era, a murmuring voice that remains our idol."
Many of the fashion trends that Birkin set back in the 1960s and 1970s are still holding true today.
Most notably, bangs, knit dresses, and basket bags.
She was the inspiration behind the Hermès Birkin out of a fluke. She happened to be sitting next to Jean-Louis Dumas, the chairman and head designer of Hermès, while on an airplane.
During the trip, she was complaining about the fact no Hermès was big enough to hold all of her things.
Later that year, the company released a larger bag, just as Birkin had asked, and with her name on it.
If you were dreaming about snatching one of those bags, get ready to pony up about $10,000.
At one point in her career, Birkin had a relationship with musician Serge Gainsbourg, who, even after they split up, cited Birkin as the muse behind his creativity.
The two of them split up in 1980, but they do share a daughter, Charlotte Gainsbourg, who also happens to be a singer and actress.
Birkin has had significant health issues over the last few years, which all seem to have started after she suffered a stroke in 2021 that forced her to cancel some of her shows.
More recently, she broke a shoulder blade in March, but it is not known if that injury had anything to do with her death.
As of this writing, there has been no cause of death revealed for Birkin.
