Hi everyone, welcome back to my channel! Today, I want to ask you a question: Is your style too curated? Is it overdone? I’m drawing lessons from the one and only Jane Birkin, the lovely undone muse.
What Does Overdone Style Look Like?
When an outfit, or even an entire wardrobe, feels overstyled, it often ends up looking like a checklist or starter pack for a certain aesthetic. It feels less like something tailored to your individual nuances, preferences, and lifestyle, and more like a way to broadcast your belonging to a specific aesthetic. Your style should express what makes you feel good and reflect your values. But often, we wear clothes just to signal what we identify with.
We see this a lot with capsule wardrobes that are pre-made and minimalistic. They tend to overemphasize the universality of basics like a white button-down or striped top. But these items don’t always work with all body types, seasonal colors, or lifestyles. Over-styling can limit you to a very manufactured idea of what “looks good.”
How Jane Birkin Made Simple Pieces Her Own
So how did Jane Birkin wear the simplest pieces in ways that felt so uniquely her? Let’s break it down.
The Denim: Raw Hem, Flare, and Personality
Jane’s denim wasn’t just about fit: it was about personality. She often wore raw-hem jeans with a flare, exaggerating her hips and lower body. In her autobiography, she shares that her partner at the time was thrilled that she had the body of a boy on top and a woman on the bottom. In other words, Jane embraced her body’s unique shape, celebrating what she loved rather than trying to balance out so-called flaws.
The advice here: don’t base your wardrobe around hiding something you’re not proud of. Instead, lean into something you love about yourself.
Jane also added custom patchwork to her jeans, giving them an eclectic, personalized look. This created a sense of ruggedness, as well as a playful vibe. And most importantly, the jeans she wore were likely 100% cotton, so over time they molded to her body, becoming a perfect fit, much like Birkenstocks do.
While spandex blends are more common today for stretch, they compress certain areas of the body, which can distort the natural fit. If you want that perfect, molded look, opt for 100% cotton jeans. Wear them over and over to really make them your own.
For a shortcut, Jane revealed in her book that she once wore new jeans, laid down in a hot bath, and let the water cool around her. This helped the denim form to her body’s shape, but if you’re sensitive to heat, maybe skip that step.
T-Shirts: Rolling, Folding, and Customizing the Neckline
Jane also customized her t-shirts. Whether short or long-sleeved, she rolled or folded the cuffs to add texture, volume, and more direction to the look. She wasn’t afraid to open up the necklines of her tops and sweaters, making them less constricting and more comfortable.
This simple trick: stretching out the collar to create an open neckline—resulted in a drapey, lived-in look that felt effortless and natural. No piece in her wardrobe looked brand new: everything felt well-loved and worn in.
Footwear: Comfort and Practicality with Style
Another aspirational aspect of Jane’s wardrobe was her footwear. She consistently chose practical, comfortable shoes for everyday wear. Whether in sneakers, espadrilles, or leather Repetto ballet flats, comfort was key. Jane was often seen in sneakers like Converse, where she’d casually leave the laces undone and even pull out the tongue to create a more laid-back vibe.
What makes this so great is how relatable it is. Unlike aspirational outfits that often need a heel to complete the look, Jane’s outfits were grounded in reality: practical footwear that paired effortlessly with chic, comfortable clothing.
Jane Birkin in the 80’s: Off Duty Chic
In the 1980s, Jane embraced oversized pieces, often opting for men’s shirts that she unbuttoned at the top. She’d cuff the sleeves and open the necklines, adding volume and movement. She also swapped tight denim for wider, looser trousers, creating a more relaxed silhouette. Whether wearing an oversized blazer or a simple fitted coat, Jane’s wardrobe exuded ruggedness, with nothing too stiff or polished.
Her hairstyle complemented this aesthetic: casual, a bit messy, but always perfectly framing her face. The overall vibe was one of perpetual ease, movement, and adaptability.
Jane Birkin’s Costumes in Films: Glamorous Yet Casual
Even in her more glamorous movie costumes, Jane’s signature style shone through. While these costumes were more intricate and flashy than her daily wear, they still carried the same sense of ease and playfulness. My favorite moment of Jane’s film style was when she walked onto a driveway wearing silk pants and a messy Gibson girl bun in Le Mouton Enragé(1974). It perfectly illustrated how style can be dependent on chance: when everything comes together effortlessly.
How to Do Less and Have More Impact
Let’s look at how you can apply these lessons to your wardrobe. On the left side of the image, we see more structured outfits with clean lines, heavy saturation, and geometric shapes. While these look good, they don’t represent Jane’s essence as well as the softer, more relaxed looks on the right.
Jane’s style isn’t about perfection: it’s about simplicity, clarity, and that “lived-in” feeling that comes from ease and wear. If you want to truly represent yourself, think about your approach to life and how you want your clothes to reflect that. Are you more commanding, bold, and dramatic? If so, Jane’s style might not be for you. But if you’re more casual, playful, and effervescent, you might find that this type of wardrobe resonates with you.
Jane’s Effortless Style as a Lesson in Authenticity
By adopting a few of Jane’s tricks: whether it’s customizing your t-shirts or wearing comfortable shoes, you can embrace a more effortless, authentic style that truly reflects who you are. This approach isn’t just about looking good: it’s about feeling good in what you wear.
If you need any help refining what that means to you, please check out my services.
xx
Nona