Meet the low-maintenance cut that is admired for its effortlessly chic appeal
In 1984, a flight from Paris to London wrote one of the best fashion histories ever told. French-English actress Jane Birkin sat next to Jean-Louis Dumas and playfully expressed her frustration in finding the right bag suitable for her needs as a young mother. But then again, this story is not just about any plane conversation with a stranger. At that time, Dumas, the Executive Chairman of Hermès, immediately sketched a spacious rectangular holdall with a burnished flap, saddle stitching, and a dedicated space for her baby’s bottles—thus, the Birkin was born and has remained the brand’s most coveted ever since.
RELATED: Jaz Reyes Shares Her Three-Step Guide to Purchasing Designer Bags
However, it’s not just the bag that Jane Birkin is known for. The lithe brunette made a name for herself as an actress and a tastemaker who made a case for floral mini dresses, woven baskets as purses, and flared denim pants. But Birkin’s Parisian approach to beauty is just as influential—skin-focused makeup format, wispy eyelashes, and of course, her signature mussed bangs aptly named “Birkin bangs.”
Her eponymous haircut soon earned admiration for its effortlessly chic appeal. After all, no other style can exude a timeless French vibe. It even captured the support of personalities like Anne Hathaway, Lily Collins, Zendaya, and Heart Evangelista. And just like the bag, Birkin bangs render an enduring allure that can last a lifetime.
The Birkin Bangs impact
Year after year, the perfectly mussed bangs make a resurgence and are reintroduced in a more modern format. It’s quite ubiquitous in pop-culture, too. In 2006, the cut made its big cinematic return with Anne Hathaway in The Devil Wears Prada. It’s also a beauty signature embraced by stars like Dakota Johnson and Heart Evangelista. Meanwhile, in 2022, the coveted style earned a new wave of fans as Jenna Ortega introduced her take on Birkin bangs at her Netflix series, Wednesday.
Birkin bangs are often characterized for its wispy, piecey look and are adored for its face-framing fringe benefit. It’s a bit longer compared to traditional bangs with its length hitting the space between the eyebrows and the eyelashes. It’s also less intimidating, especially for anyone who wants a hair edit, and is flattering enough to suit a range of type, texture, or style.
The fringe benefit
As mentioned previously, the concept of the coveted bangs is to embody an effortlessly chic appeal. It’s cool, casual, and a bit undone, which makes it look more natural as to traditional bangs. Birkin bangs are also cut so softly that no blunt lines can be traced. It only requires minimal maintenance but is wearable enough to complement any hairdo.
And while it’s easy to recreate the cut at home, it is still recommended to consult with your trusted stylist. Ask for a piecey, textured fringe that flatters your face frame the best. Or better yet, show a hair moodboard to get the best result.
