Gee's Corner: Thanks to Jane, there's THE BIRKIN BAG..

Jane Mallory Birkin, (born 14 December 1946)is an English-born actress and singer who lives in France.

Jane Birkin

Birkin was married from 1965-68 to John Barry, the English composer who wrote the musical score to the James Bond movies. Their daughter, photographer Kate Barry, was born on 8 April 1967 .The marriage ended in 1968.

J.Birkin-J.Barry

She had a passionate and creative relationship with her mentor Serge Gainsbourg, whom she met on the set of Slogan in 1968, a relationship that lasted 13 years.
They never married, despite rumours and misreporting to the contrary. In 1971 they had a daughter, the actress and singer Charlotte Gainsbourg. They separated in 1980.

J.Birkin-S.Gainsbourg

On 4 September 1982 she gave birth to her third daughter, Lou Doillon, from her relationship with the director Jacques Doillon .They separated in the 1990s.

J.Birkin-J.Doillon

Birkin & her daughters

In 1981, Hermès chief executive Jean Louis Dumas was seated next to Jane on a flight from Paris to London. She had just placed her straw bag in the overhead compartment of her seat, but the contents fell to the ground, leaving her to scramble to replace the contents. Birkin explained to Dumas that it had been difficult to find a leather weekend bag she liked. In 1984, he created a black supple leather bag for her, based on an 1892 design. She used the bag for herself then later changed her mind. Nevertheless, the bag has since become an icon.