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Jane Birkin, style mogul and the namesake behind the most expensive bag in the world, has died at age 76. On Sunday 16 July, the British-born actress and singer was found deceased inside her Paris apartment, with French President Emmanuel Macron confirming her death in a tweet, in which he described her “a French icon”. The icon became the muse for Hermès’ archetypal accessory and defined the classic Parisian-chic look in the 70s. Since Birkin’s unlikely 1981 run-in with the brand’s former chairman and head designer, she’s held the highest of honours in luxury fashion. The chance encounter happened when Birkin found herself on the same Air France flight as Hermès executive Jean-Louis Dumas when a bag that was holding her belongings broke and she angrily blamed Hermès for not making a big enough bag to fit her stuff. She complained out loud, unaware that the brand’s artistic director was sitting directly next to her. Not long after, the French fashion house debuted the “Birkin bag,” only offered in a large size to satisfy her wishes. Birkin recalled the consequential interaction in a 2020 interview with Christiane Amanpour from CNN, where she remembered: “I said: ‘Why don’t you make a bag that’s sort-of four times the [size of the] Kelly that you could just leave open and sort of half the size of my suitcase?’” She continued: “He said: ‘well, draw it for me.’ And I think I drew it on the sick bag, a vomit bag in the aeroplane.” Eventually, Dumas turned Birkin’s wishes into a reality. Before she went to purchase the accessory she inspired, Dumas told her she could have one free of charge if he could name it after her. In a 2012 interview with Vogue, Birkin admitted the Hermès had paid her £30,000 for her annual royalty, but she opted to donate the money to her preferred charities. “I got Hermès to fork out for my charities once I saw the fortune they were making. A certain amount of money every year goes straight to my charity and it will continue to after my death,” she said while speaking to WWD in 2011. Hermès will continue to honour her legace by donating to Birkin’s preferred charities in the wake of her passing. Known to cost upwards of $10,000, the Birkin bag is a status symbol as much as an emblem of the relationship between designer goods and practicality. With a waitlist and limited supply of this delicately crafted leather accessory, an air of exclusivity is achieved amongst the fortuitous owners. Vintage models from previous collections are priced and sold anywhere between $30,000 and $500,000 depending on their year, according to Sothebys. These highly regarded handbags mesh conservative and mod fashion codes, celebrating the intersection between Birkin’s and Hermès’ styles. However, following a 2015 investigation into the brand by PETA, which revealed the treatment of crocodiles for their skin, Birkin requested that her name be removed from the bags that were made out of the animal. “Jane Birkin has expressed her concerns regarding practices for slaughtering crocodiles. Her comments do not in any way influence the friendship and confidence that we have shared for many years. Hermès respects and shares her emotions and was also shocked by the images recently broadcast,” the fashion house said at the time. Hermès respected her decision then, but she ended up dropping her request as she was satisfied with how the brand handled the situation, labelling it as an “isolated irregularity.” In a statement, the brand said: “Jane Birkin has advised us that she is satisfied by the measures taken by Hermès.” She was known for her transcendent performances both on set and stage as a movie star and singer, respectively. However, Birkin’s “French girl” aesthetic will have forever affected the fashion industry’s perception of timeless looks. Birkin was a trendsetter, but not in a cyclical way. She would don silk blouses with sheer tights, monochromatic pieces decorated with statement belts, and pendant necklaces. Birkin, who previously favoured large wicker baskets to hold her belongings instead of handbags, would wear a simple white T-shirt and vintage denim combination, taking the most effortless outfit making it elegant. Following the creation of the Birkin bag, she was also looked to as the perfect example for how the expensive bag was meant to be used, with Birkin photographed with her own overflowing Hermès handbag on a number of occasions. “I love the way she wears her bag... Carefree, nonchalant, unpretentious, so iconic,” one person tweeted, while another said: “A well-loved bag should show a little shamble.” Read More Jane Birkin death: ‘Je t’aime... moi non plus’ singer and actor dies aged 76 The most iconic Hermès Birkin bags inspired by Jane Birkin Jane Birkin: Singer, actor and inspiration behind iconic Birkin bag dies aged 76 The most iconic Hermès Birkin bags inspired by Jane Birkin Kim Kardashian’s Skims is now worth $4bn TikTokers are showing off pink outfits they’re going to wear to watch Barbie movie

Jason Aldean defends his song as it is yanked by Country Music Television and Sheryl Crow attacks him.

A mother on TikTok has sparked an online debate after she pierced her newborn daughter’s ears one day after giving birth. The woman, who goes by the username @laraticaofficial on the app, originally shared the recently resurfaced clip of her daughter Lara last year. In the 15-second video, baby Lara is seen wearing a set of floral stud earrings in the hospital, just one day after her birth. The child’s mother then showed current footage of her daughter, who was then-four months old, wearing a pair of silver hooped earrings. “The time past [sic] too fast. Missing you being this small,” she captioned the TikTok. The viral video prompted many people to express concern over how early the mother had pierced her daughter’s ears. “Bro was still in the damn hospital bed but had earrings on,” commented one user. “How did she get her ears pierced that young,” a second person wrote. One TikToker said: “How is that ear piercing even legal?” @laraticaofficial 𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚝𝚒𝚖𝚎 𝚙𝚊𝚜𝚝 𝚝𝚘𝚘 𝚏𝚊𝚜𝚝 🥺𝙼𝚒𝚜𝚜𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚋𝚎𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚜𝚖𝚊𝚕𝚕 #foryou ♬ In The Stars - Benson Boone However, several users defended the mother against her critics, citing that it is common in certain cultures and traditions to pierce an infant’s ears. “In our culture/family, we also have ears pierced as soon as they are born,” one person shared. “My mum pieced my ears the day after I was born also! It’s great,” another user wrote. “Y’all need to chill. The damn earrings won’t kill the baby. Sheesh!” said someone else. While one TikToker wrote that it’s the mother’s decision to “decide what happens” to their child, another person said they’re “glad” they weren’t “forced to get my ears pierced as a baby” because it “should be the choice of the child”. In an interview with Newsweek, the mother — who lives in Colombia — said that piercing her daughter’s ears after birth is less painful or “non-traumatic” than it would be for a toddler. When asked why she pierced Lara’s ears while she was still in the hospital, the unnamed mother replied: “Because I wanted to, and that it is possible in our country.” She added: “I think a few days after birth is much more non-traumatic for a child to pierce their ears than when they are one or two. Lara had no reaction when the doctors gave her the holes.” For years, piercing a baby’s ears has often been debated by parents and non-parents alike. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, ear piercing may be done at any age as long as it is performed carefully. Although, they do recommend to postpone the piercing until a child is mature enough to care for the pierced site themselves. In many cultures, ear piercing is considered a right of passage - a tradition passed down from generation to generation. And some decide to pierce their child’s ears simply because it looks nice. Read More ‘Call me a child abuser again’: Hilary Duff anticipates backlash to piercing daughter’s ears Mother accused of ‘child abuse’ after baby ear piercing video goes viral Khloe Kardashian faces criticism for piercing two-month-old daughter's ears Schoolboy almost dies from swallowing magnets for TikTok challenge Woman shares honest review of New York City apartment TikTok mom slammed after making 5-year-old son run in 104 degree heat

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