Mother's Day Gift Guide, Day 3: Parisian Ease
A t-shirt and jeans has become a sort of national uniform for many Americans. But it was the English-born model, actress and singer Jane Birkin who made the fashion trend unforgettable and incredibly chic in the early '70s. Jane Birkin married French singer Serge Gainsbourg in 1969 and fast became a fixture on the Parisian scene. She was rarely without her signature straw fish market basket, which Jane Birkin paired with both casual outfits and evening dresses. She kept her Parisian style simple, accessorizing with ballet flats, a personal necklace and a men’s leather belt. It’s the sort of Parisian ease that looks effortless and elegant. Perhaps thes Parisian style Mother's day gift ideas will inspire mom’s return to simplicity.
1. Silk Shirt: We love a crisp button-up, but there’s something so refreshing abut a more romantic, loose cut.
2. Chilean Straw Basket: A great Mother's Day gift for a run to the farmers market or to help collect loose clutter at home.
3. John Derian Paperweight: Whether mom has been to Paris or dreams of visiting, this pretty paperweight will be a gentle reminder.
4. Wide-Leg Jeans: The wide leg jean fashion trend is officially “back” and always flattering. (Mom never bought in to the whole skinny jean thing anyway.)
5. Raffia Hat : This wide brim of this hat is pure '70s style, but the additional structure keeps it polished.
6. French Glass Market Bottles: Add a French market nostalgia to mom’s collection of ephemera.
7. Repetto Ballet Flat: From the French dance company, a shoe that meets mom’s comfort quotient as well as her penchant for fashion.
8. Antique French Linen Pillow: Whether mom favors modern or rustic, a Mother's Day gift of French linen will compliment any palette and instantly feel like home.
9. Serge Gainsbourg/Jane Birkin CD: Serge and Jane will invoke retro romance into afternoons at home.
10. Crosley Portable Record Player: A pretty portable record player that can be used to play old vinyl or stashed away unnoticed when not in use.
The singer/actress Jane Birkin, May, 1974. (Photo by Keystone-France/Gamma-Keystone via Getty Images)