Afternoon Inspiration

I thought I would share with you my afternoon inspiration - Mr. Serge Gainsbourg.

A great deal of my free-will and self-promoting talent and spirit I learned directly from reading about this profound artist Serge Gainsbourg during my very first trip to Paris as a young fashionista. Initially I was more drawn to the beauty ofthe English actress Jane Birkin, and therefore my research began with anything and everything “Jane” - - - hence my introduction to Serge Gainsbourg. Serge was both this English icon's greatest lover as well as the father of her daughter, actress Charlotte Gainsbourg. Remind me to revisit my personal Charlotte Gainsbourg story at a later date. But for now back to Serge...

Serge Gainsbourg and Jane Birkin circa 1969 (the namesake of the much sought after Hermes Birkin Bag)

I remember when I first began reading and learning about Serge I often found myself very angry that as Americans we weren’t aware of his talent or his genius. I was always fascinated by the fact that he didn’t allow any genre of music and/or industry to fully claim him. He was simply a creative being. By the time my career got rolling during its first incarnation in the mid to late 90’s I longed to be as bold and free as Mr. Gainsbourg. Unfortunately, by this time the fashion industry had already firmly locked their claws and hooks into me and claimed me as their very own. It has taken me a very long time to reach this level of self-assuredness, if not Gansbourg-ness, to be able to break free and live my life on my own terms. The property of no one - the master of my own destiny - and the promoter of my own vision. For this I am forever grateful to both Jane Birkin and most importantly to Serge Gainsbourg – the king of self-promotion.

Jane Birkin and Serge Gainsbourg

For those of you that are not familiar with Serge Gainsbourg, please allow me to introduce him to you via this brief synopsis and video below:

Serge Gainsbourg (April 2, 1928 – March 2, 1991) was a French poet, singer-songwriter, actor and director. Gainsbourg's varied style and individuality made him difficult to categorize. Although famous in France for many years, he did not achieve his first No. 1 album until 1979, when he released Aux Armes et caetera more than twenty years after his music career had begun. Since the 1980s, his legacy has been firmly established.

Personal life

He was born Lucien Ginzburg in Paris, France, the son of Russian Jewish parents who fled to France after the 1917 Bolshevik uprising. His childhood was profoundly affected by the occupation of France by Nazi Germany, during which he and his family, as Jews, were forced to wear the yellow star and eventually flee from Paris.

Before he was 30 years old, Lucien Ginzburg was a disillusioned painter but earned his living as a piano player in bars.

He had a daughter, actress Charlotte, with English singer and actress Jane Birkin; and a son, Lucien (best known as Lulu), with his last partner, Bambou (Caroline von Paulus, who is related to Friedrich Paulus).

For more info go to Wilkepedia-Serge Gainsbourg

Video Below featuring Jane Birkin & Serge Gainsbourg - Je T'aime... Moi Non Plus