100 Most Influential People in Fashion

Fashion Influential #23: Jane Fonda

Jane Fonda's 1970 mug shot following an arrest in Cleveland. Image via Aethlos.

JANE FONDA
Born:
December 21, 1937 in New York City, NY.
Fashionable Films:
Barbarella, Klute, Jane Fonda's Workout
Fans: Olivia Newton-John, Lindsay Lohan
Fan of:
Eve Ensler
Beginnings.
Jane Fonda, born Lady Jayne Seymour Fonda, was on the cover of Vogue twice before she even hit the big screen. She clearly had a face for fashion, but it wasn't until her 1968 appearance in Roger Vadim's Barbarella that she became a style icon. She later became a poster girl for anti-war activism, dubbed "Hanoi Jane" by her detractors.

Career Highs.
In 1970, Fonda was arrested for allegedly kicking a cop who suspected her of attempting to carry illegal drugs onto a flight (they turned out to be vitamins). While an arrest wouldn't normally be considered a career high, Fonda's now-famous mugshot sent thousands of women to their stylists, begging for Fonda's "Klute" shag. In 1982, Fonda released Jane Fonda's Workout, sparking the aerobics revolution of the 1980s - and kicking VCR sales through the roof.
When I start down a path that I know is the right path, I go with all of me. I have a lot of energy. I give off sparks. If it's anti-war, it's going to be very visible and if it's an exercise video it's going to be...the biggest seller of all time. I just do it big. I don't think about doing it big; it just becomes...visible.
- Jane Fonda in a 2005 Guardian interview

Fonda during the "Hanoi Jane" years.
Career Lows.
Jane Fonda's movie career stalled for several years in the mid 1970s. She then attributed her slump to anger over her political activism, but Fonda has since stated that she's proud of her work during that time, as it reflects a shift in her values and intentions. Besides, she made rebellion look sexy when she visited Hanoi in 1972.

Legacy.
Fonda's jailbird shag continues to reappear on rockstars and the fashion elite (Jessica Biel recently sported a Fondaesque haircut). Her signature leotards inspired the looks for Olivia Newton John's "Physical" video, the movie Flashdance, and the costuming for Madonna's most recent tour. If it weren't for Jane, legwarmers might never have made it out of dance rehearsal.

Jane Fonda's Workout is the best-selling home video of all time.

Get the Look.
Most hairstylists in the know should recognize the "Fonda shag" by name. For an extra retro look, pair the cut with heavy eyelid liner and lots of mascara. For an aerobics outfit to make Jane proud, head to American Apparel, where the dancewear is always street-ready.

- Alicia