4 minute read
Jane's Next Move
Actress, activist, feminist and perennial fitness guru Jane Fonda is launching her first-ever fashion line—stylish exercise and athleisure apparel that she promises will not make women of a certain age want to run and hide.
Back in the 1980s, during Jane Fonda’s reign as high priestess of exercise videos (the original Jane Fonda’s Workout remains the bestselling VHS of all time), women were aerobicizing in leotards, tights and leg warmers—an unforgiving spandex uniform that made the most of every body’s imperfections. But that was then and this is now. The fitness tides have turned from high-impact to gentle-on-the-joints; Fonda no longer implores exercisers to “feel the burn”; and workout-wear has gone from skintight to breathable, moisture-wicking and comfortable. Fonda may now be a member of the senior citizenry, but she is still sexy, setting trends and committed to fitness. In partnership with Evine Live Inc., a multiplatform and digital commerce company, she is introducing the Jane Fonda Collection, an eponymous lifestyle brand that includes sophisticated athleisure—tops, yoga pants, fitted jackets, hoodies, sweatpants, graphic tees with empowering messages, and limited-edition sweat suits to benefit various nonprofits, including Lambda Legal’s fight for LGBTQ rights. All items are made in the U.S.A. and designed to flatter women of every shape, size (from XS to 3X) and age, including those over 50. “We are, after all, the fastest-growing demographic in the world,” says the eternally youthful icon.
Q: What advice do you have for women who have never exercised, or who haven’t exercised in years and want to get back into it?
A: First of all, work with a trainer or someone who’s had a lot of experience, who can show you what to do and what you shouldn’t do. For example, how to warm up and cool down, and how to be sure that you stretch. Another thing that’s very important is, don’t get discouraged. It doesn’t matter if you have never worked out before. It doesn’t matter how old you are. I’m 81 years old, and if I had never worked out before in my life, it would be a great time to start. It is never too late. You just want to go slowly. You want to doit carefully. Don’t push too hard. But moving when you’re older is one of the most important things you can do for your health and for your mental attitude.
Q: What inspired you to create an apparel line?
A: I’ve been associated with fitness and working out for many decades, but I’ve never really been able to find clothes that made me feel fun and comfortable and were functional for working out, or things I could just throw on over my workout clothes and go to lunch or shopping. And so I decided to make my own line in partnership withEvine. And I’m so excited about it. It’s a lot of fun to create.
Q: Does the clothing look best on any particular body type?
A: I’ve tried to design a line of clothes in such a way that there are things that will look good on many different body types. You know, none of us are shaped the same. And sometimes you want to accent the positive and maybe cover up the things that you’re not wanting to flaunt. So I’ve made a variety of shapes and sizes just to suit different kinds of women. It’s all about making you feelthe best you can be at whatever age you are. It’s about makingyou feel comfortable, no matter what size you are. It’s about being comfortable in your skin and in your body.
Q: What can we expect to see in the line?
A: Functionality and comfort, but also a little pizzazz. You can expectpeople to say, “Wow, where did you get those pants?” “Wow, wheredid you get that jacket?” I like bright colors. I also like subtlety. I loveplaids. I love animal prints. I love a combination of all of them. I’vefound, as I’ve begun to wear my new line of clothes, that people areconstantly asking me, “Where did you get that?” Which, of course, makes me very happy.
Q: On a personal level, what do you love most about your new clothes?
A: Fitness is such a passion for me, and I spend so much time working out, walking or hiking, so I tend to spend all day in the clothes that I wear to work out. And I just like to throw things over that will make them look fashionable. They may be workout clothes, but I’m making a fashion statement at the same time.
Interview and Photography by { John Russo
Edited by { Bonnie Davidson
Styling by { Alyssa Passavia
Hair by { Jonathan Hanousek
Makeup by { David De Leon
