Jane Fonda has spent a lifetime in the spotlight, and at 87, the legendary actress is still setting the record straight on style—both what she chooses to wear and what she insists a man should not. In a revealing new interview, Fonda laid down two major fashion rules, giving a rare look into her personal comfort and her biggest male fashion pet peeve.
First, the style icon addressed her own wardrobe, specifically what she wears when the lights go out. Forget silk or lace; Fonda’s current choice of sleepwear is all about practical comfort. Speaking with The Times of London, she confessed her go-to bedtime attire is “a flannel nightgown.” Yes, the woman who sizzled in Barbarella and inspired millions in form-fitting workout gear has officially prioritized personal comfort over presentation.
She explained her sleepwear is tied directly to her relationship status, admitting, “because I’m single.” The star, who was famously married three times, drew a clear line between her past and present habits. “I never wore them when I was with a man,” she added.
Throughout her life in the public eye, Fonda has had several high-profile relationships, including three marriages. Her first was in 1965 to French filmmaker Roger Vadim, with whom she lived in Paris and welcomed a daughter, Vanessa, during their eight-year union. In 1973, she wed activist Tom Hayden, with whom she shares a son, Troy Garity. A decade after their divorce, she married CNN founder Ted Turner in 1991, a partnership that lasted for ten years. Her most recent long-term relationship was with record producer Richard Perry, which ended in 2017.
While Fonda has her own style defined for her single life, her preferences extend to what she sees in men—and she is not afraid to pass judgment. When the conversation turned to male fashion faux pas, Fonda was just as direct and unflinching.
Asked what she believes men should never wear, she targeted a timeless and often-debated style sin. Her answer was swift and decisive: “White socks with trousers that are too short.”
