Getting That Jane Fonda Look
So, there I was, right? Decided I wanted to nail that classic Jane Fonda exercise look. You know, for a retro-themed workout thing a friend was hosting. Sounded easy enough, I thought. Grab a leotard, some leg warmers, boom, done. Yeah, well, not so fast.
First thing I did was dig through my old workout clothes. Found a black leotard. Okay, good start. Then I remembered Jane’s stuff was usually bright, like super bright. Pinks, blues, purples. My black one felt a bit… well, boring. So, the hunt began online. And let me tell you, finding a leotard with that 80s high-cut leg and shiny material, in the right color? That was a mission in itself. Most stuff out there is all modern cuts, muted tones. I spent hours, seriously, just scrolling and scrolling.
Then came the leg warmers. This was the real kicker. I figured any old leg warmers would do. Wrong. Jane’s were iconic. They were chunky, ribbed, and often a contrasting color to the leotard. I bought a pair that looked okay in the pictures, but when they arrived, they were these thin, flimsy things. Total disappointment. Back to the drawing board. I even thought about trying to knit some, then common sense kicked in – I don’t know how to knit that well, and the party was next week!
Okay, so after what felt like an eternity, I finally found a decent bright pink leotard. Not perfect, but close enough. For the leg warmers, I ended up finding some on a vintage store site. They were a bit pricey, but they had that authentic, slightly-too-long, slouchy look. I went for a bright blue pair. Contrast, baby!
Next up: the accessories. You can’t forget the headband. That was easier. A simple sweatband did the trick. I got a white one. And the belt! Some of her famous looks had that wide, often elasticated belt, cinching the waist. I debated this one for a while. Was it too much? Nah, go big or go home, right? I found a wide white elastic belt that kind of worked.
So, I laid it all out on my bed. The pink leotard, the blue leg warmers, the white headband, the white belt. Putting it on felt like stepping into a time machine. I did a few high kicks in front of the mirror. Not quite Jane’s grace, but the outfit? It looked pretty spot on. My kid walked in and just stared, then asked if I was feeling okay. That’s when you know you’ve nailed it, I guess.
Why all this effort, you ask? Well, this retro party, it wasn’t just any party. My friends and I, we used to do those Jane Fonda workouts from the VHS tapes back in the day. For real! My mom had the whole collection. So, this was pure nostalgia. Getting the outfit right felt like honoring those good old, slightly sweaty, memories. It wasn’t just about throwing on some clothes; it was about capturing that feeling, that energy. And you know what? When I walked into that party, and everyone else was in their 80s gear, it was totally worth all the searching and the slightly-too-expensive leg warmers. We even tried to do some of the old routines. Emphasis on tried. My back still hurts a bit, but hey, the outfit held up!