For Gloria Steinem, fashion was about much more than aesthetics
In an era when feminists were stereotyped as unattractive, the pioneering writer’s style created a Trojan horse
TL;DR
- Gloria Steinem's signature lightly tinted aviator glasses, worn over her hair, became an instantly recognizable form of self-branding linked to her legacy.
- Her choice of oversized men's glasses in the late '60s was due to family nearsightedness and frames being too small for her face, and also served as a way to hide behind them as an anxious public speaker.
- Steinem's overall look, including center-parted hair, bell-bottoms, and concho belts, acted as aesthetic armor that charmed and disarmed critics.
- She viewed getting dressed and controlling one's image as part of a woman's right to choose, using clothing as agency and her style as a 'Trojan horse' to deliver feminist messages.
- Her bohemian-tinged wardrobe reflected the era and challenged the mainstream media's stereotype of feminists as unattractive.
- Despite scrutiny, Steinem's style was often about practicality, like wearing high-waisted jeans for easier work at the Ms. magazine launch.
- Her fashion influence was cultural, with her look appearing on fashion mood boards and her style evolving over time, eventually leaning towards an all-black wardrobe for simplicity.
- Steinem incorporated accessories, particularly belts and activism pins, into her wardrobe, viewing them as resonant with the past and statements of her beliefs, including an 'I had an abortion' T-shirt she wore at age 70.